The Truth about "Chemical Peels"

Keeping the skin soft and smooth with the use of chemicals dates back to ancient Egyptian times when Cleopatra bathed in milk (lactic acid). Yet, it amazes me that the term “Chemical Peel” still sounds so foreign and scary to most people when I include it in a treatment recommendation. Everybody seems to have known a friend of a friend that had a bad experience with it.  The truth is, there are many different chemical peels on the market that are formulated for various skin conditions. They range from very mild, to medium-depth, and deep peels. The peels that I’m going to tell you about today are used to treat sun-damaged skin.

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), such as glycolic, lactic, or fruit acids are the mildest of the peel formulas. They are considered to be “no down-time” or ”lunchtime peels”. This is because they can be done with little skin preparation, in a short time, and require no recovery time. In most cases, the client can put makeup on immediately following the peel. In a series, these alpha-hydroxy acid peels are effective in smoothing the texture, brightening the skin, and correcting uneven pigmentation. 

Trichloroacetic acid, or TCA, is considered a medium-depth peel and can be used in many concentrations. The actual depth of this peel depends on the amount of layers used when applying it. Some skin preparation is involved prior to treatment and some down-time may be expected afterwards. Fine wrinkles, mild acne scaring, and pigmentation problems are commonly treated with TCA. My favorite use for it is treating fine lines and mild skin laxity under the eyes. It is also a tried and true way of making aged hands look younger!  

Phenol is the strongest of the chemical solutions and is considered a deep peel. Although, it has been replaced with lasers, some doctors still use it for treating course facial wrinkles and pre-cancerous lesions.  This peel does have considerable downtime and risk.

The Spa At Evergreen, located inside The Four Elements, offers these chemical peels (except Phenol).  Years of working in plastic surgery and dermatology skincare has given me the experience needed when deciding what specific chemical peel is compatible with certain skin-types. Call The Four Elements at 303-670-1180 to schedule a consultation to determine the most effective treatment and at-home regimen to improve your skin. 

-Lisa