Overview | Types of chemical peels | Treatment steps | Candidates for chemical peels | Conditions not suited to peels

The chemical peel is a popular form of skin peel treatment that makes use of medical grade chemical solutions to remove the old layer of damaged skin to reveal a healthier layer of skin beneath.

Chemical peels are generally used to treat the skin on the face, below the eyes, neck, underarms, back, and sometimes, hands.  There are also full body peels.

We, at The Bombay Skin Clinic, take immense pride in being one of the leaders in chemical peel treatment for many different skin conditions. Let us take you through some important information on understanding the concept of chemical peel and chemical peel benefits.

Types of chemical peels

  1. Glycolic peel – A glycolic peel provides amazing exfoliation. It is also sometimes known as a fruit peel. This peel is usually used to treat skin conditions such as mild scarring , wrinkles, and fine lines and also blackheads white heads and uneven skin texture. It is a medium depth peel. At The Bombay Skin Clinic, we also use this peel to effectively treat skin discoloration in our patients. The glycolic acid peel used in our clinic ranges from 25% to 35% to 70% .What’s more is that the peels used are liposomal and gel-based. So they are very safe to use with very little side effects or downtime.
  2. Salicylic acid peel – A salicylic skin peel is one that is usually of a superficial depth and has a gentle exfoliating action. As these peels are relatively gentle, they can be used on patients whose skin is not suitable for other types of peels. Post-treatment, our patients do notice visible glow, shrunken pores, and improved skin texture. The best chemical peel for acne, a salicylic peel is especially effective on inflammatory acne and blackheads.
  3. Lactic acid peel – Derived from milk, lactic acid peels fight wrinkles and pigmentation. They come in light (superficial), medium, and deep variants. While a lot of lactic acid peels can be bought over the counter, it is best to opt for a professional lactic acid peel. At The Bombay Skin Clinic, our patients have benefitted from reduced pore size and brighter skin with the use of lactic acid peel. We do not recommend this peel to patients who have eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis. We also recommend this peel to patients who are seeking a quick and safe party peel for an instant glow.
  4. Mandelic acid peel – A mandelic acid skin peel is very similar to glycolic and lactic acid skin peels. The perfect choice for anyone undergoing chemical peel treatment for the first time, a mandelic acid peel has antibacterial properties that make it a great remedy for acne-prone skin. A mandelic peel can also be used to treat fine lines and sun damage. We recommend this peel for its gentle properties that heal without damaging your skin. At our clinic, our patients have benefitted from this skin peel for active acne and acne mark treatments as it helps tackle inflammation and pigmentation.
  5. Cosmelan Peel – Cosmelan is an advanced skin peel treatment effective for pigmentation that has failed to resolve after the topical application of traditional skin lightening products.
  6. TCA peel – The trichloroacetic acid peel is a peel of medium depth. It is commonly used to treat skin conditions such as acne scars and melasma. A TCA chemical peel works by getting rid of dead skin cells and stimulating the growth of new, healthier cells. A TCA peel can be used on the face and the body safely. At our clinic, we use the TCA peel for amazing results while treating back and shoulder acne and acne marks. There is peeling present for around seven to eight days but the skin reveals itself to be brighter than ever.
  7. Azelaic acid peel – Azelaic acid has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that make it the ideal chemical peel for acne. It is known to suit all skin types. In particular, azelaic acid is known to improve cell turnover, which is the best way to limit scarring left behind by severe acne. Its anti-inflammatory properties also make it the ideal treatment for rosacea. At the clinic, our patients love this leave-on peel that can be left on the skin for around four to six hours for the best results.
  8. Pyruvic acid peel  – This is the best choice of peel for anti-aging treatment. It is also used as a chemical peel for acne. Our patients have experienced amazing results that include reduced fine lines and hyperpigmentation on being treated with a pyruvic acid peel.
  9. Yellow peel (retinal) – This is one of the most-effective skin peels when it comes to anti-aging treatment. Through the effects of the yellow peel, our patients have seen significant results in the treatment of wrinkles, acne, fine lines, and melasma. This peel works to remove discolorations and also encourage oxygen circulation to the skin. At the clinic, this peel is combined with microneedling treatment to promote a deeper penetration of the peel. This helps stimulate collagen and reduce scar tissue for acne scars and stretch marks.
  10. Black peel – Based on ingredients including black vinegar, salicylic acid, and jasmonic acid, a black peel is known to successfully tackle a host of skin problems including acne, acne scars, aging, and pigmentation. This peel is one of our preferred choices for patients with oily skin and active acne.
  11. Kojic acid peel – Kojic acid peel is widely known for its skin brightening ability. We recommend this peel for any individual with sensitive skin. A kojic acid peel is the perfect line of treatment for skin problems such as sun damage, scars, and signs of aging. It also has antifungal properties. This peel is especially recommended for peri orbital pigmentation, dark circles, and puffiness around the eye.
  12. Argilac peel – This skin peel is noted for its suitability to sensitive skin. Argilac peel can successfully tackle a variety of skin conditions such as spots, redness, and mild to moderate acne with fabulous results.
  13. Ferulac peel – The ferulac skin peel is a truly revolutionary product that works to reduce photoaging while evening out the skin tone. An antioxidant, this peel helps fight the effects of free radicals on your skin while protecting it from UVA and UVB radiation.

At The Bombay Skin Clinic, we advise our patients to always consult a qualified dermatologist to help select the right peel suited to their skin needs. 

Treatment steps

There are three main types of peels used. Superficial peels penetrate the epidermis, medium-depth peels affect the entire epidermis and papillary dermis, and deep peels allow for controlled tissue injury to the level of the mid-reticular dermis. With the availability of new technology, deep peels are hardly used these days. Do note that a light , superficial, or medium  chemical peel does not require any painkillers whereas a deep chemical peel is administered only under anesthesia and sedation. However, in our clinic, we do not perform deep peel.

Here are the steps for a chemical peel treatment at The Bombay Skin Clinic:

  • A thorough examination of the skin is performed
  • The skin is cleansed with a gentle Vitamin A cleanser to remove makeup and dirt
  • Next, we perform a unique double cleansing of the skin with a jet of water to deeply wash the skin for a better penetration of the peel
  • Petroleum jelly is now applied to corners of the eyes, lips, nose to protect these areas
  • The peel is gently applied with a gauze piece in specific directions 
  • The number of coats and time depends on the skin condition and the percentage of the peel 
  • We perform a unique way of full neutralization of the peel with a cold paper mask to uniformly cool the areas 
  • A brightening mask is applied containing natural ingredients from spirulina, sea weed and sea plants to bring a glow to the skin

Potential side effects

Like any other treatment, a chemical peel is not without its share of side-effects. In some cases, patients have experienced a slight redness pigmentation on the treated areas. This can be handled with antibiotic medication. According to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, some patients might also experience a reactivation of cold sores. 

Furthermore, we take great care to advise our patients on aftercare methods to be followed for the best results. These include applying the prescribed ointments to the treated skin and avoiding extreme temperatures.  Johns Hopkins Medicine goes on to specify that patients should avoid sun exposure immediately after treatment. 

We, at The Bombay Skin Clinic, do believe that knowledge is power. Here is a quick look at some good-to-know things about chemical peels.

Suitable candidate for the procedure

Almost anyone can do a chemical peel treatment. A chemical peel treatment can be done for a wide range of skin conditions that include active acne, acne scars, hyperpigmentation, uneven skin texture, dark circles, dark underarms, body acne, dark buttocks, and sun damage. A lot of our patients come to us for chemical peel for acne treatments, as this is one of the most common uses of these peels. Chemical peels can also be used to treat signs of aging such as wrinkles and sagging skin. They can also be used for hand and feet brightening. 

At The Bombay Skin Clinic, we have a wide variety of special skin treatments to suit every skin type. Our qualified team of experts will recommend the best chemical peel treatment suited to your requirements. 

List of conditions not suited to chemical peels

It is also important to note which conditions and types of patients are not suited to chemical peels. These include:

  • Patients who are impacted by cold sores
  • Patients who need treatment for very deep wrinkles and scars
  • Patients with very sensitive skin and rosacea

The American Academy of Dermatology cautions patients with darker skin tones to visit professional dermatologists only for chemical peels as not doing so can lead to pigmentations on the skin. 

At The Bombay Skin Clinic, we take great care to customize diagnosis and treatment based on each patient’s medical history so that you get the right care with the best results. Apart from this, we only use the best peels available today. The high standard of peel choice and selection ensures that our patients get the newest and most advanced peels with safety. For instance, we use gel-based peels as they have lesser side-effects. Also, we have a complete and unique set of steps for performing the peel that allows the skin to truly heal and repair. Each patient is advised on the use of the peel that suits them the best. 

Closing paragraph

It is important to note that the treatment results vary among patients. Yet, with the right guidance and under the right doctor, the results can be outstanding. Chemical peels are a modern marvel of medical research in skincare that you can take full advantage of under our expert guidance at The Bombay Skin Clinic. Call us today to put forth the best version of healthy, glowing, and youthful skin. 

References

  1. American Society for Dermatologic Surgery: https://www.asds.net/skin-experts/skin-treatments/chemical-peels
  2. Dr. Batul Patel Chemical Peels: https://www.drbatul.com/treatments-procedures/chemical-peels/
  3. Johns Hopkins Medicine: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/otolaryngology/specialty_areas/facial-plastic-reconstructive/cosmetic/chemical-peels.html
  4. American Academy of Dermatology: https://www.aad.org/public/cosmetic/younger-looking/chemical-peels-faqs