Different Types of Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are among the most popular anti-ageing treatments used by men and women to fight the signs of skin ageing.  As the name implies, chemical peels use a concoction of certain chemicals that are applied on the skin and left for a certain amount of time before it is then peeled off.

There are three different types of chemical peels that are currently being used by dermatologists not only to treat the signs of skin ageing, but also certain types of skin conditions like acne, facial scars and stretch marks.

The first kind of chemical peel is what is called a superficial peel.  As its name implies, this type of chemical peel only removes the superficial layers of the skin, making it the mildest type of chemical peel so it can be used on all skin types.  Superficial peels are used to treat fine facial lines and help smoothen out the skin's texture.  The most common type of superficial peel is glycolic acid peel.

The second type of chemical peel is what is classified as a medium peel.  TCA chemical peel treatments fall into this category.  This kind of chemical peel is a bit more aggressive than superficial peels as it peels off a relatively thicker layer of skin.  Because of the depth it penetrates, medium peels are ideally used to treat deep wrinkles, dark skin pigmentations and uneven skin tone. 

The last type of chemical peel is the deep peel.  Deep peels are the most aggressive type of chemical peeling used to fight the signs of skin ageing and other skin problems.   It is ideal to treat extremely deep wrinkles, and dark patches on certain parts of the face brought about by ageing.  Unlike the first two kinds of chemical peels, deep chemical peels may cause skin bleaching and as such, are not recommended for men and women with dark-colored skin.