Is Chemical Peel Safe For Skin>A chemical peel is a common procedure for improving the texture of the skin. The vast majority of those interested in getting chemical peels do so because they are unhappy with their current looks. There is no easier or more affordable method of improving your skin’s appearance. The chemical peel procedure is straightforward and consists of a few easy stages that can dramatically alter your skin’s appearance.
Treatment of Acne and Rash with Chemical Peel. Acne scarring and an uneven skin tone are both improved by chemical peels. In addition to their cosmetic value, they have medicinal use for a wide range of skin conditions. This non-invasive technique helps promote the formation of new, healthy skin by removing dead cells without harming the underlying skin tissue.
The idea that a face peel could not only reduce fine lines and give you smooth and supple skin, but also improve circulation, fight acne and blemishes, even out skin tone and texture, tighten your pores, AND remove dead cells without the need to scrub like you’re in a torture chamber sounds too good to be true – but not anymore. Chemical peels are not just for actress’ and models any more. Read on to learn more on deep chemical peel and skin looks worse after chemical peel.
Is Chemical Peel Safe For Skin
Chemical peels are cosmetic treatments that can be applied to the face, hands, and neck. They’re used to improve the appearance or feel of the skin. During this procedure, chemical solutions will be applied to the area being treated, which causes the skin to exfoliate and eventually peel off. Once this happens, the new skin underneath is often smoother, appears less wrinkled, and may have less damage.
There are a number of reasons people may get chemical peels. They may be trying to treat a variety of things, including:
- wrinkles and fine lines
- sun damage
- acne scars
- hyperpigmentation
- scars
- melasma
- uneven skin tone or redness
What type of chemical peels can I get?
There are three different types of chemical peels that you can get. These include:
- Superficial peels, which use mild acids like alpha-hydroxy acid to gently exfoliate. It only penetrates the outermost layer of skin.
- Medium peels, which use trichloroacetic or glycolic acid to reach the middle and outer layer of skills. This makes it more effective for removing damaged skin cells.
- Deep peels, which fully penetrate the middle layer of the skin to remove damaged skin cells; these peels often use phenol or tricholoracetic acid.
How much do chemical peels cost?
Chemical peels are almost always considered a cosmetic procedure, and insurance rarely covers it. You’ll be paying for the procedure out of pocket. Your initial consultation visit, however, may be covered by insurance.
The cost of the procedure will vary depending on factors like location, expertise of the provider, and what type of peel you want to get. Light peels can cost as low as $150, and deep peels can cost $3,000 or more (specifically if it requires anesthesia, or in-patient stays). According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the current average cost of a chemical peel is $673.
How is a chemical peel done?
Chemical peels are typically done in-office; deep peels may be done in an outpatient surgical facility. Before the procedure, they will likely have you tie back your hair. Your face will be cleaned, and eye protection like goggles or gauze may be applied.
Your doctor may numb the area with a topical anesthetic, especially if you’re receiving a deep peel. For deep peels, your doctor may also use a regional anesthetic, which will numb large areas. They are particularly likely to do this if you’re having your face and neck treated. For deep peels, you’ll also be given an IV, and your heart rate will be closely monitored.
Light peel
During a light peel a cotton ball, gauze, or brush will be used to apply a chemical solution like salicylic acid to the area being treated. The skin will start to whiten, and may have a slight stinging sensation. Once complete, the chemical solution will be removed or a neutralizing solution will be added.
Medium peel
During a medium chemical peel, your doctor will use a gauze, special sponge, or a cotton-tipped applicator to apply the chemical solution to your face. This may contain glycolic acid or trichloroacetic acid. A blue color may be added to the trichloroacetic acid, commonly known as a blue peel. The skin will begin to whiten, and your doctor will apply a cool compress to the skin. You may feel stinging or burning for up to 20 minutes. No neutralizing solution is needed, though they may give you a hand-held fan to cool your skin. If you’ve had the blue peel you will have a blue coloring of your skin that may last for several days after the peel.
Deep peel
During a deep chemical peel, you will be sedated. The doctor will use a cotton-tipped applicator to apply phenol to your skin. This will turn your skin white or gray. The procedure will be done in 15-minute portions, to limit the skin exposure to the acid.
Skin Looks Worse After Chemical Peel
A chemical peel can cause treated skin to become darker than normal (hyperpigmentation) or lighter than normal (hypopigmentation). Hyperpigmentation is more common after superficial peels, while hypopigmentation is more common after a deep peel.
The most frequent concern people have is that their skin looks worse in the days following a chemical peel. But does that mean their skin is ruined? No.
As your skin goes through the exfoliation and regeneration process it will be a peeling mess until you’re able to see the improvement.
So we’re not gonna lie – this treatment is beneficial, but it’s not exactly a pretty process. Let’s see what you can expect after this procedure and why skin looks worse after chemical peel.
Quick Recap of Chemical Peel Treatment
Chemical peels are resurfacing procedures that gently remove the top layer of skin by applying a chemical (often an acid) to the skin in controlled doses.
When performed correctly, chemical peels are quick, efficient, and safe face rejuvenation treatments that help balance out skin tone and minimize all kinds of blemishes.
If you’re thinking about getting a chemical peel, you should anticipate that this procedure has some temporary side effects that usually go away within a week. Nonetheless, they make skin look a bit…weird during the recovery.
Can Chemical Peels Make Skin Worse?
While chemical peels are considered to be safe treatments, they do carry some risks.
The depth to which a chemical penetrates the skin during a chemical peel will determine how it affects the skin and if any issues may arise. Based on when they first manifest, complications can be divided into immediate and delayed skin reactions.
Immediate reactions happen within the first 24-48 hours and they include:
- Pain, burning, itching sensations
- Redness and changes in skin color
- Swelling and blisters
- Infection
- Adverse reactions (usually an allergic reaction, contact dermatitis, or the form of persistent irritation)
After these calm down, there may also be some delayed skin reactions. These are often what make people worried about the state of their skin’s health.
So, How Can Skin Look Worse After Chemical Peel?
Following chemical peeling treatment, there may be some delayed side effects such as skin discoloration and patchiness, a feeling of dryness and tightness – the skin may even look more wrinkled.
These are all common. But where does normal skin reaction cross over into damaged skin?
Let’s see what conditions may be impacted by this treatment and to which severity is normal.
Can Chemical Peels Make Hyperpigmentation Worse?
A chemical peel may result in the treated skin becoming either lighter (hypopigmentation) or darker (hyperpigmentation) than usual.
Usually, hyperpigmentation is more likely to happen after more superficial peels, while hypopigmentation is more common after deeper peels.
Discoloration occurs due to the body’s natural response to an injury. The body works to defend itself by increasing the production of melanin, a protein that is also responsible for the pigments in our skin.
Can Chemical Peels Make Melasma Worse?
Melasma is a form of hyperpigmentation. Melasma appears due to hormone imbalance (which is why it’s often associated with pregnancy) or due to overexposure to harmful UV rays.
This is why it’s crucial you don’t skip using SPF after a chemical peel as that can further worsen the condition.
Can Chemical Peels Make Acne Worse?
Some people experience what is called a post-peel purge. The purge happens because your body pushes out toxins – it brings all the dead skin cells, bacteria, and oil from beneath your skin to the surface, before getting rid of them.
This leads to breakouts in tiny, red bumps that may be painful when touched. Often, there may be whiteheads and blackheads that appear along with the bumps – can be the reason why your skin looks worse after chemical peel.
It’s very important you don’t pick at these blemishes. By leaving your skin alone the purging process moves along more quickly.
Can Chemical Peels Make Acne Scars Worse?
Chemical peels help skin resurface, removing skin layers until the acne scars are gone. Light or medium-strength peels don’t reach deep into the skin, but it’s important to note that they can, in certain cases, lead to scarring.
Your body’s response to the healing process determines how susceptible to scarring you will be. And both the kind and the prominence of your scars are influenced by your skin type and tone.
Before your procedure, you’ll first have a consultation with the skin care specialist. During this visit, they’ll help you determine what the best treatment option is for you. They’ll let you know the details about the specific peel you’ll be getting, and they’ll ask about anything that could interfere with the peel. This may include whether you’ve taken acne medication, and information about whether or not you scar easily.
Before a chemical peel, you must:
- not use any type of retinol or retin-A topical medication for at least 48 hours
- inform your skin care specialist about any medications you take
- not have been on Accutane for at least six months
Your doctor may also recommend that you:
- take an antiviral medication if you have a history of fever blisters or cold sores to prevent a breakout around the mouth
- use special lotions to improve treatment, like glycolic acid lotion
- use a retinoid cream to prevent skin darkening
- stop waxing, epilating, or using depilatory hair removal products the week before the peel. You should also avoid hair bleaching.
- stop using facial scrubs and exfoliants the week before the peel.
- arrange for a ride home, especially for medium or deep chemical peels, which will require you to be sedated.
If your doctor prescribes a painkiller or sedative, take it according to their instructions; you’ll likely have to take it before you come to the office.
What are the risks and possible side effects of a chemical peel?
Common side effects are temporary, and include redness, dryness, stinging or burning, and slight swelling. With deep peels, you may permanently lose the ability to tan.
Chemical peels can, however, have more serious risks and dangerous side effects that can be permanent. These include:
- Darkening or lightening of the skin color. These can be more common in people with darker skin.
- Scarring. This can be permanent.
- Infections. People with herpes simplex may experience flares following a treatment. Very rarely, chemical peels can cause fungal or bacterial infections.
- Heart, liver, or kidney damage. The phenol used in deep peels can actually damage the heart muscle, kidneys, and liver, and cause irregular heartbeats.
What to expect after
Recovery time varies depending on which chemical peel you received.
Light chemical peels
Recovery time is about four to seven days. Your skin may temporarily be lighter or darker.
Medium chemical peels
Your skin will recover about five to seven days after a medium chemical peel, though you may have redness that persists for months. Your skin will initially swell, and then form crusts and brown blotches before revealing new skin.
Deep chemical peels
Deep chemical peels will cause severe swelling and redness, with burning or throbbing sensations. It’s common for the eyelids to swell shut. It will take about two weeks for the new skin to develop, though white spots or cysts may last several weeks. It’s common for redness to last for several months.
During recovery, follow your doctor’s postop instructions faithfully. They’ll give you specific instructions for how often to wash your face and moisturize, and which products you should use to do so. Try to stay out of the sun until your skin has healed, and avoid using makeup or other cosmetics until your doctor gives you the go-ahead. You can use ice packs for 20 minutes at a time, or a cool fan, to help relieve discomfort at home.
Deep Chemical Peel
If you have deeper facial wrinkles, skin that’s damaged by the sun, scars, areas that appear blotchy or even pre-cancerous growths, deep facial chemical peels might be the right choice for you. Your provider will carefully determine if you are a good candidate for this treatment.
Your physician will use the strongest chemical called phenol to penetrate down to the lower dermal layer of your skin. For this type of peel, you may need a local anesthetic and a sedative to manage any discomfort.
A deep chemical peel usually involves some sort of pretreatment for up to eight weeks. This will prepare your skin for the peel and speed the healing process.
Pretreatment may include use of a retinoic acid cream or gel – a prescription medication that’s derived from vitamin A. This works to thin out the skin’s surface layer, allowing the chemical solution to penetrate more evenly and deeply.
Deep chemical peel procedure steps
- You will be given a sedative to relax along with a local anesthetic to numb your face.
- Phenol is brushed onto the area after an appropriate time interval.
- The chemical is neutralized with water.
- A thick coat of ointment is smoothed over your skin, to prevent dryness and pain. The ointment must stay in place. Sometimes your surgeon will cover your skin with strips of tape or medicated gauze rather than ointment.
Deep chemical peel risks
The chemical used in a deep chemical peel, phenol, can lighten the skin that’s treated. With this kind of peel, your new skin often loses its ability tan normally. It is critical that the treated area is protected from the sun.
Phenol (a deep peel agent) also can pose a special risk for people with heart disease. Be sure to tell your surgeon about any heart problems and include it in your medical history.
Deep chemical peel recovery
Patients typically can return to work and some of your normal activities two weeks after treatment.
Deep chemical facial peels will result in peeling, crusting, skin redness and discomfort for several days to weeks.
Your doctor will provide painkillers to keep you comfortable. Although the swelling is likely to disappear in about two weeks, your skin may remain red for up to three months.
- A chemical peel damages the skin in a controlled manner, producing a superficial wound.
- As the natural healing process repairs the damage, the skin’s appearance is improved.
- The nature of the chemicals applied to the skin determines the depth at which the damage occurs.
- The type of chemical peel used depends on the nature of the skin problem to be treated.
- Skin problems that respond best to chemical peels are due to chronic sun damage from ultraviolet light.
- Since most skin peels damage the skin, there is a period of recuperation necessary.
- As with any surgical procedure, there are risks, which include scarring, infection, and undesirable color changes.
- Currently, dermatologists often use chemical peels in conjunction with other destructive techniques like laser to diminish the signs of sun damage or acne scarring.
Potential Side Effect of Chemical Peels
After infection, the virus enters the nerve cells and travels up the nerve until it comes to a place called a ganglion. There, it resides quietly in a stage that is referred to as “dormant” or “latent.” At times, the virus can become active and start replicating again and travel down the nerve to the skin, causing sore outbreaks. The exact mechanism behind this is not clear, but it is known that some conditions seem to trigger recurrences, including
- a fever, a cold, or the flu;
- UV rays (sun exposure or a sunburn);
- emotional or physical stress (such as an illness or surgery);
- weakening of the immune system;
- trauma to the involved area such as dental work; and
- sometimes there is no apparent cause of the recurrence.