Bringing New Skin To The Surface With Chemical Peels

You've heard about them. You've had a couple yourself. Maybe. Or you know someone who has gone through many.

Chemical peels. Even those two words together sound complicated and frightening. And they can be. But chemical peels can also 'peel' away the many layers of tough, weathered, pimpled and sun-damaged skin. And what comes to surface, is a glowing complexion. Lines and wrinkles are less visible.

You can do a chemical peel yourself. Most dermatologists would call you crazy and foolish to mess around with ingredients that can burn your face. So most women and men head to a professional. At least there, you are carefully monitored for any adverse reaction that could pop up during the peel procedure. You are also having an expert apply the peel, one who would know exactly what peel strength to suit your individual needs. And you are given advice following your peel, and a professional to contact immediately, should you have problems later on.

Oh, by the way, peels can cost lots of money when done by a dermatologist. And that's what irks most people. A light peel could cost you $300-$600. A medium peel, $500-$1,000. And a deep peel, $2,000.

According to Dr. Eric F. Bernstein, at http://www.chemicalpeel.org/, a chemical peel is a beauty treatment that is designed to exfoliate and rejuvenate the skin. The results include a tightening of the skin and also an improvement with brown and pre-cancerous spots. Your facial surface is softer and smoother.

"Typically during a chemical peel nothing actually "peels" off. A chemical solution is applied to the skin, and works by dissolving the upper layers of the skin. As the tissue is dissolved, a wound is created on the skin which stimulates the body's healing response, causing new tissue to emerge. The depth and strength of the 'peel' varies based upon the strength of the chemicals used and the length of time the solution is applied."

But at-home peels are gaining in popularity. These treatments are usually lower in peel strength and are safe for your skin, if directions are followed precisely. And at-home peels are much cheaper. A 6-day treatment, for example, costs about $60. And yes, you can get great results with an at-home peel.

There are several kinds of chemical peels. AHAs or alpha hydroxy acid peels(most popular), TCA peels, and Phenol peels. Some peels are aggressive. Others are much milder and help clear up acne.

Just do your homework, should you decide on an at-home chemical peel. There are a number of things to consider. For example, if you are on Retin-A medication, you might have to stop using it a couple of weeks before a peel.

We like these 3 websites for an education on peels:

http://www.chemicalpeel.org/

http://www.platinumskincare.com/

http://www.skinculture.com/