Chemical peels can:

• Make rough skin softer and smoother.
• Improve sun damage/spots (photoaging) and hyperpigmentation such as melasma
• Minimize and tighten large pores
• Smooth uneven skin tone
• Decrease acne and blemish breakouts.
• Reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
• Diminish the appearance of superficial scars, such as acne scars
• Increase collagen and elastin

There are a variety of chemical peels out in the market. The different chemical solutions produce different degrees of injury to the skin. There are two layers of the skin; the outer layer is called the epidermis. Mild to moderate peels work at the epidermal layer and are safe with minimal risk of any complications, but are also very effective at treating the conditions listed above.

ABOUT THIS TREATMENT

All chemical peels involve applying a chemical solution to remove the outer layers of skin so that a smoother, more evenly pigmented, glowing layer of skin can appear. There are three basic categories of chemical peels. Each type works differently, and produces different results. PHP Aesthetic Centre only uses AHA peels and TCA peels since Phenol peels are very invasive and require at least two to three weeks of down time. Deeper peels (eg. TCA and phenol peels) produce injury within the dermis and can reverse moderate-to-severe photoageing and wrinkles, but require longer recovery periods and carry a higher risk of complications.

At your visit, we will discuss the best chemical peel choice for your skin.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids(AHA) are found in plants and food such as citrus fruits, apples, grapes, sugar cane and sour milk. The acid breaks the intracellular bonds of the epidermis and accelerates the sloughing of the superficial dead skin cells of the epidermis. Lactic acid and glycolic acids are the two most common AHA acids found in skin care products. This peel is considered a light peel and patients will require multiple treatments to see results.

After cleansing the skin to remove oils, the peeling agent is carefully applied. Within minutes, there is a very warm sensation that feels like sunburn. This lasts for a few minutes and is rapidly relieved by the application of cool compresses. Very rarely, there may be some swelling, especially around the eyes for the first two days, but discomfort is minimal. By the third or fourth day, the skin has a tight feeling and sheds. This is replaced by skin with a pink colour and smooth texture, usually on days 5 to 7.