What to expect during a chemical peel
In my excitement of sharing everything I’d learnt about chemical peels, I think I’d mentioned practically everything about chemical peels, but its actual procedure! So next in line, I thought it right on my part to describe how a chemical peel is actually done.
I have to mention, I learnt that while most of the skin peel procedures follow the protocols mentioned below, there may be some changes here and there depending on the type of peel being done.
1. First of all, the chemical peel is carried out at a doctor’s office, a hospital or a surgery center by either a certified and trained cosmetic dermatologist or a plastic surgeon.
2. Though anesthesia is not used in chemical peels, sometimes a sedative is given to help with relaxation. This is usually given before a deep chemical peel or if the patient requests it.
3. Next, the doctor cleans the patient’s skin and may apply some topical anesthetic to the area to be treated. Then, the requisite chemical peel solution is applied on the skin. It is based on the individual patient’s needs and goals that the chemical peel solution is formulated.
4. Be ready for some tingling or stinging sensation while applying the chemical peel. No need of worrying about this as this is normal during a chemical peel.
5. Once the skin peel is on the skin for the required amount of time, it is washed off using water. Then a soothing ointment like a thick coating of petroleum jelly is applied on the treated skin.
6. With the chemical peel over and done with, the doctor will instruct you on the proper after care and perhaps give you a mild pain reliever. This is to treat any discomfort you experience after the procedure, especially in case of a deep chemical peel.
It is based on your skin condition and the depth of the chemical peel that your doctor decides on the number of treatments you have to undergo to get the desired results you are looking for.
Are chemical peels carried out on other areas besides the face?
Now that the chemical peel procedure is understood, I hope to provide an answer to the above mentioned question! (I asked myself the same question, and thought you too would be wondering about the same thing!)
Well I found out that yes, it is possible to carry out chemical peels on other parts of the body. The only difference is that the chemicals used here are different. While phenols are best for treating the face, other parts of the body is treated using a mix of the chemicals used in mild and medium skin peels.
This combination is usually one of trichloroacetic acid and glycolic acid, which is slightly stronger than the chemical solution used for light and medium facial skin peels. However the solution is milder than the phenol solution used for deep skin peels.
Just for your information, body peels are used not mainly to treat wrinkles, but to treat the effects of sun damage, improve skin texture and to even out skin pigmentation. It is also effective in minimizing and treating stretch marks of your body!
