Chemical Peels

During a chemical peel, chemical solutions of varying strengths are carefully brushed onto the skin. The chemicals remove skin cells on the surface of the skin and stimulate the production of new skin cells below. This leaves the skin smoother, less wrinkled, and more youthful in appearance.

Chemical peels can be used effectively for a wide range of skin conditions including:

• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Uneven pigmentation
• Shallow acne scars
• Sun-damaged skin
• Age spots
• Freckling

Chemical peeling can be performed on the face, neck, chest, hands, arms, or legs. It is most effective at changing the appearance on the surface of the skin. Effects of aging in deeper tissues, such as drooping eyelids and loose skin below the chin, must be treated with other procedures.
Chemical peels are categorized by how deeply the chemicals penetrate the skin: superficial, medium, or deep. Superficial peels use mild chemicals, such as alpha-hydroxy acids, which penetrate only the uppermost layer of the epidermis. Medium and deep peels use stronger agents.

Superficial chemical peel 
A superficial chemical peel mostly helps the “tone” and texture” of the skin. It can help diminish freckles and brown spots and sometimes improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes and mouth. At Arizona Advanced Dermatology we use both alpha hydroxyl acid and salicylic acid for our superficial peels. These may be referred to as "lunchtime peels". Patients with minimal skin damage often respond best to a series of superficial peels combined with a skin care regimen, including topical retinoids and daily sunscreen use.

Medium-depth peel
A medium-depth peel is more effective for patients with moderate skin damage, including age spots, freckles, and actinic keratoses. A moderate strength of trichloroacetic  acid is used for this type of peel. It may be combined with another treatment such as laser resurfacing for maximum effectiveness.

Deep Chemical peels
Deep chemical peels are used for patients with significant wrinkles and sun damaged skin. This procedure is done with a high concentration of trichloroacetic acid. Recovery time is measured in weeks. Following a deeper chemical peel, your new skin will be tighter, smoother, and perhaps slightly lighter in color than before surgery. Today it is more common to have a laser resurfacing procedure as opposed to a deep chemical peel.