Chemical peels are one of the skincare industry’s best-kept secrets to getting healthy, glowing, youthful skin. While the idea of a chemical peel may sound scary (it’s nothing to be scared of—in fact, it’s a safe and well-practiced treatment), chemical peel benefits are well worth any downtime that comes with the treatment. While the main chemical peel benefits include lightening acne scars and pigmentation, improved skin texture and tone, and an overall healthy appearance, deciding on the right chemical peel for you is important to achieve the desired results. Consider this your primer on the main benefits of chemical peels and all they offer.
What is a Chemical Peel?
Chemical peels are a form of exfoliation that uses an exfoliating acid in a chemical solution to lift away dead skin cells from the top layer of skin. The dead skin cells shed or flake off as the skin peels, revealing fresh, new skin underneath.
What Are the Benefits of Chemical Peels?
There are several benefits of chemical peels, but the main ones are that the treatment reveals a brighter, smoother, and more refined complexion. Chemical peels are also one of the most versatile treatments and can be used on many body areas to treat many skin conditions.
Some of the most significant benefits of a chemical peel include:
1. Reduce pore size:
Enlarged pores can mar the appearance of the skin. While it’s hard to shrink them, chemical peels can exfoliate the top layer of skin and help them appear smaller and tighter.
2. Diminish acne scars and acne:
Acne and acne scars respond well to chemical peels and work differently than topical creams and treatments, by exfoliating the outermost layer of skin to unclog pores and lighten surface scars.
3. Improved skin texture:
When the skin is rough and uneven, it can appear bumpy and unsmooth. A chemical peel can help balance the skin by lifting away dead skin cells that prevent the skin from appearing smoother.
4. Lighten discoloration:
Hyperpigmentation and discoloration is frustrating to deal with. Chemical peels can help fade stubborn discoloration for more even-looking skin.
How Chemical Peels Work
Chemical peels work via exfoliating acids that raise the skin’s acidity and loosen the cells that form the “glue” between dead skin and healthy skin. Once that bond is loose, it’s easier for the dead skin to be exfoliated and for the healthy skin underneath to be revealed. The exfoliation of dead skin cells leads to increased collagen production, improving skin tone and texture. The exfoliation level can be superficial or deep depending on how deep the chemical peel reaches into the skin.
Chemical peels can be customized to accommodate your skin type and current skin concerns. They’re even safe to use on sensitive and darker skin, although it’s best to always take precautions.
