In the quest for younger, fresher skin, some women and men visit a dermatologist or cosmetic surgery office to get what is called a skin peel. These are also called chemical peels or even chemical exfoliations. The procedure can be very mild and only used to remove the oldest skin cells from the surface in order to reveal the new ones underneath, or it can be deeper with the intent to peel more of the external epidermis off more quickly.
While this may sound horrifying to some, skin peels are a commonly performed procedure for people who want to take exfoliation to the next level. Most of the time, they result in some redness and irritation until the new skin relaxes. However, it is possible that your skin peel may result in a chemical burn on your skin that will cause more problems and possibly scarring instead of revealing a more attractive you.
How Can a Skin Peel Burn the Skin?
A skin peel involves putting a chemical solution on your skin, waiting a period of time, neutralizing the chemical with another chemical, and then removing the paste or lotion and making sure your skin is completely clean.
Instead of asking how a skin peel can burn your skin, the more appropriate question would be how much. The point of the skin peel is to create a chemical burn on your skin. A surface or shallow peel is little different than putting an exfoliating fruit acid or other natural product on it and then wash it off. The result can be a bit of redness and irritation for a day or two.
A moderate skin peel takes longer, uses a stronger chemical, and requires neutralization with another compound in order to stop the chemical burn process. This chemical is left on long enough to give your skin a second-degree burn. Because this hurts, oral pain relievers and mild sedatives are often used in the office.
Some people opt for a deep skin peel to get a more drastic result that lasts longer. They will also get a second-degree chemical burn over their face or whatever body part is getting the peel. Besides pain relievers, some offices monitor heart rhythms or even use an IV during the process. These deep appeal procedures are not simply for exfoliating your facial skin for a younger look. They are usually used for wound or acne scars, drastic discoloration problems, and precancerous sun damage.
In your quest for a more youthful look and fresher skin, a chemical skin peel may be one part of the process. Before you make an appointment to have the procedure done, talk extensively with the doctor to learn how deep the chemical peel will be and how long recovery will take. Be aware that no matter what type of skin peel you choose, your skin will receive a chemical burn. Avoid the deepest peels if you wish to minimize the possibility of having second-degree chemical burns that can adversely affect the way you look and feel for a long time to come.
