CHEMICAL PEELING

What is Chemical Peeling?

As our age progresses, our skin cannot renew itself as quickly as it used to, and this leads to a matt appearance of the skin. In addition, its elasticity and resistance to external factors are reduced. In this scenario, the chemical peeling process, which is a non-surgical cosmetic procedure, becomes a lifesaver.

Chemical peeling is a cosmetic process that removes the top layer of the skin by applying a chemical solution with an acidic formulation to the face, neck or hand area. The skin coming from underneath is smoother and fresher, providing a high-quality look of the skin.

After the procedure, we observe the decrease in skin spots, decrease of wrinkles, live, the healthy and firm look of the skin, shrinkage of pores, softer and brighter look.

The acidic chemical solution, in a sense, damages the skin in a controlled way, so that the swollen skin layer peels off by itself. The way chemical peeling works is as follows:

It is a procedure of superficial skin layer exfoliation by various acidic substances with different densities. The application of these products to the facial skin causes a slight burn which destroys the cell connections between the superficial skin cells and thus provides exfoliation. After the exfoliation of the superficial skin layer, the skin cell regeneration increases, and the skin gets covered with a layer of young cells. This procedure does not cause any constant skin thinning.

Although sometimes offered as an alternative to each other, chemical peeling can be used in combination with microdermabrasion and dermabrasion in different treatment solutions. We are frequently asked questions like: "Should I use chemical peeling or dermaroller?" People think that these methods are competing with each other, but in fact, they are not.

Who should have chemical peeling?

• Those who have;
• skin scar, scarred skin appearance
• uneven skin color or dark skin stains
• wrinkles or skin defects caused by the sun
• acne problems
• fine lines around the mouth and under-eye
• body skin stretchmarks
• disturbing freckles
• oily skin problems
• with age spots

Therefore, chemical peeling may be very useful for those having one or more of the above problems. Chemical peeling is mostly known as the skin spots treatment. Besides, it is one of the most effective methods of pore shrinkage.

What are the types of chemical peeling?

First of all, it is important to note that what kind of product will be used and how deep peeling treatment will be applied will vary according to your aesthetic expectations. On the other hand, your expectation about the recovery time of your treatment is another factor that affects the use of peel acid.

AHA (Alpha hydroxy acids): Lactic, glycolic, and fruit acids are included in this group. Glycolic acid is the most common superficial peeling agent used today. AHAs improve skin texture by stimulating the production of collagen and elastin. It consists of organic acids in the structure of certain foods. The most commonly used one is glycolic acid, which is made from sugar cane. Lactic acid is obtained from soured milk. Malic acid and pyruvic acid are composed of natural acids found in different fruits.

The glycolic acid peeling method provides partial epidermis exfoliation, cell regeneration, and skin rejuvenation. Compared to the deep peeling method this method helps control cell regeneration more effectively.

Depending on the strength of the glycolic acid used, it can be applied weekly or monthly. Your doctor will determine a process based on your skin type characteristics or other factors.

Jessner's solution: It is used for superficial peeling. Jessner's solution contains 14% salicylic acid, 14% lactic acid, and 14% resorcinol. In acne-prone skin, it gives positive results in compressing the pores. It is also highly effective for fine lines, but it is rarely used for deep wrinkles and acne scars.

TCA (Trichloroacetic Acid): TCA is the most commonly used for mid-deep peeling processes. It is possible to adjust the depth of the skin peeling by changing the chemical density in TCA solutions.

The peeling depth of the TCA is higher than AHA and should only be performed under the careful supervision of an experienced dermatologist.

TCA is not recommended for people with dark skin as it may cause a condition called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, but it is a highly effective skin regeneration technique when applied to the right person.

Recovery may take from a few days to a few weeks.

You may find some of our before and after results, below;

CHEMICAL PEELING - Before and After Gallery

How is the procedure applied? What are the stages? How often is chemical peeling applied?

• Skin is cleaned from dirt and oil.
• Acidic product is applied and kept for 5 to 15 minutes.
• The acid is neutralized and removed from the skin.
• Usually, 3-8 sessions are performed in 2-4 week intervals.

How is chemical peeling done at DK Klinik?

What are the side effects of chemical peeling? Are there risks to the procedure?

Some of the questions we are asked about chemical peeling frequently mentioned concerns like "chemical peeling left stain", ”brown stains after chemical peeling", "face swelling after chemical peeling". In this section, we tried to answer these concerns.

The biggest reason why chemical peeling is expressed as dangerous in public is the fact that the procedure is done in beauty salons and places with questionable reliability. Chemical peeling is a serious procedure, so it should only be applied by doctors. Otherwise, it may cause serious damage to your skin.

As long as the procedure is performed by a dermatologist, it does not have serious risks.

Other factors that alter the risks and the incidence of side effects are your skin type, use of sun protection after the procedure, and the depth of procedure applied.

Although in some cases cosmetic procedures have side effects, they are limited and preventable as long as the process is supervised by a doctor.

It is expected to have redness, sensitivity, dryness, and exfoliation for several days to 1-2 weeks after the procedure. It is not a side effect.

The following side effects may occur after the procedure. The most common of theь are skin stains.

• Hyperpigmentation as a result of over-production of melanin in the skin (darkening of the skin, mainly seen in people who do not use sun protection enough)
• Reduced skin color (hypopigmentation)
• Risk of infection (this risk is seen in deep peels)

What should be taken into consideration before the chemical peeling?

Things to be avoided 3 days before the procedure:

• Skincare
• Hair coloring
• Hair removal (laser, waxing, tweezers, rope, depilatory cream, gel hair removal)
• Peeling, brush cleaning, and mechanical peeling
• Skin peeling applications (glycolic acid, creams containing retinoic acid)
• Cosmetic procedures such as botox may cause skin sensitivity.

It is recommended to moisten the skin up to 1 week before the procedure, stop smoking to accelerate the recovery, and avoid taking blood thinners such as aspirin. In order to minimize the complications that may occur on the day of treatment, it is recommended that men stay away from shaving and women avoid makeup. It is recommended to avoid sports and exercise to avoid sweating on the day of the procedure.

What should be taken into consideration after the chemical peeling?

• Do not peel the crust, the treated area should not be scratched.
• Use moisturizing creams recommended by the doctor.
• Avoid the sun as much as possible.
• High protection factor sun creams should be applied even in winter. (You can read our article about how to choose sunscreen.)

Who should not use chemical peeling? In which cases it should not be applied?

• Open wound
• Herpes infection
• Wart
• Eczema, rosacea, skin cancer
• The use of retinoic acid medicines (such as Roaccutane) should be stopped at least 6 months before the procedure.
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Vascular lesions (hemangioma, telangiectasia, couperose)
• People allergic to the sun
• People who tried chemical peeling with disappointing results
• Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers

What is the recovery period after chemical peeling?

The most important factor that determines the recovery time of the process is the type of the procedure. The deeper the peeling, the longer the healing process. Besides, the density of the chemical increases the recovery time. Nevertheless, it is difficult to give a clear answer to this question, because the reactions and healing rates of individuals' skin differ. In superficial peeling, redness or slight exfoliation occurs for 1-5 days. In deep peeling, edema and skin tightness, as well as a brown layer, are common. This layer flakes in 7-10 days.

The results take effect generally 24-48 hours to 7-10 days after the procedure, during which the skin peels off and recovery is expected.

Will I feel pain during the procedure?

There may be a slight burning and stinging sensation that may last 5-10 minutes during the procedure. Patients can go back to their daily routine after the procedure.

Is Chemical Peeling Applicable at Home?

We do not recommend applying peeling at home. There are several reasons for this. First, you will most likely have to visit a dermatologist to help you with the possible side effects. Second, limited effect of the products produced for home peeling.

Almost all of the products produced for your home use contain very low acid concentrations to reduce the risk of side effects. This leads to frustration for those who want to get rid of sunspots or who expect a serious improvement in their skin quality.

Using products that are inscribed as professional can cause serious harm because they contain high acid concentrations. If not applied by the right people, it may cause frustration. Therefore, you should definitely consult your dermatologist to get information on the subject.

Does Chemical Peeling lighten skin color?

One of the most frequently asked questions is: "What are the areas that chemical peeling is applied other than the face?". Skin lightening can be applied to all areas of the body. Chemical peeling lightens the skin color when applied to the underarm region, bikini line, etc. where the skin is darker.

What is the age to start having chemical peeling?

There is no age limit set by the FDA for the procedure. Anyone who wants to get rid of the acne problem in adolescence, who wants smoother skin in their 70s, anyone the doctor finds a suitable candidate for the procedure can have a chemical peeling.

Can chemical peeling be applied in summer? In which seasons are chemical peeling made?

It is not recommended to have chemical peeling in summer since it is harder to protect yourself from the sun. If you intend not to leave your home for a week after the procedure or if you can be protected from the sun when you are out (using high-factor sunscreen, a black umbrella, wearing a hat) a superficial chemical peeling can be applied. However, in our clinic, we do not apply chemical peeling starting from the end of spring to mid-autumn.