What Do Chemical Peels Treat?

The signs of aging can be troubling for individuals in Colorado Springs, Colorado and around the country. Fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, etc. These can be quite embarrassing and may even lead to self-consciousness for many. If these sound like conditions from which you're suffering, inquiring about a chemical peel may be a worthwhile endeavor. Chemical peels produce a controlled damage to the skin so that new skin cells and collagen are produced in their place, giving the skin a refined appearance and helping to overcome many of the conditions listed above.

As different individuals have different conditions of varying degrees, chemical peels may be performed to produce varying degrees of damage to the skin. Some chemical peels treat just the dead skin cells on the top layer of skin, while others may treat to the middle part of the dermis, which is the bottom layer of skin. Depending on your condition, its severity and your own goals, exactly which degree of chemical peel is right for you may vary.

A variety of chemicals are used to produce the effective of a chemical peel. Glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), salicylic acid, "Jessners" solution, and phenol are among those used. Very light or superficial peels often contain low-potency glycolic acid and TCA, while a light peel may contain higher levels of TCA. A light peel will injure the epidermis (top layer of skin) so that a new epidermis grows in its place. Medium peels may contain an even higher level of TCA and produce an injury to the top part of the dermis to stimulate the production of collagen. A phenol solution may be used to produce deep peels that create injury to the middle part of the dermis.

The most drastic results are obtained through deeper peels with superficial peels often considered just an exfoliation of the skin. Light and medium peels product results somewhere in between. Lighter peels may treat acne or discoloration of the skin, while deeper peels may treat moderate or severe sun damage and wrinkles.

Of course, the deeper the peel, the more invasive the procedure will be. Consequently, deep peels require a much more involved recovery than superficial peels, which often allow the patient to return to normal activities almost immediately following treatment. Deep peels involve the use of bandages and may require up to a month of recovery and downtime. There are also greater risks involved with deeper peels. During a deep peel, vital signs must be monitored and patients may be put under anesthesia. It is important to discuss this with your doctor before the procedure is performed to ensure that you understand all that is involved both during and after the procedure. Possible risks of lighter peels include irritation of the skin, while risks associated with deeper peels include infection, scarring, redness and discoloration.

For pricing information, speak with a medical professional at a clinic in the Colorado Springs area. The price of chemical peels varies not only depending on the depth of the peel, but also depending on geographic location and the clinic you choose. The ultimate cost of the chemical peel may depend on the number of peels required (lighter peels may require more sessions to reach optimal results, while deeper peels may require just one session). The price can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

Learn more about chemical peels in Colorado Springs, Colorado..