There are three juxtaposing strengths of peels used today: superficial, medium and deep. Choosing which peel is best for the client depends on the practitioner’s license, their expertise and critical evaluation of the client’s skin type and concerns. In order to understand the difference between these peel classifications, it is important to examine the pros and cons of each. Thereafter, the practitioner can make an informed decision on which type of peel is best for their client.
PEEL CHEMISTRY
A chemical peel is a skin resurfacing technique whose application loosens the weak outer layers of skin and facilitates their removal. The most common type of chemical peel are acids. Acid peels work to remove cells from the skin’s upper epidermis by breaking weak chemical bonds that hold together the epidermal skin cells, termed corneocytes or keratinocytes. Depending on the strength, pH, and delivery agent of the peel product, the skin cells delaminate and lift away first in the upper epidermis of the stratum corneum and next in the underlying layer of densely packed dead cells in the lower levels of the epidermis. As the peel process proceeds, or upon subsequent treatment, a peel can penetrate further into the thickness of the epidermis to interact with and weaken the bonds holding together lower epidermal cells. This mild trauma to the epidermis kickstarts the skin’s natural healing process, resulting in new epidermal cells and a rejuvenated appearance.
Les Nouvelles Esthétiques & Spa
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