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The procedure known as chemical peeling (or chemexfoliation to give it its proper name) involves the application of a chemical solution to the surface of the skin to produce the careful removal of its outer layers. The amount of skin removed will depend on the type of chemical used, the strength of this product and how long it is left on the skin.
Chemical peels are usually described according to how deep they work on the skin. Below are some examples of the type of peels and the kind of language you can expect to hear used when discussing chemical peels.
Look at the diagram below to see where the different layers are and where different types of peels act on the skin.
SUPERFICIAL PEELS Remove the outer layer of the skin or the “epidermal layers”.
MEDIUM DEPTH PEELS Remove both the epidermal layers and upper dermal layers. These are the next layers down as you can see on the diagram.
DEEP PEELS Peeling extends deeper into the lower dermal layer of the skin.
No matter how deep the peel, your skin will re-grow and should heal fully.
If you choose to have a deeper peel – maybe to get rid of wrinkles or acne scars – when the skin re-grows, it will not “remember” the blemishes that were there before. As the new skin develops, a new band of collagen in the dermis will grow along with a thicker epidermis. Hence, your skin will appear smoother and more perfect than before the treatment.
The deeper the peel, the greater potential for improvement to the skin. However, a minority of people can experience some side effects with deeper peels.