How And When To Use An At Home Chemical Peel

Chemical peels can be used to help treat blotches, age spots and discolorations, sun-damage, wrinkles, fine lines, and acne, all the while smoothing and brightening the appearance of skin and restoring it with a healthy, youthful glow. A chemical peel accomplishes this by removing outer layers of flawed, dull, dry, dead skin cells. The result?A smooth, invigorated appearance featuring the underlying skin. Another additional benefit of using an at-home chemical peel lies in the fact that your skin will more readily absorb moisture. This is because the drying and dead cells form the top layer of skin, called the keratin layer, and this layer can interfere with moisturizing creams, causing them to sit on the surface of the skin, not allowing them to penetrate. Therefore, upon using a chemical peel, the usage of facial moisturizers will be greatly improved. The keratin also contains sun-damaged cells that can be precursors to cancer. Most at-home chemical peels can be used on the face, neck, hands, and arms, sometimes even on the chest and legs. The results are not permanent, and may need to be repeated as directed, every few weeks or so. Some kits recommend being applied one to two times per week; it depends on your skin sensitivity. The at-home chemical peel exists to diminish minor problems, and cannot be a substitute for larger problems.

At-home chemical peel kits contain the same ingredients as in doctor-administered chemical peels, except in a weaker formula/concentration. This allows the chemical peel to be used safely and properly, even without medical assistance. Ingredients contained in a chemical peel kit include salicylic or glycolic acid, PPT, resorcinol, sulfur, and phenol. Though phenol can be a dangerous substance, the amount contained in these chemical peels is nominal. Phenol is one of the reasons why a stronger chemical peel, performed in a physician's office, can be risky and have complications. It is then used to penetrate deeper skin layers of those with severe skin problems.

At-home kits are also beneficial because they provide a lower risk of side effects (including the redness that can last for weeks after a professional procedure), can be used in combination with at-home microdermabrasion kits or other skin treatments, cost less than a professional chemical peel, and can be done in the comfort and privacy of your own home.

The process of applying an at-home chemical peel is quite simple. Though it is called a "peel," you will not notice skin literally being "peeled" off. Rather, skin will be exfoliated with a sloughing action, and the dull, dead surface cells will dissolve, bringing new, healthy skin cells to the surface. The exfoliation process only takes 10-12 minutes; some brands boast even shorter usage times. Various brand names offer different kinds of chemical peel applicators and applications, including creams, gels, and pads. Some will foam upon usage, some will appear like a mask on your face, and some may burn a bit, depending on how sensitive your skin is.

If you are considering using a chemical peel, please proceed with caution. Know your skin, and if it has reacted sensitively to products in the past, do not use a chemical peel twice a week; instead, try it perhaps once a month. Be sure to moisturize after using the chemical peel as well.