Chemical peels are a popular treatment for reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and for giving you a nice glow. But what exactly allows them to improves the appearance of the skin? If you've found yourself wanting to know more about this process before committing to it, then here's the answer to your question.

Cell Turnover

One of the first things to know when it comes to chemical peels is how your skin naturally behaves.

Everyone has multiple layers of skin on their face. When you're young, the body rapidly replaces older cells with newer ones, shedding the old ones in the process. This is why young people tend to have glowing, healthy-looking skin. However, as people age and are exposed to skin damage due to things like pollution and sun exposure, this process slows down. Cells take longer to be replaced, which means you have older, duller-looking skin sticking around on the surface of your face for longer. 

Breaking Down Surface Layer

Chemical peels help with this process by doing what the body isn't as efficient at anymore: getting rid of old skin cells to reveal healthy new ones.

There are different types of chemical peels with varying levels of efficacy and intensity. Light chemical treatments, like the kind that can be used at home, will help to speed up the natural turnover of the skin. In time, they can lead to impressive-looking skin and a more youthful appearance. However, if you're interested in quicker results, seeing a professional is best. They can provide you with a medium to high strength chemical peel that will rapidly break down the surface layer of your skin, sometimes in as little as a single treatment.

Revealing New Skin

Once the dead skin cells have been broken down and sloughed off by the chemical peel treatment, newer, healthier skin will be revealed. As this skin hasn't been exposed to things like the sun, it will look far fresher and more youthful than what you've been seeing in the mirror recently.

From there, regular light chemical peels can help to maintain the effects so that you can go from day to day looking your best. Your dermatologist will be able to tell you what your skin needs after evaluating you in a first appointment. This gives them an opportunity to thoroughly view your skin and to perform any necessary tests to ensure that you're healthy and eligible for a chemical skin peel.