There are three main categories of chemical peels, and your doctor will know which is appropriate for your particular case.

• Superficial or midday peel : Only the top layer of skin is penetrated to gently exfoliate it using alpha-hydroxy acid or another mild acid. The procedure is used to freshen the face, neck, chest, or hands as well as to lessen the look of moderate skin discolouration and rough skin.
• Medium peel : To eliminate damaged skin cells from the outer and middle layers of skin, glycolic or trichloroacetic acid is used. Age spots, fine lines and wrinkles, freckles, and mild skin discolouration can all be improved by the procedure. It can also be used to cure some precancerous skin growths, such as actinic keratosis, and smooth out rough skin.
• Deep peel : Tricholoracetic acid or phenol is administered to remove damaged skin cells from the middle layer of skin. The procedure gets rid of small scars, freckles, age spots, and mild lines. The appearance of the skin will dramatically improve for patients. The face is the only area of the body where the technique is employed.

What Can I Expect?

A chemical peel is performed without hospitalisation. Your practitioner will start by thoroughly cleansing your skin. Then they will administer one or more chemical solutions to small sections of your skin, such as glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, or carbolic acid (phenol). Most people experience a burning feeling for five to ten minutes during the procedure, followed by a stinging sensation. The stinging could be lessened by applying cool compresses to the skin. Taking painkillers during or after a deeper peel may be necessary for certain people.

Post-Treatment Aftercare is necessary for all peels:

It takes one to seven days for superficial peels to heal. The skin after treatment may initially be red and scale. Before using daily sunscreen, apply lotion or cream to the skin while it heals. The following day, makeup can typically be worn.

It is significant to remember that following therapy, careful attention is needed. Wearing sunscreen every day is essential due to the skin's propensity to be more sensitive to the sun. Additionally, the sunscreen must be "broad-spectrum," which means that it must shield the user from both UVA and UVB radiation of the sun. Additionally, it would be wise to limit your exposure to the sun, particularly between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm.