Are Chemical Peels Effective For Acne Scars?

Dermatologists near you answer your biggest concern, ‘are chemical peels effective for acne scars?’

Clear and blemish-free skin is desired by all of us. It is an indicator of good health and adds to the natural beauty of a person. However, clear skin is hard to achieve if you have acne-prone skin. If you suffer from occasional acne, you know the pimples are not half as bad as the scars left behind them.

Pimples caused by acne usually go away on their own in 4-7 days. However, they leave behind stubborn scars which take months, if not years, to fade away. These scars occur as a result of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation of the skin.

Pimples are formed when bacteria infect the pores of the skin which have become clogged with sebum and dirt. To counter this infection, white blood cells come into action and attack the bacteria infecting the skin.

As the pimple recovers, the body sometimes produces cells that contain too much melanin. This causes the skin to blemish and often dark brown or red marks appear even after the pimple disappears. The scars give the appearance of uneven skin tone and are unappealing to look at. Acne scars can impact a person’s appearance and consequently his self-esteem.

There are several clinically-proven methods that can help you get rid of acne scars by diminishing their appearance. Chemical peels are one such method. Let us take a more in-depth look at the working of chemical peels for combating acne scars.

What Are Chemical Peels and How Do They Function?

• Chemical peels are made from different types of skin-friendly acids. They are applied to the face, neck, and hands to help improve the appearance of the skin. They work by exfoliating the outermost layer of skin. When a chemical peel is applied to the skin, it starts dissolving the tiny bonds which hold the skin together.

The outermost layer of the skin eventually starts peeling off and a new layer of skin is revealed. The new skin is plumper, younger, and has suffered less damage than the skin above it. As the outermost layer of skin sheds off, the appearance of acne marks also reduces. Chemical peels also increase the rate of cell turnover which means new skin cells are produced rapidly.

• Chemical peels also help unclog skin pores by removing layers of dead cells. This results in reduced acne breakouts and subsequently blemish-free skin.

What is The Procedure for Chemical Peels?

Chemical peels are cosmetic procedures that are usually performed by a trained esthetician. Book an appointment at a reputable skincare spa such as Missoula Wellness and Medispa. The application of chemical peels usually involves the following steps:

• The face is cleaned with a medicated cleanser.
• Eye protection equipment such as goggles or gauze is used to cover the eyes.
• Local anesthesia may be applied over your face if you are opting for a deep peel.
• After that, the solution containing the chemical peel is applied by the esthetician with the help of a brush, pad, or sponge.
• The peel is allowed to stay on the face for 15-30 minutes depending upon the type of peel and the extent of acne scars.
• The esthetician will carefully observe the changes in your skin’s color and appearance. Once the skin has changed the color, the peel is removed using a light cloth.
• A neutralizing agent is applied to the skin after removing the peel.

After that, you are free to go home and carry on with routine activities.

Precautions

• Even though most chemical peels are not invasive, you must take certain safety measures after undergoing a chemical peel process. Limit your exposure to the sun as the skin is quite sensitive after the application of a chemical peel. Use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or above even while staying indoors.