Facial peels are almost as old as time itself. History has shown a significant wealth of evidence indicating that some Egyptian, Greek, and Roman royal families have been using it as a prime method in achieving and maintaining their beautiful skin. So the myth about Cleopatra is probably true, then...

Anyways, there’s a reason why facial peels still endure in popularity: for anyone who cannot be bothered waiting for three months before their acne, wrinkle, or dark spot will gradually disappear, a facial peel can immediately remove these blemishes and more. But before immediately embarking on the “peel bandwagon”, you need to know some specific information for you to be more informed about the treatment, and for you to make an “informed decision” (yes, we’re really stating it like you’re about to undergo a  major operation).

Facial peels—for the uninitiated people like us—are often called chemical peels, and with good reason; acid solutions are an integral part of this treatment. But it’s not like the acids that are used for bathroom tiles, oh no; these are naturally occurring acid solutions that can be found on organic food stuff. For example, the alpha-hydroxy acid is a compound of sugar cane, while lactic acid can be derived from milk and milk products. Weird as it may seem to some, but some of the best chemicals out there aren’t cultured inside a lab, but can often be found in Mother Nature’s abode. Yes, the last statement may reek of some hippie nonsense, but no one can argue with what the results of these compounds bring.

Just like there are hundreds of skin peels out in the market, there are also dozens of facial peels that have gained widespread use over the years. Generally, there are three chemical peels that dermatologists often use for their clients: the light facial peel is—as you may guess—indicated for those people who have mild to moderate acne, some wrinkling, and an uneven skin tone; medium chemical peels, on the other hand, act as a much “stronger” treatment than the former due to the fact that it can penetrate at a much deeper layer. However, your skin will need some time to “recover” since it’s at this point that the treatment can cause some potential major discomfort; finally, the deep facial peel is perhaps the harshest of all these three classifications, as these are really indicated for severe cases of skin problems like blotches, rougher facial wrinkles, and even some overt malignant growths on the skin.

So what other things should you really be aware of before you proceed “soaking” your face in some acid? Oh yes, the typical effects (which is quite expected at any facial peel treatment) are a “burning” sensation and some degrees of redness on the skin. If anything, these are just obvious signs that your skin is indeed enjoying a “renewed” growth of skin tissue on the affected tissue.

So, all in all, what can one enjoy when s/he is a subject to a single facial peel session? As anyone can attest to, in terms of skin care, a chemical peel can offer a cluster of benefits that is just more than just curing your acne or your wrinkles; a dull and unhealthy looking skin means that your face has accumulated so much free radicals that it can only prove to be harmful and dangerous in the end. So yeah, facial peels are basically antioxidants before anyone knew what an antioxidant should look like. We bet you that’s why Cleopatra has managed to stay so beautiful and fresh for such a long time. But we digress.

So these are the necessary things that you need to know when you want to involve yourself in a facial peel treatment. Whether it’s at home or in a clinic, just make sure that you inform yourself with the proper knowledge before embarking on this treatment. For other questions, please consult your dermatologist.