Chemical peels for acne scars

Introduction to acne scars

Acne scarring is a real problem that many people face, especially those who had a severe case of acne while growing up.

We all know what acne is, it is a skin condition in which the sebaceous glands of the skin are clogged, which results in infections, inflammations and unsightly blemishes on the skin.

When the acne eventually heals, it can leave behind dark spots on the skin, and in the worst cases, especially, when the acne infection was deep, it will leave scarring.

People who suffer from acne scars want to get rid of them, because they are rather unsightly and people often have self-esteem problems because of them.

Many people use chemical peels in order to try and get rid of the scarring.

Chemical peel ingredients

Chemical peels obviously contain chemicals. These chemicals can help to exfoliate the skin, which means to mildly burn the outer layers of the skin in order for new, healthy skin to grow in and replace it.

Some of the chemicals that are most commonly used in these procedures include glycolic acid, salicylic acid, trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and phenol.

The best one for acne scar removal is said to be trichloroacetic acid, because it is stronger than most, but the strongest one of the bunch is phenol, which is used to remove the deepest scars.

However, they can lead to burning and side effects if not used correctly.

It is also important to remember that there are some acne scars that are even too deep for phenol to be effective. In these situations, laser treatment is probably the best option.How it works

After the chemicals peels are applied to the scars, if done correctly, the chemicals will not do any severe damage to the skin, but will promote the growth of new cells and help to improve the texture of the skin.

If the person is using an AHA peel, this alpha hydroxy acid is derived from fruits and natural plant products.

These are good for exfoliating the upper layers of the skin by making the dead skin cells on the surface loose and then stripping them away.

BHA peels contain a mixture of fruit and lactic acid and this is the peel that people who have very sensitive skin should use, because it is the most mild of them all.

Phenol peels need to be applied in a hospital by a certified dermatologists because they are extremely strong and powerful. The procedure could last for up to an hour and it usually must be done twice in order to see the effects.