If you have even a passing familiarity with the animal kingdom, you will be aware of the fact that snakes shed their skins on a regular basis, discarding old and damaged scales for a lustrous, smooth new hide. Don’t you wish humans could do the same thing? Wouldn’t you want to renew your aged, pollution-saturated, sun-dried skin in one simple process?

While medical science has not yet progressed in genetic advancement to allow us to replicate this snaky trait, you can achieve virtually the same effect using a non-surgical cosmetic treatment commonly known as a chemical peel. This procedure basically involves using a particular chemical solution to slough and peel off dead and damaged surface skin, which improves the texture and smoothness of the new skin beneath. The regenerated skin is normally superior to the skin that it replaced. This process is used for a number of purposes, which include but are not limited to the following:

· Treatment of acne

· Treatment of wrinkles caused by damage from the sun, aging and heredity

· Improvement of the appearance of mild scars

· Reduction of lines around the mouth and under the eyes

· Correction of skin pigmentation unevenness

· Removal of various minor blemishes

The type of chemical peel solution to be used depends on the intensity of the peel that the patient needs for his or her particular skin condition. For light peeling treatments, alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) peels, which include glycolic and lactic acid, are used, as they are the mildest chemical solutions, working only on the surface area of the skin. AHAs can be mixed with a mild cream or facial wash and be used as part of a daily cleansing regimen to gradually improve the skin’s suppleness and smoothness.

Beta hydroxy acid (BHA) peels are utilized for patients who require a slightly stronger solution. BHA penetrates the pores and actually controls the production of skin oil that leads to acne and other skin problems. Salicylic acid is one such example of a BHA.

Refining of wrinkles and correction of pigmentation may be performed using a retinoic acid treatment, which is higher in concentration and severity than a BHA and produces a deeper peel. Because of its relative strength, patients who are treated with this solution are often administered a mild anesthetic to reduce discomfort. Tricholoroacetic acid (TCA) is another medium-level peel, good for superficial blemishes and surface wrinkles, that must be diluted or it may cause scarring. While stronger than the light peels, repeated treatment may still be necessary for more advanced cases.

Phenol peels are the strongest solutions, used to treat pre-cancerous growths, smooth out the coarsest of wrinkles, and correct large blotches caused by sun damage. These harsh solutions, however, may cause permanent sensitivity to sunlight and the elements, since the skin loses its ability to produce pigmentation. Also, phenol peels are only applied to the face. They will cause scarring if used to treat the neck or other body parts. Due to the extreme pain associated with the procedure, phenol peels are normally conducted under general anesthesia and a potent sedative.

After a chemical peel, the patient will typically experience symptoms similar to sunburn, such as reddening of the treated area, general sensitivity and pain, and scaling that lasts over three to seven days. Deeper peel treatments may cause swelling and the formation of water blisters that will eventually become scab-like and fall off over a period of one to two weeks. In all cases, minimal exposure to the sun and use of sunscreen is essential. Mild peels can be repeated on intervals of between one and four weeks, while stronger peels can be repeated after a period of six to twelve months.