Skin Care: The Dangers of Chemical Peels
When simpler techniques appear ineffective, some of us turn to more aggressive methods to solve our skin care issues.
A facial chemical peel is an example of one of those more "aggressive" treatments. And what exactly is a chemical peel?
It’s a procedure during which a chemical agent is applied to the skin to remove the top layer. The chemical agent is of a unique advanced strength to invasively exfoliate the skin. After the procedure, the skin can grow back smoother, and sometimes surface level scar tissue, blemishes, and wrinkles will diminish.
Although alluring with promises to reduce wrinkles and enliven the skin, chemical peels can be dangerous if not performed properly, with the potential to permanently damage your skin.
According to an article in the National Library of Medicine, some complications to chemical peels include:
The likelihood in which these complications could occur depends on your facialist, the state of your skin, and how deep of a peel you do.
There are three types of chemical peels: (1) superficial, (2) medium, and (3) deep. All levels of peels are have some level of risk—but as you can guess—deep peels are the most risky.
It’s important to note that in rare instances, these complications can be life-threatening. As Mayo Clinic explains, most deep chemical peels use carbolic acid, also known as phenol. Phenol can cause our hearts to beat irregularly, or cause kidney and liver dysfunction.
If you feel like your skin is in need of an extreme treatment such as a chemical peel, speak with a dermatologist first. They may recommend other solutions to your skin ailments that don't include such a risky procedure as a chemical peel.
We also suggest trying some of our sea buckthorn skin care products on our website. Remember that no amount of skin issues are worth risking permanent damage to your skin!