Chemical Peels for Treating Acne

Almost every teenager has suffered acne at some point, in some it can be mild with just a few pimples
or "zits" occurring every so often. For other teenagers however, acne can be more severe, and give rise to spots called whiteheads, blackheads, or larger red, inflamed spots called cysts in more severe cases. These skin pimples, spots and cysts can change the tone of the skin, leaving a darker tone and severe acne can in some cases leave scarring.




Acne is not dangerous, but can leave skin scars. Human skin has pores (tiny holes) which connect to oil glands located under the skin. Follicles (small canals) connect the glands to the pores. These glands produce Sebum, an oily liquid. Dead skin cells are carried by the sebum through the follicles to the surface of the skin. From the follicle, out of the skin, a small hair grows. Oil accumulates under the skin when these follicles get blocked, resulting in pimples. Hormonal changes during puberty can result in more oil in the skin, so this is why many teenagers have acne. Adults can also develop acne later on in life, which is called adult acne, so it's not just teenagers who suffer from acne.

A hypersensitivity or overproduction of androgens (male hormones) is the cause of some adult acne. When both male and female hormones (estrogen) are imbalanced, it also results in a breakout. For women, this can happen during pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause. Occasionally, some cosmetics or medications like corticosteroids can also cause acne to develop.

Chemical peels are a very good treatment for mild and moderate adult acne. A chemical peel exfoliates your skin; this removes dead skin cells which have clogged the pores, and cleanses the skin of the dirt. This causes fewer acne pimples and spots to form. Chemical peels may also help to reduce some of the skin discolouration and uneven skin tone caused by acne.

For acne treatment, chemical peels are a very cost effective option. This acne treatment is also very safe. Superficial chemical skin peels are applied to the affected areas to exfoliate and cleanse the top layers of the skin, removing the dead skin cells. A course of six peels, spaced apart by one week minimum, is usually recommended. This will result in a noticeable improvement in the skin texture and visibly reduce the amount of acne breakouts.

Only a credible skin care clinic should be approached for your acne treatment chemical peel. It is important to consult a reputable clinic to obtain advice on how the chemical peel treatment will benefit your skin type, before embarking on treatment with chemical peels for acne.