Chemical Peels

There are a range of chemical peels on the market, but the best and most widely available are glycolic peel and TCA peel.

These treatments use different chemicals and fruit acids to rejuvenate the skin, but TCA peel is a little stronger than glycolic peel.

Glycolic acid is extracted from sugar cane. Glycolic peel uses this mild acid to remove impurities such as dead skin cells from the skin's surface, encouraging the growth of the healthy skin beneath. After several sessions of glycolic chemical peels - usually between 6 and 8 weekly sessions - the skin will look fresh and rejuvenated.

Because glycolic acid is a natural substance, it is extremely unlikely to give any harmful side effects as long as the chemical peels have been applied by a qualified beauty therapist. Glycolic peel is not suitable for all patients, though, and should be avoided if you have been taken accutane medicine in the last 12 months or if you have had kidney failure at any time. Chemical peels should also be avoided if you generally have poor skin health or have any open wounds or sores on your skin.

TCA peel is a slightly stronger chemical peel than glycolic peel and goes much deeper to remove dead skin cells and other impurities from the skin. It can be used to treat the skin of the hands or face to give a boost to the overall health of the skin and make it look younger.

TCA peel removes the first few layers of skin, smoothing out lines and wrinkles. Each chemical peel treatment is applied for between 15 and 30 minutes. Almost straight away, the skin will look and feel rejuvenated. Over the course of a few days following treatment, the top layers of skin will peel away to reveal the younger and healthier skin underneath.

Following TCA peel treatment, skin will be more sensitive to sunlight for up to 8 weeks. Protect it during this time by staying out of the sun and using a strong sun block. No harmful side effects have been reported with TCA chemical peels.