chemical peel
Meaning of chemical peel: A chemical peel applies a solution to the skin to remove its outer layers, improving the appearance of scars, wrinkles, or sun damage.
Definition of chemical peel
A chemical peel is a procedure used to improve the appearance of certain skin conditions, including acne scars, fine wrinkles, and skin changes caused by long term sun exposure. A chemical solution is applied to the skin, where it dissolves the outer layers of skin cells, prompting new skin to form as the treated area heals.
Chemical peels vary in depth depending on the specific solution and concentration used. A superficial peel affects only the outermost layer of skin and typically involves minimal recovery time, while a medium or deep peel reaches further into the skin and produces more noticeable results, along with a longer period of redness and peeling during recovery.
A chemical peel is also called chemabrasion or chemexfoliation, and the depth chosen for a given procedure depends on the specific skin concern being addressed and the amount of recovery time considered acceptable.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
A chemical peel was performed to improve the appearance of acne scarring on the patient's face.
Good to know
A deeper chemical peel generally produces more noticeable improvement than a superficial one, but it also requires a longer recovery period, so the depth chosen reflects a tradeoff between result and downtime.