Dr Raul Cetto discusses the mechanisms of action and antiageing benefits of chemical peels
Chemical peeling is the application of a chemical agent of a defined strength, resulting in predictable accelerated exfoliation and skin damage. The release of cytokines and inflammatory mediators following this damage results in thickening of the epidermis, and an increase in dermal volume through deposition of collagen, producing the appearance of rejuvenated skin.1 There are generally three depths of chemical peels: superficial, medium and deep (Figure 1). This article will focus on medium as a discussion on superficial and deep will each warrant an entirely separate article. A medium-depth peel aims to reach the papillary and upper reticular dermis at a depth of approximately 0.45mm. In general terms, medium depth peels use a trichloroacetic acid (TCA) concentration of 35-50%. TCA is an analogue of acetic acid, which was first used by German dermatologist Dr Paul Gerson Unnaas a…
