What is Chemical Peeling?

Chemical peeling is defined as a peeling process performed on the skin surface with chemical substances in order to solve various skin problems. Although it is most commonly applied to the face, it can also be used on the whole body. Its purpose is to improve problematic skin areas and ensure the formation of healthy skin tissue. Chemical peeling is widely performed for both cosmetic and medical purposes. However, with technological developments in recent years, devices used in skin treatment have come to the fore and interest in chemical peeling applications has decreased somewhat. Despite this, chemical peeling is still among the most frequently performed cosmetic procedures worldwide.
Over time, the contents of the substances used for chemical peeling, their application methods and treatment areas have changed. Today, some peeling substances are formulated with auxiliary components that do not create a significant peeling effect. For this reason, it is more appropriate to use the term "chemical rejuvenation" instead of "chemical peeling".
One of the most commonly used substances in chemical peeling applications is trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and phenol, which is used especially in deep peels. TCA is generally preferred for medium-depth peels in the treatment of conditions such as wrinkles, acne scars and pigment problems, while phenol is used for deeper wrinkles, intense sun damage and precancerous lesions. It has been observed that chemical peeling is less costly and has a lower risk of complications when compared to methods such as laser.
In recent years, chemical peeling has also been increasingly used in the field of skin rejuvenation. In particular, substances such as phenol and TCA are used to treat signs of aging, improve skin tone and solve problems such as photoaging. These applications help to achieve better results when combined with other methods such as surgical facelift.
In addition, chemical peeling is also used for nail disorders. Peeling applications with TCA and phenol are performed for rough nails, discoloration and other problems. However, chemical peeling applications are not recommended for people receiving oral isotretinoin treatment, because the risk of complications increases after treatment.
Dark-skinned individuals may experience pigmentation problems after chemical peeling. Therefore, it is recommended that dark-skinned people prepare their skin with appropriate creams before applying peeling. In addition, deep peeling procedures should be applied with caution in dark-skinned patients.

In summary, chemical peeling is an effective method for skin rejuvenation, wrinkles, acne scars, pigmentation and many other problems. However, an appropriate treatment plan should be made for each skin type and condition.

Agents used for chemical peeling,
In recent years, peeling agents have been developed with newer techniques and formulas in order to reduce skin irritation and side effects. Various buffering agents have begun to be used in formulations containing phenol. New formulas containing phenol and TCA in different concentrations make it possible to perform customized applications according to skin types and the depth of skin problems. For example, TCA can often be a painful procedure in medium-depth peelings. In order to reduce this pain, the use of local anesthetic before the procedure may be recommended, but its effectiveness may affect the effectiveness of the peeling agent used. Instead, a very low concentration of phenol has been added to new TCA solutions, making the pain less noticeable.
TCA solutions are usually prepared in liquid form, but there may be a problem that these formulations do not have the same concentration everywhere. Therefore, the solution should be shaken well and made homogeneous. Stable TCA solutions have been developed to prevent this problem. In addition, gel formulas that allow the active agent to penetrate the skin slowly are also used for sensitive skin or thin skin areas such as the eye area. A special TCA-hydrogen peroxide formulation encourages cell proliferation and new collagen production without causing protein denaturation. Positive results have been obtained from these formulations for photoaging and aging-related skin problems. Formulations containing phenol are used especially in deep peeling processes. For example, old phenol formulas such as Baker-Gordon and Hetter contain phenol and croton oil. Studies are ongoing on phenol formulas that are advantageous in terms of effectiveness but safer in these formulas. Chemical peeling is a process that can peel the skin down to the epidermis, dermis and mid-dermis levels. For superficial peeling, low concentration peelers such as salicylic acid and glycolic acid are used, for medium depth peeling, 15-35% TCA and Jessner solution combinations are used, and for deep peeling, high concentration TCA and phenol-croton oil mixtures are used. In recent years, chemical peeling applications have been customized to the individual.