Understanding chemical exfoliation can be an important component of taking care of your skin. Exfoliation can go a long way toward reducing problems and enhancing the health and appearance of your skin. At Intermountain Aesthetics MD Spa, we offer chemical peels that often perform the chemical exfoliation process on a much larger scale. When you understand the basics of chemical exfoliation, you will be able to make the right decisions for your skin.
What is Chemical Exfoliation?
Essentially, chemical exfoliation performs the same function as a chemical peel, but at a much lighter degree. Your cells regenerate on a monthly basis, which leads to dead skin cells that can accumulate on the surface of your healthy skin cells. This can clog pores and lead to many other problems. Chemical exfoliation is one of the leading strategies to expedite the removal of these dead skin cells. When the chemical exfoliation comes into contact with the dead skin cells, they will dissolve them and clear the skin.
Two Types of Exfoliation
In general, there are two types of exfoliation that can be used to remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. Physical exfoliation uses manual operation (such as the use of an exfoliating brush or other tool) to remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. Alternatively, chemical exfoliation uses chemicals to ensure that these skin cells can be dissolved.
Different Chemicals
Not all products for chemical exfoliation are made equally. There are different chemicals that are used to provide different results. Due to this, it is also important to understand the differences between each of these types so that you can choose the exfoliation method that is best for your situation.
Why Use Chemical Exfoliation?
Chemical exfoliation is often chosen over physical exfoliation because it is able to penetrate more deeply into the skin than physical exfoliation. This can often provide you with a more immediate improvement to the skin’s health. This is just one of the many reasons why chemical exfoliation is used regularly.
Multiple Types of Chemical Exfoliation
Most of the time, the products used for chemical exfoliation are divided into three categories. While these products may be comprised of different chemicals, it is important to understand which category they fall under and the way in which that category works.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs)
Alpha hydroxy acids, often called AHAs, are usually used to help improve skin tone and minor levels of discoloration. These products generally include various acids that can often be found naturally, such as citric, glycolic, malic, and lactic acid.
Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs)
Beta hydroxy acids, also called BHAs, are often comprised of salicylic and tropic acids. This category of exfoliation products is used to help unclog the surface of the pores, which can minimize acne accumulation and keep the skin clear. These products are often used for those that have acne prone or particularly oily skin.
Poly Hydroxy Acids (PHAs)
Poly hydroxy acids, also known as PHAs, are usually made out of chemicals that have bigger molecules. Ultimately, this means that the chemicals can penetrate less deeply, which can have an impact on their effectiveness. Gluconolactone and lactobionic acid are commonly used in PHAs. Since these products penetrate less deeply, they are often ideal for use with particularly sensitive skin. They can minimize sensitive reactions, as well as provide many other benefits to the skin.
It is important to keep in mind that you should consult with a professional to identify the right type of product for use with your skin. Some less intense types of chemical exfoliation can be purchased over the counter, while others may require a prescription from your dermatologist. Our team at Intermountain Aesthetics MD Spa can help you to determine the best products for use with your own skin.
Understanding this process can help you to make better decisions for your skin. By working with our team at Intermountain Aesthetics MD Spa, you can ensure that the best processes are followed to enhance the health of your skin. To learn more about our chemical peels and the benefits that they can provide or if chemical exfoliation is the right step for you, contact our experts today!
