Chemical Peels for Age Spots

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Age spots, also known as liver spots and scientifically known as “lentingo senilis”, are blemishes upon the skin that are linked principally with ageing and exposure to UV radiation. Ranging in colour from light brown to black these blemishes are located on areas of the skin where sun exposure is greatest: the forehead, hands, face, shoulders and the arms.  Crucially age spots are not related to any liver problems; rather they are similar to the liver merely in their colour.

The skin of those who are over 40 years of age is more prone to damage by sun exposure than younger skin is. Essentially, age spots are very common in those who are over 40 years old, especially those whose skin has received the greatest sun exposure.

Some people consider age spots to be an unsightly addition to the skin; they may attempt to mask the blemish with make-up but this does not reduce the visibility of the age spot. However, a chemical peel treatment can lessen the appearance of the age spots.

Chemical peels for treating age spots

There are three types of chemical peels that are able to improve the appearance of the age spotted skin. Superficial chemical peels (also known as glycolic peels or AHA peels), medium depth peels (TCA peels) and deep peels (phenol peels) can all help to improve the appearance of age-spotted skin.

They function by dissolving layers of dead skin, the precise depth of which is dependant upon the strength of the chemical solution that is applied to the skin. This leaves the skin with a wound, which is healed to be replaced with a rejuvenated, softer, even-textured skin surface. The downtime (time taken for the skin to heal) will be greater if the peel is more penetrative. Thus it takes longer for skin to heal from a deep chemical peel.

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