Skin is the body’s largest organ, covering every part of our bodies. The components that make up skin – water, protein, lipids and other chemicals and minerals all play an important role in protecting vulnerable internal organs from infection and germs.

These proteins, minerals and more also play a valuable role in keeping skin cells healthy. Proteins like collagen and elastin are essential to the skin regeneration process, allowing our bodies to regenerate skin cells every 27 days. Likewise, acids that live within skin cells help retain moisture, keeping skin looking smooth and supple. In our youth, our bodies produce these important components in abundance – allowing our skin to heal and regenerate quickly and with minimal scarring. However, our bodies’ ability to produce these valuable proteins becomes compromised as we get older. Sun damage, drying weather, skin trauma and even gravity damage skin faster than collagen is produced – meaning skin cell damage outpaces regeneration. This combination of factors can cause the skin to look older than it really is by causing wrinkles and sagging skin to appear more noticeable.

In recent years, facial rejuvenation treatments have become the standard of care for women and men who want to retain clear, youthful looking skin longer. While countless options and technologies have been developed, few are as successful or as popular as the chemical peel.

Combination peels use 2-4 different mild peeling agents to get a superior result. During treatment, the chemical peel solution is applied for a short time and then neutralized and removed. Afterward, patients might experience mild peeling as the skin is rejuvenated. Salicylic acid peels are great options for clogged pores, sun damage, hyperpigmentation, psoriasis, and acne.

TCA peels contain trichloroacetic acid, which is considered a relative of common vinegar. This type of chemical peel can achieve different depths of exfoliation based on the potency, but it is stronger than both glycolic acid and salicylic acid peels. After the solution is applied, it creates a controlled injury to the skin. The skin then peels in the days that follow, eventually revealing new, healthy skin. A TCA chemical peel can produce powerful results, and it is commonly used for severe hyperpigmentation, fine lines, skin texture issues, and it is even FDA-approved to treat precancerous actinic keratosis.