chemical peel

chemical peel,

a therapy to reduce or improve wrinkles, blemishes, pigment spots, and sun-damaged areas of the skin. Using a chemical solution of phenol, trichloroacetic acid, or alpha hydroxy fruit acid, the top skin layers are peeled away, allowing new, smoother skin with tighter cells to occupy the surface. Immediately after the peel, there may be considerable swelling, which subsides after 7 to 10 days as new skin begins to form. Other chemical solutions used include glycolic acid, retinol, Jessner's solution, beta hydroxy acid, and combinations thereof. Also called chemexfoliation, chemoexfoliation.

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Chemical Peel

A technique in which phenol or trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is ‘painted’ on elderly sun-exposed skin covered by extensive premalignant actinic keratosis

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peel [pēl]

1. the outer covering of something.

2. to remove such an outer covering.

chemical peel chemabrasion.

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chemical peel

Chemexfoliation Dermatology A technique in which phenol or trichloroacetic acid–TCA is 'painted' on elderly sun-exposed skin covered by extensive premalignant actinic keratosis. See Actinic keratosis. Cf Laser resurfacing, Mohs' surgery.