Peeling is the skin care process of removing unwanted residues (mainly dead cells and stubborn make-up materials) from the outer layer of the skin. It’s by far the most effective skin cleansing treatment but can cause more damage than benefit, when not done correctly. It is important that peeling is done safely, preferably by a cosmetic dermatologist so that it does not damage the skin, cause redness or acne formation. When done with the right method, it deeply cleanses the skin, reduces facial problems and refreshes the skin. Since not every type of peeling may be suitable for every skin type, the skin type of the person should be determined before choosing the method to be used.

Benefits of peeling

 

• It removes the barrier formed by dead cells and makes room for new skin cells in the lower layers.
• Allows the skin to breathe.
• Allows moisturizing products to penetrate deeply into the skin and increases their effectiveness.
• Minimizes some very common skin problems such as acne and blackheads.
• Supports the elimination of hyperpigmentation.
• It is effective against wrinkles, enlarged pores and rough skin surface.
• It helps to tighten the skin and makes it look much more vibrant and bright.
• It is a very effective removal of long term make-up residues.

 

Best peeling routine for each skin type

Dry skin: People with dry skin should avoid products containing high amounts of alcohol. Products with moisturizing ingredients such as coconut oil, shea butter or ceramides are suitable for dry skin. Since the skin tends to dry out, exfoliation should be done once or twice a week at most, followed by a strong moisturizer.

Oily skin: The high tolerant nature of oily skin allows more frequent care and stronger solutions. Peeling can be applied up to five times a week on an oily skin, depending on the product used. Products containing alpha or beta acids, salicylic acid or glycolic acid are all suitable for oily skin. However, moisturizer should always be used after exfoliation.

Normal skin: Mild peeling treatments can be applied two or three times a week for normal skin. Using a soft brush, physical peeling can be applied either with chemical-based products or natural peels such as crushed apricot kernels, walnut shells and mild acids. Dosage of these products must be gradually increased by each session to see how good the skin can tolerate.

Combination skin: Regarding that the T-zone is oily and the cheeks show dry skin characteristics, peeling applications should be applied mostly to the T-zone. Less peeling and more intensive moisturizing should be applied to dry skin areas.

 

Skin peeling methods

The peeling method that should be applied varies according to the skin type of the person, because not every peeling method is suitable for every skin type. For this reason, first of all, the skin type of the person whose skin will be cared for should be determined. The types of peels that can be applied after determining the skin type are described in detail below.

Chemical peeling: This skin resurfacing method takes the advantage of very effective chemical solutions as the name implies. Depending on the skin problem, it can be performed by reaching different layers of the skin. While light chemical peeling which targets only the skin surface can be applied on one’s own at home, medium and deep chemical peeling which target deeper layers must be performed by specialized dermatologists.

Physical peeling: Physical peeling is done using an ingredient or tool that physically removes old or dead cells from the skin surface. The tools that can be used for this purpose can be a brush, sponge, pumice stone or cloth. Physical peeling can also be performed using liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy) or dry ice. Usually physical facial peels are not used independently and complement other skin treatments such as anti-aging.

Laser peeling: These techniques are skin resurfacing treatments that make use of concentrated light beams to improve the appearance of the skin or treat minor facial imperfections. Among these methods, ablative laser is a wounding laser application that removes thin layers of the skin. Non-ablative laser peeling is a type of laser that stimulates collagen production and tightens the underlying skin.

Natural peeling: The peeling process made with completely natural ingredients such as tomatoes, eggs, olive oil and coffee is called natural peeling. Effective results can be obtained by applying this method 1-2 times a week. The prepared mixtures are applied to the entire skin except around the eyes and lips. After waiting for 5 minutes, the mask is washed off.