Contrary to popular belief, chemical or skin peels are not exclusive to women. Men also face numerous skin concerns that can be effectively addressed through these rejuvenating treatments.
Chemical peel treatments offer a quick and efficient way to tackle various cosmetic issues, providing significant benefits to both men and women. For gay and queer men, in particular, they present a natural solution to skin flaws without the need for cosmetics.
What is a Chemical Peel?
A chemical peel, or skin peel, is an advanced dermo-cosmetic treatment designed to promote accelerated skin regeneration in a controlled manner through exfoliating agents. These treatments result in smoother, evenly pigmented, and younger-looking skin. By removing the top layer of skin along with cellular build-up, imperfections, and excess pigment, chemical peels enhance skin texture and tone.
Regular peel sessions can reduce scar tissue, acne, fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. Despite the intimidating name, chemical peels often use mild fruit acids and enzymes that rejuvenate the skin.
Difference Between Facials and Peels
Chemical peels are more invasive than facials, as they remove the outer skin layer to address signs of aging, acne, and pigmentation, rejuvenating and refreshing the skin. Facials, on the other hand, aim to clean pores, extract blackheads, and moisturize the skin. Peels cleanse, treat, repair, and protect the skin, making them suitable for advanced issues like acne scars, hyperpigmentation, and signs of aging.
Facials, however, address more superficial concerns. A gentle peel can be incorporated into a facial treatment for brighter, younger, and healthier-looking skin. While facials are typically cosmetic and can be performed as needed, peels are more therapeutic and often require a treatment program.
Peeling Products
Peeling products are generally derived from natural substances like glycolic acid from sugarcane, lactic acid from milk, salicylic acid from willow bark, and mandelic acid from bitter almonds. Other common ingredients include azelaic acid from wheat, phytic acid from grains, resorcinol from phenol, citric acid from citrus fruits, papain from papaya, bromelain from pineapple, and deep-sea algae.
Some amino acids and enzymes, like hyaluronic acid, are derived biotechnologically. It’s essential to disclose any allergies or intolerances to your practitioner since some products are derived from sources such as aspirin, milk, nuts, and grains.
Mechanism of Peeling
Skin cells naturally regenerate approximately every 28 days, but this process slows with age, leading to issues like open pores, wrinkles, dull skin, and age spots. External factors such as stress, unhealthy lifestyles, and UV exposure also affect this process. Peels accelerate skin exfoliation by dissolving the intracellular glue that holds dead skin cells together, enhancing the removal of dead skin cells, and stimulating cell renewal.
This process brings fresh, healthy cells to the surface, reorganizes and stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, increases hydration, and smooths out wrinkles. Algae peels work through manual exfoliation, with the depth of penetration depending on the intensity of the massage. They release ions that initiate cellular processes, delivering minerals and vitamins to the skin.
Effects of Peels on Skin
Chemical peels purify and oxygenate the skin, close open pores, even out skin tone, reduce hyperpigmentation, combat signs of aging and acne, maintain elasticity, hydrate, improve texture, and enhance epidermal thickness. They also help reduce wrinkles, skin imperfections, add luminosity, and improve the appearance of scars.
Choosing the Right Peel
Peels are selected based on the condition to be treated and the client’s characteristics. For optimal results, a program tailored to specific skin conditions, such as acne, aging, hyperpigmentation, sensitive skin, and dull, dehydrated skin, is recommended.
Some peels can also optimize other medical-aesthetic procedures like mesotherapy, facial implants, botulinum toxin, electroporation, iontophoresis, radiofrequency, and phototherapy.
Calida Jenkins 
Layla Tovey