Monday, August 9, 2010

Chemical Peels Throughout Time

Chemical Skin peels are used these days to improve the skin’s overall appearance, by removing the initial surface of the skin, allowing rejuvenated smoother skin to grow in its place. But were they using them in the old days?

In Ancient times, Cleopatra was known for bathing in sour milk. This practice was common in that time. Why sour milk? Sour milk contains lactic acid, one of the ingredients used in chemical peels today. The Egyptians were also known for bathing in old wine to achieve the same effect. The old wine contains a tartaric acid. This fruit acid is used in skin peels now a days.

From the 15th Century on, pale skin became a fad, which in turn made skin whitening creams and chemical peels very popular. They began using these creams and peels after the Greeks introduced the effective ingredient lead oxide in these products.

In the 1950’s dermatologists began administering medium depth, and deep peels which weren’t available until this time. When they administered these peels they used ingredients such as trichloroacetic acid, resorcinol, salicylic acid and phenol. These ingredients are still used today in chemical peels.

Chemical peels have been around forever and there is only one reason why: They work. Try one today and reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone, even pigmentation, and rejuvenate the appearance of your skin!