Jacksonville, Florida -- Many people today are relying on chemical peels to remove deep scarring and fine lines caused by years of sun damage, adult acne, and even the skin changes that come with getting older.

A chemical peel consists of a chemical solution applied to the skin to remove the outer, damaged layers.  Chemical peels have a wide range of strengths, from the glycolic peel, which is fairly mild, to the TCA peel, which is the strongest.

Most chemical peels take only 15 minutes and are increasingly more popular than microdermabrasion.  The patient lies down as the technician applies 3 to 7 layers of chemical solutions to the skin.

The glycolic peels cause only mild flaking and some pinkness to the skin.  Peels containing the chemical TCA cause a significant amount of peeling and burning.  Both cause the skin to feel tight for the first day after the treatment.

Janet Boritt, in her 50’s, has had several medium level peels to drastically reduce acne scarring.  She and her friends can see and feel the difference.

“[My friends] say ‘it looks so good, the lines and wrinkles are disappearing,’ which is good for someone in her 50’s to hear,” says Boritt.

Chemical peels cost from $50 to $150 per session and should always be done by licensed professionals.  Several treatments are usually required for the best results.