One of the biggest problems people have is scarring on the skin caused by acne. We can carry acne scars even as early as in our 20s. Not only that, scars can cause a myriad of other problems such as the lack of elasticity, dryness, and flakiness on the skin. None of us wants to look older than we really are, and there are now several treatments that help us maintain a truly youthful complexion.

Almost all spas today offer spa skin peels. There are many kinds of skin peels - they are also called resurfacing techniques because of the nature of the procedure.

A skin peel typically involves removing the outmost layers of the skin until a smoother, clearer, and more youthful complexion is revealed from underneath. That being said, a skin peel can have various purposes. An individual may want a skin peel to remove scars, minimize wrinkles, even out the skin tone, or get rid of blemishes and cysts.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is one of the safest options you can try out at a spa. The technique uses tiny, abrasive beads or crystals to gradually remove the top layers of the skin. The term "abrasive" should not be confused as something harsh.

In fact, microdermabrasion is not painful and most people are very comfortable with the technique. You can even purchase a home microdermabrasion kit and give yourself a spa treatment in the comfort of your own home. These types of kits usually contain micro-spheres to even out the skin while removing bumps caused by inflammation and reducing the depth of acne scars. These at home products are generally milder than what you would find at a professional spa.

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels work a similar way to microdermabrasion. They remove layers of damaged skin but this time using chemicals. The types of chemicals used in chemical peels are Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA), Phenol and Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs).

Trichloroacetic Acid is typically used to remove fine surface wrinkles, pigment problems and blemishes. When this chemical is used, results may be less dramatic than expected and more sessions may be required, which can be costly.

Phenol is the strongest chemical used in a chemical peel treatment and is effective at removing course wrinkles, sun damage, and pre-cancerous growths in the skin. However, phenol can lighten some areas of the skin, and results can depend on your existing skin tone. Phenol is typically applied on the face and can cause scarring if applied to the neck or rest of the body.

Aphpahydroxy Acids are the mildest and equally effective chemicals used in a spa skin peel treatment. It is especially for those who don't want to take too long recovering as in the case of Phenol and TCA peels. AHA peels are mild and safe because the chemicals are derived from natural sources such as lactic, glycolic and fruits acids. And just like with microdermabrasion, you can have an AHA peel in your own home.