Everything you need to know about chemical peels

Skin Resurfacing

Everything you need to know about chemical peels

A chemical peel is a cosmetic procedure usually done on the skin to help peel off its superficial layer, reveal new layers and improve the appearance of the skin on the face, hands or neck. There are different types of chemical peels-

• the mild peel
• the medium peel and
• the deep peel.

Chemical peels are used to treat different skin conditions including

• Certain types of acne and some injury scars,
• Pigmentation,
• Melasma,
• Age spots,
• Wrinkled and aging skin,
• Sun damaged skin and to,
• Improve the appearance of sunburn scars,

This peel is usually done by trained personnel – an aesthetician or a dermatologist.

Before a chemical peel is done, your dermatologist or aesthetician must do a comprehensive consult with you in order to determine which peel is right for you.

Who is not a candidate for a chemical peel?

Chemical peels are usually not done on individuals with the following

• Active skin diseases/conditions.
• Skin infection.
• Sunburn
• Nursing or pregnant women.

Chemical Peels are not painful

The mildest peel is usually one that uses Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) like glycolic acid and lactic acid. They are not painful but they do sting quite a bit.

The stronger peels like the Phenol peels sting more and are able to remove fine lines and wrinkles and solve pigmentation problems.

There are different types of peels available and they are:

• Mild/Superficial peel: This is the fruit based peel – citric or lactic peel. It gently penetrates and exfoliates the outer superficial layer of the skin. This peel usually requires between one to seven days for the skin completely heal. Read more about this type of peel here.
• Medium peel: This is the glycolic or trichloroacetic acid peel. It penetrates and exfoliates the outer and middle layers It is used to improve age spots, fine lines and wrinkles, as well as some skin discoloration. This peel usually requires seven to fourteen days for the skin to completely heal. Read more about this type of peel here.
• Deep peel: This is the phenol peel. The phenol peel is the strongest peel there is. It penetrates and exfoliates the middle layer of skin, targeting deep wrinkles, sun damage, and uneven tone. This peel requires fourteen to twenty-one days for the skin to completely heal. Read more about this type of peel here.

The skin does not always peel.

The type of chemical peel procedure done determines the extent to which the skin will peel. Milder chemical peels do not usually cause the skin to peel, however there will be significant peeling when a deep peel is done.

What can one expect after having a chemical peel?

Typically, one may experience irritation and redness, sometimes swelling may occur but these can easily be calmed with creams which the provider recommends. The skin, after a chemical peel becomes very sensitive for some days depending on the type of peel applied so should not be exposed to sunlight and the application of sunscreen is very mandatory at this time.

Other ways to care for the skin after a chemical peel is to cleanse moisturize the skin frequently and be sure to pay attention to the provider’s instructions.

How often to have a chemical peel done is dependent on what the issue is with the client’s skin in the first place and what the skin expert thinks.

There are varying skin conditions and every client usually gets a customized peel treatment plan which may include cosmetic exfoliation procedures (facials) in between peels. What you must know is that you will very likely need more than one chemical peel to treat your underlying skin issue.

Are chemical peels the right choice for you?

That depends, we require all our clients to come in for a one-time comprehensive consult with our professionals. It is during the consult that we determine if chemical peels are your skin’s best bet and if it is, what type of peel is best for your skin.

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