Chemical Peels

How Chemical Peels Can Revive Your Skin

Chemical peels can do wonders for your skin when administered safely and correctly with the proper aftercare. They can be a great treatment for acne scars, wrinkles, sun damage, brown spots and uneven skin tones. The process involves applying a chemical solution to the skin that causes it to gently exfoliate and eventually peel off.

There are different levels of chemical peels – light, medium or deep. Light chemical peels generally use a mild acid, such as alpha-hydroxy acid. They penetrate into the outer layers of the skin refreshing your complexion and treating discoloration. Medium chemical peels go a little deeper into the outer and middle layers of the skin and use glycolic or trichloroacetic acid. They can improve age spots, fine lines, wrinkles and more. The deepest chemical peels use acid such as phenol to go even deeper into the middle layers of skin and can remove moderate lines and shallow scars.

Who is a good candidate?

Normally, fair-skinned patients are better candidates, but darker skin may also see good results contingent on what’s being treated. There are other factors that determine whether or not a chemical peel is right for you besides skin type. Certain skin conditions that don’t qualify for peels include psoriasis, eczema or rosacea. It’s also not recommended to get a peel if you’re nursing, pregnant or take certain types of drugs. The medical aesthetician will assess your skin and review a detailed questionnaire before recommending a chemical peel or directing you to an alternative procedure.

Are they painful?

Pain will depend on the type of chemical peel and can also vary per person. Generally, there will be a sting during the procedure, but you shouldn’t experience extreme pain. Once the treatment is complete, there will be aftercare involved. You may experience redness, swelling and irritation, but your medical aesthetician will likely recommend something to help with that. Depending on what peel you get, the recovery time can be anywhere from 1-21 days. It’s vital that you avoid direct sunlight and smoking during recovery time. They can cause side effects such as scarring.

Overall, chemical peels are a great solution for achieving younger-looking, fresh skin. At Achieve Beautiful Skin, we have several types of chemical peels available and we’re here to answer any questions you may have. If you don’t know if it’s right for you, simply call us to set up a free skin consultation!