About Chemical Peels
About Chemical Peels
There are many ways you try to improve your skin. You may try different treatments, products, and dermatology services to get your skin glowing and healthy. Through this process, you may have learned that some methods work better than others and that your skin reacts differently to products targeting certain issues. One skin care treatment you may not have tried or even heard of before is a chemical peel.
While the name alone sounds intimidating, a chemical peel can leave your skin looking and feeling healthier and smoother. Before you head in to get a chemical peel, you may want to know a thing or two about what you can expect and what you are really getting yourself into.
The first thing you want to be sure of is that you get your chemical peel done by a professional who is experienced with this type of skin treatment. At Azeal Dermatology Institute in Boulder, you will be in the best hands. Our dermatologists are knowledgeable, skilled, and can provide you with the best skin care treatments. Now that you know where you can get the best chemical peel treatment, let’s learn a little more about chemical peels.
What is a Chemical Peel?
A chemical peel is a skin care technique used to improve the appearance of the skin on the face, neck, or hands. During a chemical peel treatment, a solution made with different chemicals is applied to the skin. This will exfoliate your skin and remove dead skin cells before it is peeled off. After the chemical peel, your skin will be left smooth, soft, and rejuvenated. You may notice a lessened appearance of wrinkles after your chemical peel as well.
What are the Benefits?
There are many benefits to a chemical peel. They can be used to help you get younger looking skin and a smoother complexion. An article from WebMD mentions some other reasons why you may want to consider getting a chemical peel:
- To help reduce fine lines around the mouth and under the eyes.
- To help reduce the appearance of wrinkles caused by sun damage and aging.
- To improve the appearance of some scars.
- To improve the appearance of age spots, freckles, and melasma caused by pregnancy or birth control.
- To help treat certain types of acne.
- To get skin that looks and feels healthier and better.
A chemical peel can help give your skin a youthful and rejuvenated look, leaving your skin smooth and healthier than before. Individual results may vary, and your results may be determined by what type of chemical peel you choose. There are three different types of peels to choose from — superficial, medium, and deep peels.
The Types of Peels
The three types of peels determine how deep the chemical solution penetrates the skin. Your skin and the results you want to see determines which peel type you should get.
Superficial Peel
A superficial peel, also known as the lunchtime peel, uses alpha-hydroxy acid or other mild acids, including glycolic acid, citric acid, and lactic acid. These peel types penetrate only the outer layer of skin, offering a gentle exfoliation. This type of peel can help improve the appearance of mild discoloration and rough skin, leaving your skin looking fresh and new. A superficial peel has little-to-no downtime, making them perfect for those who want a quick fix and are looking to just give their skin a rejuvenating boost! An article from the Pretty Pimple mentions that with multiple superficial peel sessions, you will notice even more skin improvements, including smaller pores, firmer skin, and a boost in collagen production.
Medium Peel
Medium peels are slightly stronger than a superficial peel. The percentage of active ingredients is what adds strength to this peel type. Some medium peels use the same acids as those used for a superficial peel but at higher levels. Others use trichloroacetic acid. Medium peels penetrate the outer and middle layer of skin, targeting skin issues such as fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, skin discoloration, rough skin, and more.
Medium peels have a longer downtime of seven-to-fourteen days. You may experience red, swollen, and blistered skin while the skin is peeling off, which may take one to two weeks. While superficial peels can be done regularly, this peel type is generally a “one and done” thing since the downtime is so long. But once your skin heals, you will notice younger and more vibrant skin.
Deep Peel
Deep peels use phenol or trichloroacetic acid and penetrate deep into the middle layer of skin. This targets damaged skin and can improve the appearance of your skin dramatically. It can help with everything from shallows scars to age spots and wrinkles. The Pretty Pimple article mentions that these results can last up to 10 years! You will love the results you see and the way your skin looks and feels.
However, the downtime is almost as dramatic as the results. A deep chemical peel will take about three weeks to heal. Your treated skin will be bandaged and you will have to soak your skin, apply ointment, and take antiviral medication for about 10-to-14 days. After a deep peel, the sun should be completely avoided for three-to-six months. While this all seems drastic, the results may just be worth it. One of the biggest benefits that a deep peel offers is the fact that it can improve the quality of skin that has been environmentally damaged. You will not see these results with other treatments.
Now that you know a little more about the types of peels, read on to learn more about these special skin care treatments.
Who is a Candidate?
People with fair skin and lighter hair are better candidates than those with darker skin. However, people with darker skin may be good candidates depending on what they want to be treated. Our dermatologists can help determine if you will be a good candidate. If you are looking to get rid of sagging skin, severe wrinkles, or bulges, a chemical peel will not be the best treatment option for you! But Azeal offers a ton of skin care treatments that can help take care of your skin concerns.
Before You Get a Peel
Before scheduling a chemical peel, schedule a consultation with our skin care experts. One of our Azeal dermatologists can help you determine if a peel is the right treatment for you, and which peel will help you get your desired results. Azeal offers a variety of different peel types:
You can learn more about these peels and talk to one of our specialists at your consultation to learn more about these peels.
How to Care for Your Skin
After getting a chemical peel, you will want to be sure to take care of it if you want to keep your skin looking beautiful and the results lasting longer. We will go over the best care tips to help you know what to do. It is important to use a gentle cleanser and lotion and avoid products that contain retinol, vitamin C, or alpha hydroxy acids. Be sure to wear sunscreen every single day. Your skin will be more sensitive to the sun and you will want to make sure it is protected, even on a cloudy day. We will go over aftercare in depth with you when you come in for your chemical peel treatment.
While the downtime of chemical peels may seem over the top, the results are well worth it. Chemical peels can help transform your skin and leave it looking younger, smoother, and overall better. It is a great way to rejuvenate your skin and get amazing results, after a bit of downtime.
At Azeal Dermatology Institute, we can offer you quality chemical peel treatments and help you get the results you want. We are experts in skin care and will answer any of your questions, recommend the right chemical peel for you, and help you get smooth and more youthful skin. Contact us to learn more and schedule an appointment today!
