Chemical Peels
A chemical peel uses a chemical solution to remove layers of skin, revealing the more youthful skin underneath. Chemical peels can reduce or improve fine lines and wrinkles, acne, scars, uneven skin coloring and other skin imperfections. Different chemicals determine the depth of your peel and type of skin condition treated. As with any treatment modalities, you get the most benefit from 3-5 peels.
What conditions does a chemical peel treat?
Chemical peels are used to treat certain skin conditions or to improve your appearance by improving the tone and texture of your skin. Chemical peels are most commonly performed on your face, neck or hands. They can help reduce or improve:
Fine lines under your eyes or around your mouth and wrinkling caused by sun damage, aging and hereditary factors.
Certain types of acne.
Mild scarring.
Sun spots, age spots, liver spots, freckles, uneven skin coloring.
Precancerous scaly spots called actinic keratosis.
Rough skin, scaly patches, dull complexion.
Dark patches (melasma) due to pregnancy or taking birth control pills.
Sags, bulges, deep scars, deep facial lines and more severe wrinkles don’t respond well to chemical peels. If these are your concerns, you will want to speak with your dermatologist regarding other cosmetic surgical procedures, such as carbon dioxide laser resurfacing, a face lift, brow lift, eye lift or soft tissue filler. A dermatologic surgeon can help determine the best treatment for your concerns.
Is a chemical peel good for all skin types?
Generally, superficial peels can be used on all skin types. However, if you have a darker skin tone, you have a greater risk of experiencing a darkening of your skin after treatment. This condition is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. If you have a naturally darker skin tone, you may want to get the advice of your dermatologist about other less aggressive treatments to reduce the risk of hyperpigmentation.
Chemical peeling may also not be recommended if you:
Have a history of abnormal skin scarring.
Have extra coloring in your scars.
Have skin conditions or take medications that make your skin more sensitive.
Can't stay out of the sun for the healing period.
How are chemical peels performed?
A light (“lunchtime”) chemical peel provides subtle improvement over time and is often done in a series. The outermost layer of skin is removed. This choice may be best if you have fine wrinkling, acne, uneven skin coloring or dry, rough sun-damaged skin to help promote a healthy glow. Recovery from this type of peel may be within hours to a few days but with little to no down time.
A medium chemical peel gives your skin a smooth, fresh look. The outermost layer and the upper part of your middle skin layer are removed. This choice may be best if you have uneven or moderate skin discoloring, age spots, acne scarring or fine-to-moderate wrinkles. Recovery from this type of peel may take a week or more and require some down time.
A deeper chemical peel produces the most dramatic results. This chemical penetrates down to the lower middle layer of your skin. Recovery time is longer with a deep peel. This choice may be best if you have moderate lines and wrinkles, extensive sun-damaged skin, deep acne scars, blotchy skin, and/or precancerous growths called actinic keratosis.
To prepare for your chemical peel, some general instructions include:
Avoid tanning and direct sun exposure for two weeks before each treatment.
Don’t use any products containing retinoids (such as tretinoin) one to two weeks before treatment, unless your physician tells you differently.
Peel areas must be free of any open sores, lesions or skin infections.
The procedure: During a chemical peel, solution is applied to your skin. You may feel a warm to somewhat hot sensation that will last a few minutes. This is followed by a stinging sensation. To relieve the sting, a cool compress may be applied your skin. The chemical is then washed off and/or neutralized.
What should I expect after the chemical peel?
What to expect varies depending on the depth of your chemical peel.
If you’ve had a light chemical peel:
Expect a sunburn-like reaction to occur after your peel, meaning you’ll see redness followed by scaling that lasts between three and seven days.
Apply lotion or cream as directed until your skin heals. After your skin heals, apply daily sunscreen.
You can wear makeup immediately after treatment or the next day.
Additional peels may be repeated every two to five weeks until you achieve your desired results. Typically three to five peels are needed to achieve your goal.
If you’ve had a medium chemical peel:
Expect some redness, swelling, stinging and flaking of your skin. Swelling may last and/or worsen for 48 hours. Blisters can develop and will break open. Skin will crust and peel off over seven to 14 days.
Apply lotion or cream daily. Don’t expose your skin to sunlight until completely healed.
You can wear makeup after five to seven days.
Additional medium-depth peels may be repeated at six to 12 months intervals, if needed, to maintain results.
To get the best results, regardless of the depth of your peel, follow these tips:
Don’t use a tanning bed or other type of indoor or even outdoor tanning while your skin is healing.
After your skin heals, always apply a daily sunscreen.
Apply a daily moisturizer, as directed, to keep your skin moist to prevent scarring.
Your esthetician will provide you with post-treatment instructions and a post treatment kit to use to reduce the chance of developing abnormal skin color after your peel and other complications.
After 4 treatments
After 3 treatments
