EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANNA KNOW ABOUT CHEMICAL PEELS IN A NUT SHELL
EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANNA KNOW ABOUT CHEMICAL PEELS IN A NUT SHELL
Chemical peels have been around for a long time and there is good reason- they really do work!! Women have been using peels to achieve beautiful skin for over 2,000 years. Cleopatra took milk baths (active ingredient AHA/ Lactic acid) to hydrate, smooth and even her skin tone. You go Cleo- she was a beauty boss well before her time! A chemical peel, simply put, is an acid solution (mild or strong) applied to the face to stimulate superficial exfoliation of the outermost layer or layers of skin to promote plumper, brighter, more even toned skin.
WHY YOU REALLY REALLY WANT ONE
Chemical peels can be used to correct or reduce the appearance of a myriad of skin issues such as uneven tone, discoloration, fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, age spots, freckles, enlarged pores, melasma, mild rosacea, sun damage and even acne. Another wonderful asset of chemical peeling is that there is an acid/peel available for most every skin type. A lot of people are intimidated by chemical peels or can’t stand the thought of looking a little cray-cray for 3 to 4 days. I personally think beautiful, even toned, glowing skin is well worth looking like a shedding snake for a few days but that’s just my opinion. Choosing the correct peel for your skin is dependent on what concern you are trying to treat so it’s best to speak with a skin care professional who can guide you in the right choice for your skin.
LIGHT PEELS
Light chemical peels are super easy to work into a busy lifestyle. These are your glycolic, lactic, AHA and BHA chemical peels. They are a non-invasive treatment that removes the upper layers of dead and damaged skin and encourages skin cell regeneration. You might have a tingly or sunburn sensation during treatment, but is very tolerable. This is what I call a maintenance peel and can be done every 4 to 6 weeks. I recommend at least seasonally , 4 times a year. You’ll just leave your appointment with a healthy glow and able to carry on with your regular activities. There are a few post-procedure steps recommended for you to follow to ensure that your results are maximized. Light peels can be used to spot treat any part of the body.
MEDIUM PEELS
Also known as TCA (trichloroacetic acid) peels or a strong combination peel of Jessner, Tretinoic Acid, and Salicylic Acids. They are able to penetrate deeper into the skin penetrating into the epidermis layers providing A more dramatic result than a light chemical peel. They are excellent for people with deeper wrinkles, dark pigmentation or sun damage and acne scars. This peel will result in 3-5 days of sheeting or peeling of the skin and 7 to 14 days of gentle skincare. This peel will cause some redness and a temporary sting or burning sensation. It can only be done every 6 to 9 months or basically twice a year. A medium chemical peel can be used to treat any area of the body and take only minutes to complete.
DEEP PEELS
The strongest, deepest of the facial peels. Is a phenol acid peel. They penetrate the skin deeper than AHA, BHA or TCA peels to address more serious imperfections such as deep hyperpigmentation, coarse wrinkles, and deep acne scars. Compared to light and medium chemical peels, Phenol peels have a more dramatic result and only a single treatment is required. However, deep (phenol) chemical peels recovery is lengthy and uncomfortable compared to milder chemical peels. Phenol peels are performed under carefully monitored conditions, usually in a doctor’s office. The patient is put under sedation, and local anesthesia is used to ease the discomfort associated with this advanced chemical peel. The chemical solution also contains anesthetic that numbs the skin. Patients typically take a week off from work after undergoing a deep chemical peel and complete healing can take two or three months.
AFTER CARE OF A PEEL
Taking care of your skin after a peel is pretty easy. Use A gentle cleanser and moisturizer daily. Sunscreen is very, very important, as it will enhance the healing process and results. Basically, you want to treat your skin Like a newborn baby's skin. Just be gentle. Normal activity may be resumed after the peel, however, excessive heat, strenuous exercise and heavy sweating should be avoided for 24 to 48 hours. It can cause irritation and prolong the healing time.
REMEMBER
Peeling is exfoliation. When your skin peels or flakes after a treatment your skin is shedding dead or damaged surface cells and revealing new, healthy skin cells on the surface. This action is called cell turnover. Supporting the cell turnover process with chemical peels is what allows the skin to shed dead cells and bring new, fresh skin to the surface, free of signs of aging, sun damage, dirt and debris. The result is glowing skin. You won’t necessarily experience visible peeling. That doesn’t mean your treatment was ineffective. Everyone experiences different levels of peeling, dependent upon skin type, resilience, type of peel and the number of layers applied. Most experience ‘flaking,’ when small pieces of skin peel off, similar to dry, winter skin or mild peeling after a sunburn. Others experience exfoliation that is not visible. If you don’t peel, your skin is still exfoliating. In this case, the exfoliation is happening on a cellular level that can’t be seen by the naked eye. Typically, the deeper the peel you receive, the more extensive peeling you will experience.
INTERESTED?
If you are interested in a chemical peel and have questions, don’t hesitate to schedule a free consultation. We perform light and medium peels at Salon Couture Beauty Spa and are more then happy to discuss your needs and choose a peel that best suits you.
LOVE THE SKIN YOUR IN,
XOXO KINI
