Chemical Peels 101: Finding the Right Fit For Your Skin Type
If you’ve been wondering how you can give your skin a deeper treatment, you’re in luck! Chemical peels are a great way to get started with a clean slate when it comes to your skin. Chemical peels are used to improve the appearance of scars, age spots, sun damages and other blemishes on the face and neck. A solution is applied to the skin that causes exfoliation and peeling, which leads to newer, smoother and softer skin. If you’re looking into getting a chemical peel for your skin, here are just a few things you should know:
Choosing the Right Peel
There are three types of chemical peels, and depending on your age, skin type, lifestyle and how damaged your skin is, there’s a different peel to address your concerns. Your practicioner will recommend what suits you the best.
Light peel: Alpha-hydroxy acid or another mild acid is used to penetrate only the outer layer of skin to gently exfoliate. The treatment is used to improve the appearance of mild skin discoloration and rough skin as well as to treat other areas you might have discoloration in.
Medium peel: Glycolic or trichloroacetic acid is applied to penetrate the skin and to remove damaged skin cells. The treatment is used to improve age spots, fine lines and wrinkles, freckles and mild skin discoloration. It also can be used to smooth rough skin and treat some precancerous skin growths.
Deep peel: Trichloroacetic acid or phenol is applied to deeply penetrate your skin to remove any damaged skin cells. The treatment removes lines, age spots, freckles and shallow scars, and you will see the most improvement in your skin. The procedure is used on the face and only can be performed once.
Side Effects
Although it’s rare to experience any complications from chemical peels, you should be aware of any potential risks that might happen during or after your treatment.
- Changes in skin color if deeper skin tone
- Infection
- Scarring
- Reactivation of cold sores
Caring For Your Chemical Peel
So now that you got your treatment, what’s next? Your practitioner will discuss all steps of your at home aftercare with you, but here are a few things to expect with each kind of chemical peel treatment.
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- Light peels require 1-7 days to heal. Treated skin will initially be red and may scale. A moisturizer should be applied to protect the skin until it heals, followed by daily use of SPF. Makeup can be worn the day after the treatment.
- Medium peels require 7-17 days to heal. Treated skin will initially be red and swollen, and swelling and blisters may occur. Skin must be soaked daily for a specified period, followed by ointment application. Makeup may be worn after 5-7 days.
- Deep peels require 14-21 days to heal. The treated area will be bandaged, and skin must be soaked four to six times daily, followed by ointment application for the first 14 days. Makeup may be worn after 14 days. You may need to have several follow-up appointments to ensure your skin is healing optimally.
Sun exposure and smoking after a chemical peel must be avoided because it may cause an infection, change in skin tone, irritation and scarring.
Finding the Right Fit
Now that you’ve gotten some insight to the different kinds of chemical peels, you may be considering booking an appointment to get treatment. Sculpt Cosmedics is a medspa based in Brooklyn that offers a wide range of treatments from chemical peels, facials, weight loss and more. Book an appointment today to get started with one of our experts - we are open during the coronavirus crisis for one-on-one sessions.