Chemical Peels are non-surgical skin care treatments that can be used on the face, arms, legs, neck, chest and hands to improve the appearance of fine lines, age spots or skin discoloration (hyperpigmentation), enlarged pores, light sun damage, light freckling, acne, pregnancy mask (melasma), and treament for scarring.
Peels are one of the most common skin rejuvenation treatments as they greatly improve the skin’s overall appearance – they can even improve scars you’ve had all your life. By creating a controlled, even shedding of several layers of damaged skin, an underlying fresh new layer with a more even texture, healthy color and youthful tone is revealed. Peels are an ideal treatment for scarring, and acne, as they open clogged follicles and decrease oil production, which reduces blackheads and pimples.
The peeling agents are natural substances that are primarily derived from fruits and sugar cane. We use various strengths of glycolic, salicylic, jessner’s, lactic and other peels that are customized to treat your specific need and skin type.
A series of treatments is usually recommended to achieve the maximum benefits from this type of skin resurfacing. Chemical Peels can also be combined with microderabrasion for added enhancement of each treatment.
The customized chemical solution is applied to the area to be treated (most often the entire face). The chemical agent causes the outer surface layers of dead and damaged skin to separate and peel off, revealing a newer, fresher dermal layer underneath. The chemical agent also stimulates the growth of new skin, which is tighter and more even in tone and texture.
You may experience a cool or hot sensation that can last for ten minutes or more. This feeling may be accompanied with stinging, but this is rarely intense enough to be painful. We monitor you throughout the procedure and will provide you with cooling fans, ice packs or a medical skin chiller for maximum comfort.
You may experience mild to moderate redness and/or mild swelling of the skin from 6 to 24 hours afterwards. Mild redness may persist until your skin is completely healed. The healing process may take up to 7 days, accompanied by some mild to moderate flaking and/or peeling.
Complications from superficial peeling agents are rare. The most common side effects may include persistent redness, irritation and increased sensitivity. Far less common are loss of skin color (hypopigmentation) or darkening (hyperpigmentation), but those effects are usually temporary.
What products should I use after a Chemical Peel?
Since the peel is designed to dry out the dead skin it removes, it is very important to nourish and hydrate the underlying skin in the following 7-10 day period in order to maximize the treatment benefits. We offer a specialized line of physician-grade cosmeceutical skin care products to care for your “new” skin and minimize any side effects, and can provide you with a customized skin care regime that will help extend the results of your chemical peel.