Our skin is our first line of defense against potentially dangerous environmental elements, but it is not impenetrable. The onset of aging may be seen as early as our 20s due to the accumulation of dirt, dead skin cells, and pollutants in the skin and the damaging effects of sun exposure.
Your DIY skincare regimens need to produce the desired results. You’d prefer to undergo a professional procedure to have the fresh, young skin you want. One of the various skincare procedures we do at Nuance Aesthetics is a chemical peel, which you have undoubtedly heard of if you’re seeking treatment.
In a chemical peel, the top layers of the skin are removed by applying a chemical solution to the skin. Scars, discolored skin, and wrinkles are all often treated with chemical peels on the face. They can be performed at various depths, ranging from light to deep. Deeper chemical peels produce more dramatic effects but require more time to heal.
What is a chemical peel?
A chemical peel is a procedure for hands, neck, and face skin resurfacing. The process entails applying a chemical solution to the region to be treated, which causes controlled skin damage. A new layer of skin that is smoother and brighter gradually replaces the damaged skin.
You can select a chemical peel in one of three depths, depending on the issues you’re trying to address with the treatment. The chemical solution utilized, the depth to which it penetrates the skin, and the problems it addresses to determine the different types of chemical peels. With our assistance, you can select a chemical peel for your particular skin problem and objectives.
Light Chemical Peel
Chemical Peeling Light
The top layer of the skin is usually peeled off with light exfoliants like alpha and beta hydroxy acids. They deal with the following skin issues:
- Skin discoloration
- Uneven skin texture
- Dryness
- fine wrinkles
- Acne
Patients often require a series of sessions for this chemical peel to get their desired results. After light peels, there is little to no downtime.
Medium Chemical Peel
Trichloroacetic acid and glycolic acid solution are used in medium chemical peels to penetrate the top and middle layers of the skin. They work well for:
- elimination of dead skin cells
- wrinkles and fine lines
- age spots
- pigmentation of the skin
- acne scarring
After mild chemical peels, patients must take some time off, but they often recover in a week.
Deep Chemical Peel
Trichloroacetic or carbolic acid (phenol), which penetrates the middle skin layers, is used in deep chemical peels. They work well for:
- elimination of dead skin cells
- deeper creases
- age spots
- Skin pigmentation
- Scars
- cancerous growths (actinic keratosis)
Sedatives, local anesthetics, or in rare circumstances, total anesthesia are administered to the patient. The most dramatic effects may be seen after just one deep chemical peel. Still, they also come with the most extended recovery times and two months of pre-treatment preparation.
What is the treatment look like?
The first step in a chemical peel treatment is a consultation with us. We will choose the best kind of peel for you based on your skin problem, your desired outcomes, and your budget. A chemical solution is applied to the treatment region using gauze, a cotton ball, a brush, or a specific applicator after we clean your face with rubbing alcohol.
During the procedure, you can experience burning and stinging. For a while, the solution is left on the skin. We will use water and a saline compress to cleanse and neutralize the chemicals.
Between 30 and 90 minutes are allotted for the treatment.
How do you prepare before a chemical peel?
You may get ready for the treatment once you’ve determined whether you have any of the skin issues that a chemical peel can treat. You must meet with a practitioner and undergo a pre-treatment examination. If you are a candidate, there are also some products you should refrain from applying to your skin and exposing it to before the treatment.
The consultation entails checking your skin correctly. We can decide which treatment would yield the desired outcomes by examining your skin’s texture, thickness, and tone. Before deciding to move on, you will also be able to learn about the staging of your treatment and get all of your questions addressed.
After your pre-treatment examination and approval as a candidate, you must quit smoking for a long time based on the kind of peel specified by your doctor. To prepare your skin for the peel, you must also refrain from using specific skin care products, taking certain medications, and going outside in the sun.
What to expect after a chemical peel?
Your skin will be red, tight, itchy, or swollen following a chemical peel at any depth. Follow your doctor’s recommendations for skin care, including washing, moisturizing, and wearing sunscreen and protective ointments. Likewise, refrain from picking, rubbing, or scratching your skin. Before you see the full effects of the peel and your skin tone returns to normal, it might take many months.
- The treated skin will be somewhat irritated, dry, and red after a light chemical peel; however, these side effects may become less pronounced with further treatments. Your doctor may apply a protective ointment like petroleum jelly to relax the skin. Usually, you can choose to wear makeup the next day.
After a light chemical peel, treated regions require one to seven days to heal. New skin can appear lighter or darker than usual initially.
- The treated skin will be puffy and red following a medium chemical peel. There will be stinging. To calm the region and avoid dryness, your doctor may apply a protective ointment, such as petroleum jelly. You can hide any redness with cosmetics after five to seven days.
For comfort, use cold packs. Ibuprofen and naproxen sodium, available over the counter, may help ease discomfort. For your doctor to track your recovery, you should set up a checkup shortly following your procedure.
The affected skin will produce a crust as the swelling goes down and may discolor or have brown spots. After a mild chemical peel, treated regions recover in around seven to fourteen days, but the redness may linger for months.
- Severe swelling and redness will follow a deep chemical peel. Additionally, you’ll experience burning and throbbing, and the swelling may cause your eyes to close completely.
We will put a surgical dressing on the treated areas, and we may recommend painkillers. For around two weeks, you’ll need to wash the affected skin and apply ointment multiple times daily.
After a deep chemical peel, the treated regions regenerate new skin in approximately two weeks. However, the redness may persist for months. The capacity to tan or become darker or lighter than usual may occur on the treated skin.
You can use cosmetics to cover up any redness until new skin surrounds the treated region, which takes around two weeks. Daily use of sunscreen is highly recommended.
Conclusion
Chemical peels are among the most popular cosmetic procedures. Patients adore them because they offer long-lasting results with little danger and no need for needles, less invasive light, and medium peels.
Consider getting a chemical peel to regain your flawless complexion and youthful, bright skin. Contact us at Nuance Aesthetics for your next chemical peel appointment to guarantee that you obtain the desired results.