Is My Skin Right for a Chemical Peel?
A chemical peel can be a great way to give your skin a refresher, but it can also be an important anti-aging strategy to maintain your skin over the long term. Not only good for general exfoliation, chemical peels may be helpful to treat acne, wrinkles, sun damage, and mild scarring. Your specific skin type, as well as genetics, environmental factors, and your diet, largely determine your individual needs.
What to Know About Chemical Peels
Chemical Peels
A chemical peel facial treatment is an acid-based solution that breaks the bonds of the outer layers of skin, helping lift dead cells and exposing the younger, fresher skin below. Usually a salicylic or hydroxy acid, these gentle and proven formulas can be adjusted for specific end results.
The Importance of Exfoliation
Removing dead skin cells and clearing pores of buildup are foundational to healthy skin. When surface-level buildup accumulates, several things might happen. Pores can become filled with excess sebum, dead skin cells, and dirt, leading to pimples, whiteheads, and blackheads. When a bacterial infection occurs, these clogged pores become acne and can spread across the face. Sometimes, inflammation accompanies severe acne and might be painful in addition to embarrassing.
When pores are filled with oil and dirt in the creases of our face’s skin, like the corners of the mouth, around the eyes, and on the forehead, wrinkles might start to develop. When new skin grows over clogged pores, it can create a crease over time, and with continued buildup, the crease becomes deeper and more visible.
Corrective Treatments
Some people deal with acne as adolescents, with it clearing up by the end of their teenage years. Some acne can leave scarring though, and it’s normal to want the shadowy marks to be removed. A deep-penetrating chemical peel can be effective at diminishing acne scars, as well as pigmentation from sun damage. By conditioning the cluster of scar tissue or pigmented cells, a chemical peel can remove some of the affected layers of skin while stimulating repair and regrowth at the site.
Deep penetrating chemical peels can also be effective at reducing the appearance of wrinkles. By loosening and lifting outer layers of dead skin and buildup, wrinkles fade as they become shallower, and the skin texture becomes more even.
Preparing for a Chemical Peel
The versatility of a chemical peel makes this treatment a great support for your regular skincare routine. For corrective treatments, you may be given specific instructions on how to take care of your skin beforehand. To achieve the desired results, your dermatologist will likely schedule multiple sessions over a period of time.
For regular maintenance, a chemical peel facial is recommended every 6-8 weeks, or every month and a half to two months. The downtime for each procedure will vary by its intensity, with some redness, shedding, and dryness persisting for up to several days. Your dermatologist will let you know what to expect so you can plan accordingly.
If you have sensitive skin, you may need a more gentle exfoliant treatment like laser therapy or microdermabrasion. Schedule an appointment today to come in for a consultation.