Chemical peel is one of the most popular skin resurfacing treatments in the US. So much so that in 2018 alone, over 1.3 million chemical peel treatments were done nationwide. But what are chemical peels for, and are facial peels safe for everyone?
In this post, we’ll answer these questions and discuss the different kinds of chemical peels to see if it’s the skin regimen you’re looking for. Keep reading to learn why many people still swear by chemical peels to this day!
What is a chemical peel?
Chemical peels are skin treatments done to resurface the skin. This way, the ‘old’ or ‘worn-out’ layer will be exfoliated and replaced with a smoother and younger looking version.
To do this, chemical peels contain different kinds of acids with varying depths of penetration to the skin. That said, the acids on chemical peels will literally ‘peel off’ the top layer of your skin in the process.
Through this process, the skin on your face will initiate cell turnover and collagen production. This will remove various blemishes and even lighten wrinkles and fine lines.
While this treatment isn’t the least invasive option to rejuvenate your skin, the discomfort and aftercare are often worth the hassle. Just make sure that you schedule your chemical peel strategically as this treatment will cause blistering and peeling anywhere from 1 to 21 days, depending on the peel depth.
What does a chemical peel do to your face?
Although chemical peels could take a lot of aftercare, many people love them for good reasons. Here’s what a chemical peel does that might convince you to try it soon:
- Improves acne and acne scars. Light and medium chemical peels are known to help improve acne by killing bacterial and removing pore clogging. Still, you should only get this chemical peel for face after a consultation with our specialist.
- Reduces signs of aging. For older clients, a huge purpose of chemical peel is to lighten fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, and liver spots. It also helps revive their skin’s suppleness and elasticity.
- Lightens hyperpigmentation. If you have freckles, surgical scars, sun damage, and discoloration, there are various types of face peels that can help reduce their appearance.
These are just some of the long list of benefits chemicals can bring. Still, it’s important to get the right type of chemical peel to ensure that it matches your skin and desired results. Below, we briefly discussed the three common types and what each one does.
Types of chemical peels for face
Our specialist at Pure Skin Laser Center will help you pick the right peel depth that best addresses your skin concerns. Here’s a quick rundown of what you can get:
Light chemical peel
These are the gentlest of all peels, which can be a good option if you want to test the waters first. It only exfoliates the epidermis to improve dry skin, acne, uneven skin tone, and even wrinkles.
But since it’s only a light treatment, you can’t expect drastic results. Still the upside is that light chemical peel recovery time is only around 1 to 5 days.
Medium chemical peel
If you want the perfect balance of substantial chemical peel effects and minimized downtime, you can try medium-depth peels. This removes both the epidermis and the top layer of your dermis to tackle deeper blemishes.
If you’re interested in medium peels, you should definitely try our Perfect Derma Peel treatment. It works wonders on acne, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and enlarged pores in just 7 days.
Deep chemical peel
If you want to target deep wrinkles and deep scars, you can explore different types of deep chemical peels. However, we’d like to mention that deep peels can be excruciating and may require a local anesthetic to help with the pain of chemical peel flaking skin.
So, what is a deep chemical peel? This kind of peel strips your epidermis, upper dermis, and middle dermis.
Overall, the recovery period for deep peels may take about 2 to 3 weeks. Still, the benefits can last for as much as 10 years.
Potential chemical peel side effects on the face
Are chemical peels painful? Are peels bad for your skin? As with any skin treatment, chemical peels have its share of possible side effects. It depends on how your skin will react to the treatment, the kind of peel you’re getting, and your choice of provider.
Here are some of the potential side effects that our specialist will discuss with you:
- Those with darker skin risk may have discoloration or uneven skin tone after a chemical peel, especially deep types.
- You’ll experience swelling, stinging, and redness during the peel – the deeper, the more intense it will be.
- Expect peeling and flaking of your facial for about 5 to 14 days
- Crusting can also occur when you get deep peels
- Deep peels often cause prolonged redness of up to 3 months
- Deep peels have a high risk of infection, bruising, and delayed wound healing
- In rare cases, deep chemical peel risks include the reactivation of the herpes simplex virus.
Overall, bad chemical peel reactions are often due to a person’s individual response to the treatment. This is why we conduct a consultation before every peel session to ensure that you’re a good candidate for the procedure.
At the same time, you should observe proper aftercare. You should fight the urge to pick, scratch, or scrub the flakes off your skin, as this will increase the risk of infection and further irritation.
Not yet ready for chemical peels? We offer 2 alternatives!
If you find cosmetic chemical peels a bit intimidating, you can explore some of the alternatives we offer in North Hollywood. The following treatments can also lighten blemishes and reduce the appearance of wrinkles:
Laser facial
If you’re worried about chemical peel side effects, you can try our laser facial instead. Here, we use state-of-the-art Candela laser technology that targets problem areas without damaging the surrounding skin. It’s FDA-approved and gentle, even for the most sensitive skin.
The best thing about our laser facial is you can schedule it during your lunch hour. After that, you can resume your usual activities with minimal aftercare.
Laser melasma treatment
If you have hyperpigmented patches all over your face, chemical peels are not the only answer. You can consider our laser melasma treatment that uses the Candela PicoWay technology to target both epidermal and dermal melasma.
It’s also effective for other blemishes like freckles, sun spots, wrinkles, and more. Aside from that, this treatment is also safe either for short-term or long-term management of melasma.
If you’re unsure which of these treatments works the best alternative to chemical peels contact us at Pure Skin Laser Center, and our specialist will advise you. Feel free to request a consultation with us to know more about these treatments!
Discover the benefits of peels and more with Pure Skin Laser Center!
If you’re looking for treatments to rejuvenate your skin, all you have to do is contact Pure Skin Laser Center today! We offer chemical peels, facials, laser treatments, and more that will let you achieve a younger look without the harsh side effects.
With us, you’ll enjoy a variety of skin treatments that suit your desired results and comfort level. Above all, our licensed aestheticians with 10+ years of experience will give you personalized attention, whatever treatment you choose to get.
Also, we only use FDA-approved and clinically proven skin technologies to give you the best results. Our 1,000+ happy clients can attest to the long-lasting results we can deliver.
If you want to know more facts about chemical peels or our other treatments, you can schedule a consultation with us today! Our specialists in North Hollywood can’t wait to unleash your younger and fresher look!
