There is nothing quite like a chemical peel to give your skin a clean slate. In this procedure, a dermatologist or aesthetician uses a chemical solution to dissolve the top layer of dry, flaky skin.
Depending on the type of peel you get, you could be waiting anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour. Time required varies as well based on factors like the depth of exfoliation (how many layers of dead skin are removed) and the area of the body being treated simultaneously.
this article speaks more about How Long Is The Chemical Peel Process, Do Chemical Peels Ever Harm Skin? and Skin Looks Worse After Chemical Peel
How Long Is The Chemical Peel Process
You may be wondering how long a chemical peel will last. It depends on the level of peel your aesthetician chooses, but in general, a chemical peel will last from four to eight hours. In that time, you can expect some redness and flaking of your skin as well as slight stinging or burning. However, this is just the beginning of the process for most people.
Before and After
This is an important point to keep in mind, because chemical peels can be quite effective at improving the appearance of several skin conditions. Some of the most common uses for chemical peels include:
- Reducing acne scars
- Minimizing fine lines and wrinkles
- Lightening brown spots or age spots (liver spots) caused by sun damage or aging
- Improving skin texture and reducing pore size
There are different types of chemical peel that you might have performed based on your particular needs and the severity of your condition. For example, if you are having severe scarring from an injury or surgery, it’s possible that a deep peel may be used instead of a medium-depth peel because there is more damage to heal from.
Chemical Peel for Acne Scars
Chemical peels are commonly used to improve the appearance of scars, especially acne scars. If you are interested in having a chemical peel for acne scars, it is important to talk with your doctor about whether or not this treatment is right for you.
Chemical peels can be performed by a dermatologist or at-home with the use of over the counter products. At-home chemical peels may result in more redness and irritation than professional peels, so they may not be recommended if you have sensitive skin or active skin conditions like rosacea or eczema.
Additional Treatments
If you’re being treated for acne scars with a chemical peel, you should expect that your treatment will take longer than if you were using it to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It may take multiple sessions before your skin looks as healthy and vibrant as it did before the damage caused by acne or other factors.
If you have been treated with a series of chemical peels in order to improve the appearance of acne scars, then keep in mind that additional treatments may be necessary to achieve optimal results. The number of treatments will vary depending on things like how severe your scarring was and how many sessions have already been performed on your skin. If possible, wait at least six months between each session so that enough time can pass for new collagen to form underneath damaged tissue; this step is key for achieving better overall results from subsequent treatments.
When to Expect Improvement
You should see improvement after 3–6 weeks. It’s important to know that the results will be gradual and may not be as noticeable after 1 year. After 2 years, you should notice a big difference in your skin tone, texture and discoloration. Improvement may continue to show up over time—after 5 years and 10 years, you may still notice some fading of pigmentation marks or dark spots left behind by acne scars.
You can expect some skin peeling after a chemical peel.
You can expect some skin peeling after a chemical peel. The amount of peeling will vary depending on how deep the treatment is, how well your body accepts the procedure, and other factors. It’s also possible to experience redness or irritation for up to two weeks after a chemical peel. If you’re planning on having a chemical peel done, it’s important to maintain good hygiene during this time period so that you do not get infected or spread bacteria onto others. In some cases, doctors may recommend taking an antibiotic beforehand in order to prevent infection from occurring during healing time.
Skin Looks Worse After Chemical Peel
The most common worry people have after getting a chemical peel is that their skin will look worse in the days following the treatment. But does that mean they’ll forever have damaged skin? No.
It will take some time for your skin to stop peeling as it undergoes the exfoliation and regeneration process.
So, we won’t sugarcoat it: this treatment works, but it isn’t exactly pleasant to go through. Let’s take a look at what happens during and after a chemical peel, and why your skin might actually look worse as a result.
A Brief Review of the Chemical Peel
Chemical peels are a type of skin resurfacing in which a chemical (usually an acid) is applied to the skin in carefully calibrated doses in order to remove the outermost layer of skin.
In the hands of a trained professional, chemical peels are a fast, effective, and safe method of facial rejuvenation that can even out skin tone and reduce the appearance of scars, age spots, and other imperfections.
You should know that a chemical peel can cause some short-term discomfort, but that it typically subsides within a week. Even so, they leave skin looking a little…weird…during the healing process.
Do Chemical Peels Ever Harm Skin?
Although chemical peels have a reputation for being safe, they are not without their risks.
The skin’s reaction to a chemical peel, and any complications that may arise from it, depend on how deeply the chemical penetrates the skin. Issues can be classified as either instantaneous or delayed skin reactions, depending on their onset.
Initial responses occur within the first two days.
Stinging, itching, and burning sensations
Discoloration and other skin changes
Redness, swelling, and blistering
Infection
Reactions not wanted (usually an allergic reaction, contact dermatitis, or the form of persistent irritation)
There may be some delayed skin reactions after these have subsided. These factors are common causes of skin health concerns.
A so-called “post-peel purge” occurs in some people. Purging occurs because your body exerts force against toxic substances; specifically, it brings to the surface all the dead skin cells, bacteria, and oil sitting just below the skin so that it can be eliminated.
Little red bumps may appear as a result, and some people report that they hurt when touched. If your skin looks worse after a chemical peel, it may be because new whiteheads and blackheads have formed alongside the bumps.
Do not, under any circumstances, pick at these imperfections. In order to speed up the purging process, you should avoid touching your skin.
It’s possible that chemical peels can exacerbate acne scarring.
Acne scars can be removed with the help of chemical peels by resurfacing the skin. Even though light and medium peels don’t penetrate deeply into the skin, they can cause scarring in some people.
How easily you scar depends on how your body handles the healing process. Your skin type and tone can affect the appearance and character of your scars.