What To Expect After Medium Chemical Peel , you might be wondering what to expect after the treatment. A medium chemical peel is a great way to treat fine lines, wrinkles and sun damage. It can also be used to treat acne scars and pigmentation problems. It’s a more aggressive treatment than a microdermabrasion, but it’s still less aggressive than a deep chemical peel. The procedure lasts about 20 minutes and is done in a medical spa or dermatologist’s office.
You’ll notice some redness and flaking after your medium chemical peel treatment, but the results are worth any short-term discomfort.
What to Expect After Chemical Peels: If you want rejuvenated and firmer looking skin, I highly recommend the chemical peel procedure. After my own experience with the treatment, I decided to write a short article on what to expect after a medium chemical peel. Read on to learn more Chemical Peel Gone Wrong and deep chemical peel.
What To Expect After Medium Chemical Peel
What can a chemical peel do for my skin?
Chemical peels can make a dramatic difference in the surface of your skin. They can smooth texture, improve fine lines, lighten pigment such as melasma, fade sun spots, and treat acne.
What type of chemical peel is right for me?
Chemical peels are categorized by how deeply they penetrate the skin: superficial, medium or deep. Superficial peels penetrate the superficial epidermal layer of the skin. They are usually performed in a series of 2-3 to treat fine lines, acne, pore size, and hyperpigmentation. A medium depth peel is for patients with moderate sun damage, whereby, the age spots and wrinkles are more significant. Deep chemical peels were traditionally performed with phenol, but this is not done any longer as laser resurfacing became popular.
The main chemicals used for peels fall into two categories: water soluble such as AHAs and TCA and oil soluble such as BHA. The addition of other acids such as lactic acid, mandelic acid, resorcinol and salicylic enhance results.
The type and depth of chemical peel administered depends on what you are trying to treat, how much downtime you want, your Fitzpatrick skin type and the degree of sun damage. It is very important to be properly evaluated so that the peel can be customized for you and your problems can be diagnosed.
Hyperpigmentation is actually a rather complex problem which should not be casually dismissed. Does the pigment represent sun freckles, age spots, post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or melasma. There is even a type of melanoma called Lentigo Maligna Melanoma that appears as a freckle. I have had several patients be diagnosed with this type of melanoma when they wanted a peel for “pigmented freckles.” This information is not meant to frighten but inform. Make sure you see a Board Certified Dermatologist, prior to bleaching creams or chemical peels, when there is any question about pigment on the skin.
What will I experience during a chemical peel?
A superficial chemical peel will produce a slight burning, tingling sensation on the skin for 3-5 minutes. The mild discomfort subsides once the peel is neutralized. We provide a fan that patients can hold close to their face during the peel which helps reduce any discomfort.
A medium depth peel has a more intense stinging feeling on the skin when it is applied. These symptoms are felt longer approximately 15-20 minutes. For some patients, a numbing cream can be applied at the office prior to the peel. Again, a fan held close to the face really helps. At the end of the peel, we also use icy cold clothes to reduce the heat.
What happens after the peel?
A superficial peel can produce some redness but it usually lasts less than 12 hours. Some superficial peels in patients with sensitive skin can produce mild redness for 3-4 days. After the redness, the skin may flake and exfoliate more than usual. Some superficial peels used for acne don’t exfoliate much at all, but rather leave the skin feeling tight for several days while oil glands and pores are shrinking.
A medium depth chemical peel requires downtime. The skin is very red like a sunburn and sensitive for 2-4 days. After the redness fades, the skin turns darker tan color and crusts. The peeling is similar to after a sunburn, but heavier. These type of peels require special lots of special moisturizer applied multiple times a day for 1-10 days. No makeup is recommended for a week. For the best results, a week of downtime should be expected.
What are the possible side effects and complications of peels?
Pain, redness, wound healing concerns, pigment changes, swelling, scarring, infection, harmful eye exposure, sun sensitivity, and cold sores.
It is essential that a patient is evaluated prior to the peel and the correct type of peel is chosen for the skin problem. The peel needs to be performed in the proper manner and knowledge of chemicals and neutralizers mastered.
All the side effects can be avoided or managed without complications. Peels are very popular in my practice for that reason. Chemical peels give terrific results even though they may sound scary to patients who have not tried them.
What can patients do to improve their results with chemical peels?
Peel prep is the key. The results that you achieve with your peel is affected by the products you use at home in the weeks leading up to your treatment.
Here are some tips that may surprise you.
Skip your workout the morning before your peel. Working out dramatically increases the circulation within the skin, leaving it over stimulated before a peel. This could make the skin become irritated by the chemicals in the peel. Sweat and dehydration of the skin also makes the skin cells not optimal to respond to the chemical.
Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water in the days leading up to your treatment. Dehydration can sensitize the skin making it more prone to a negative result.
Exfoliate. Using products that exfoliate the skin a few weeks before your peel helps to give a stronger result from the chemical peel. Such products can be retinol, retin A, beaded cleansers, glycolic lotions and cleansers. However, it is important to stop exfoliation products two days before your chemical peel so that the skin is not to sensitive.
Chemical Peel Gone Wrong
A chemical peel can cause hyperpigmentation (darkened skin) and hypopigmentation (patches of lighter skin). Superficial peels are the more common cause of hyperpigmentation while deep peels are more likely to be the cause of hypopigmentation.
A chemical peel is a mixture of chemicals that forms gel-like consistency. It’s applied to the face in order to smooth the surface of the skin, remove the appearance of fine lines and remove blemishes. There are three types of chemical peels: mild, medium-depth and deep. Each have their advantages and serve different purposes.
What Are the Advantages of a Mild Chemical Peel?
- Chemical peels help to smooth dry skin
- Can help with pigmentation problems
- Controls acne
- Removes blemishes
- Less recovery time
- Helps with mild sun-damage
- Reduces mild blotchiness
- Fresher and younger looking appearance
What Are the Advantages of a Medium-Depth Chemical Peel?
- Thin facial lines are removed or the appearance is less noticeable
- The medium-depth reduces facial birthmarks
- The pigmentation in the skin is improved
- Helps with dry skin and old acne scarring
- Helps with sun-damaged skin
- Improves blotchy skin
- Younger looking overall appearance
What Are the Advantages of a Deep Chemical Peel?
- Ability to remove pre-cancerous growths
- Deeper acne scar emanation
- Long lasting effect
- Eliminates deeper lines on the face??
- Controls acne
- Helps with deep or course wrinkles
- Age spot removal
- Only a single treatment is necessary
- Smoother skin, younger appearance
- Long-term results are very good when the peel is specifically for acne scarring
The advantages of chemical peels are many, and all three help with different issues. The deep chemical peels are reserved for those with the worst types of skin problems, including serious acne, scarring and birthmarks. Some disadvantages of chemical peels need mentioning.
What Are the Disadvantages of a Chemical Peel?
- Excessive peeling normally happens more with the medium-depth peel and particularly with the deep peel
- Stinging sensation when initially applied
- Redness appears. Again, this is particularly so with the deep and medium peels. The light peel normally results in peeling like a sunburn.
- Temporarily may feel a bit of numbness
- Deep chemical peels can cause a crusting or scabbing after the treatment, as the deep dead skin cells are sleuthing off. This is temporary.
- Sensitivity to the sun ? you will need to stay out of the sun for a short time after the peel as your skin is more sensitive
- Costs can also be a disadvantage for some, since the average chemical peel cost $500 for each treatment
While some disadvantages do exist for chemical peels, the advantages do outweigh them particularly for those suffering from severe skin problems, such as acne or acne scarring. Even with the disadvantages, most people that have had them report they would have it again because of the overall improvement of their skin’s surface and the younger fresher look the entire chemical peels bring about. The discomforts often associated with a chemical peel are temporary and subside rather quickly.
deep chemical peel
A chemical peel is a cosmetic treatment that uses a chemical solution to peel away old and damaged skin cells, allowing healthier and more youthful skin to emerge. It can help address a number of issues including wrinkles, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation.
If you have deeper facial wrinkles, skin that’s damaged by the sun, scars, areas that appear blotchy or even pre-cancerous growths, deep facial chemical peels might be the right choice for you. Your provider will carefully determine if you are a good candidate for this treatment.
Your physician will use the strongest chemical called phenol to penetrate down to the lower dermal layer of your skin. For this type of peel, you may need a local anesthetic and a sedative to manage any discomfort.
A deep chemical peel usually involves some sort of pretreatment for up to eight weeks. This will prepare your skin for the peel and speed the healing process.
Pretreatment may include use of a retinoic acid cream or gel – a prescription medication that’s derived from vitamin A. This works to thin out the skin’s surface layer, allowing the chemical solution to penetrate more evenly and deeply.
Deep chemical peel procedure steps
- You will be given a sedative to relax along with a local anesthetic to numb your face.
- Phenol is brushed onto the area after an appropriate time interval.
- The chemical is neutralized with water.
- A thick coat of ointment is smoothed over your skin, to prevent dryness and pain. The ointment must stay in place. Sometimes your surgeon will cover your skin with strips of tape or medicated gauze rather than ointment.
Deep chemical peel risks
The chemical used in a deep chemical peel, phenol, can lighten the skin that’s treated. With this kind of peel, your new skin often loses its ability tan normally. It is critical that the treated area is protected from the sun.
Phenol (a deep peel agent) also can pose a special risk for people with heart disease. Be sure to tell your surgeon about any heart problems and include it in your medical history.
Deep chemical peel recovery
Some of the great benefits of this skin rejuvenation treatment include:
- Improves the efficacy of your skin care products
- Heals discolouration and scars on the skin
- Exfoliates away dead cells and increases cell turnover for healthy, glowing skin
- Results in a more even-toned complexion
7 Reasons to Consider a Chemical Peel
Chemical peels come in varying strengths and they can accomplish a great deal — whether you simply want a gentle exfoliation or you require treatment for more ingrained dermal problems. During a consultation, your skin care specialist can assess your concerns and skin type to determine which type of chemical peel is safest for you.
Customized Chemical Peels at our Edmonton Medical Spa
At our Edmonton med spa, our highly trained team of aestheticians creates customized chemical peel treatments to eliminate fine lines, wrinkles, and even acne scars. We also offer minimally invasive anti-aging treatments including Botox, Juvederm, and IPL photorejuvenation to address any skin concerns you might have and help you achieve all your aesthetic goals.
Want to know how we can help you achieve healthy, glowing, and more youthful-looking skin? Contact Our Edmonton Medical Spa
What to Expect Following Your Chemical Peel Treatment
A chemical peel works to peel away tired and dull skin cells while stimulating the growth of fresh and healthy skin. In addition to this, chemical peels will result in accelerated cell turnover and encourage the production of collagen. How to Prepare Your Skin for a Chemical Peel
If you are undergoing a chemical peel treatment, here’s what you can expect after your procedure and some tips on how to take care of your skin for the best results.
What Happens After a Chemical Peel?
The recovery period following a chemical peel will vary depending on the type of peel you opted for. However, in general, here’s what you can expect:
- The duration of the recovery period can range from three to 14 days, depending on the type of chemical peel.
- For most peels, patients can expect a recovery time of five to seven days.
- Following the procedure, your skin will dry out. During this time, you must drink plenty of water
- Avoid washing your face for at least 24 hours following your peel.
- Over the next few days, your skin will begin to peel. The most intense peeling will occur during the middle days of your recovery
- You may also experience some irritation, crusting, or skin redness. However, if you notice any bleeding or oozing, you must contact your skin specialist straight away
4 Tips to Take Care of Your Skin After a Chemical Peel
When performed by a highly-skilled aesthetician, a chemical peel is a safe and effective way to rejuvenate your appearance and eliminate any scars or signs of aging. However, in order to get the best results, you must look after your skin properly following your treatment.
Here are some tips to follow:
- Avoid using hot water for at least one week: For the first week following your chemical peel, avoid washing your face or showering with hot water. This is because hot water can cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. In addition to this, the steam will open up your pores which can significantly increase your risk of infection.
- Let your skin peel naturally. The most important thing to keep in mind following your chemical peel is to avoid touching your face. Picking and pulling your skin can result in scarring. The best course of action is to allow your skin to peel off naturally.
- Be gentle with your skin and avoid exfoliation. Following your chemical peel, the skin’s protective barrier will be temporarily compromised. This means that you should avoid any cleansing products with exfoliators such as facial scrubs until your skin has completely healed. When drying your skin, do not rub it. Instead, pat it dry gently with a soft towel.
- Always use sunscreen and limit your exposure to the sun. Your face is at its most sensitive post-peel, so you want to avoid the sun for at least a few days. When you do go outdoors, make sure to use sunscreen and stick to shady spots. Use the sunscreen for a minimum of six weeks after your chemical peel.