What To Know About Chemical Peel Like Skin Care?A chemical peel is an effective method for making your skin look years younger. They work well on all skin types, but those prone to acne or showing signs of aging will see the most improvement by using them. The most popular type of chemical peel is an AHA peel, which stands for alpha hydroxy acid. The superficial layer of dead skin is removed by a combination of mild acids in this type of peel.
If you want your skin to look flawless for a special occasion, a chemical peel is the way to go. You should also prepare by learning as much as possible about the surgery you intend to undergo.
Chemical peels can be a great solution to many skin problems like wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and clogged pores. They are considered a non-surgical procedure for improving the look of your skin without any downtime. Here is the thing, though: you will need expert help to get this job done correctly. Read on to learn more about skin looks worse after chemical peel and skin discoloration after chemical peel.
What To Know About Chemical Peel Like Skin Care
Chemicals and skincare may seem daunting, but in fact, there are plenty of chemicals that are beneficial for your complexion. Take chemical peels, for example: the technique is used to improve the feel and texture of your skin with a single treatment by literally peeling away a layer of skin. While many are still intimidated by this seemingly harsh practice, others like celebrities Jennifer Aniston and Goop founder and beauty guru Gwyneth Paltrow have hopped on the trend, determined to get glowing skin. By removing the outermost layers of the epidermis on the treated areas, the chosen peel solution—because there is a cosmetic peel treatment (and different strengths of peels) available for almost every skin type—causes the skin to exfoliate and eventually peel off, exposing new, fresh skin.
Chemical peels can be a wonderful asset and asily applied onto the face, hands, and neck to help correct issues such as uneven skin tone, fine lines and wrinkles, dark spots, and even acne. They require a visit to the dermatologist or esthetician, as the procedure uses concentrated acids on the skin. Before trying it out, there are a few more things you should learn about in order to ensure the best experience (and results!) possible. To assist you on your quest for radiant skin, L’OFFICIEL shares a list of 8 things to know ahead of booking your first chemical peel.
Check Your Skin
Consult your dermatologist or esthetician to make sure your skin is a candidate for a chemical peel. Those with sensitive skin may want to stay away as chemical peels do have uncomfortable side effects like blisters and swelling. For the best results, you’ll want skin to be in a healthy state before getting the treatment.
Prep Your Skin
Two weeks prior to your appointment, use a skin brightening product to help reduce your risk of post-procedure hyperpigmentation and to ensure dark spots don’t pop up afterward, especially if you have a darker skin tone.
Ask Your Skincare Professional
As we mentioned before, there is a cosmetic peel available for almost every skin type. Ask your skin care professional which peel is right for you. They may apply glycolic, richloroacetic, salicylic, lactic, or carbolic acid, depending on your skin type and needs. They will also let you know of recovery time: light peels can take up to a week to heal from, medium peels up to 14 days, and deep peels up to 21 days.
Chemical Peels Are Not Just for Your Face
You don’t need to save all the good stuff for your face. Chemical peels can also be applied to your hands, neck, and chest to remove dark spots or acne scars so as to leave your skin baby-smooth.
Have Realistic Expectations
If you have raised acne scarring, a chemical peel isn’t going to remove it forever. Several years of damage on your skin can be tough to erase in a single session. It will, however, smooth, tighten, and brighten your skin tone, leaving you with a more youthful complexion.
One Chemical Peel Isn’t Enough
Unless you opt for a deeper type of peel, one session isn’t going to give you complete results. A series is by far the best way to get optimal results and your skin care professional can determine with you what type of peels and how many sessions you should start with.
Use Sunscreen
After a chemical peel, it is a necessity to maintain your results and thus imperative to wear sunscreen everyday to protect your now sensitive skin barrier from sun damage.
Prepare for Aftercare
Following your peel, your skin will begin to shed. This can be an uncomfortable process and your dermatologist or esthetician will tell you what at-home care you will need. Depending on the peel strength, they may tell you to moisturize daily, soak the affected areas, apply ointment, or even prescribe antiviral medication. With proper aftercare, the newly surfaced skin will be smooth, glowing, and fresh.
Skin Discoloration After Chemical Peel
A chemical peel can cause treated skin to become darker than normal (hyperpigmentation) or lighter than normal (hypopigmentation). Hyperpigmentation is more common after superficial peels, while hypopigmentation is more common after a deep peel.
Hyperpigmentation caused by chemical peels
Hyperpigmentation is a rare side effect of chemical peels. It is caused when the skin darkens over the peeled areas of the skin as a result of increased levels of the brown coloured skin pigment melanin. Melanin levels rise due to skin inflammation stimulating increased melanin production (post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation also known as PIH). This can leave the skin with blotchy pigmentation.
Hyperpigmentation usually occurs on areas of skin where the deepest parts of the peel are found. PIH will only affect the areas of skin that have been treated with a chemical peel (although this very rare). Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation can both be cured by and paradoxically caused by a chemical peel.
Greater risk factor for those with dark skin
Although hyperpigmentation can occur in all skin types, it is most commonly those with darker skin who are afflicted. This is because those with a dark skin tone have greater levels of melanin than those of a lighter complexion. This is means that if the cells that contain melanin are over stimulated, as can happen after a chemical peel, the production of melanin will be reduced.
Duration of PIH
Despite being principally a temporary condition, hyperpigmentation after a chemical peel could last for up to two years. The condition can last for up to two year but can be treated often through the application of a skin-lightening agent such as hyproquine.
Treatment of hyperpigmentation caused by chemical peels
Possible treatments for hyperpigmentation include: hydroquinone, kojic acid, alpha hydroxy acids, ascorbic acid, azelaic acid, tretinion (retinal) and other types of chemicals. All of these treatments will fail if the skin is exposed to the sun without adequate sun protection.
A chemical peel uses a chemical solution to remove layers of skin, revealing the more youthful skin underneath. Chemical peels can reduce or improve fine lines and wrinkles, acne, scars, uneven skin coloring and other skin imperfections. Different chemicals determine the depth of your peel and type of skin condition treated.
What is a chemical peel?
A chemical peel, also known as chemexfoliation or dermapeeling, uses a chemical solution to improve the appearance of your skin. In this treatment, a chemical solution is applied to your skin, which causes trauma or injury to your skin’s layers. The skin layers eventually peel off revealing more youthful skin. The new skin is usually smoother with fewer lines and wrinkles, has a more even color and is brighter in complexion.
What conditions does a chemical peel treat?
Chemical peels are used to treat certain skin conditions or to improve your appearance by improving the tone and texture of your skin.
Chemical peels are most commonly performed on your face, neck or hands. They can help reduce or improve:
- Fine lines under your eyes or around your mouth and wrinkling caused by sun damage, aging and hereditary factors.
- Certain types of acne.
- Mild scarring.
- Sun spots, age spots, liver spots, freckles, uneven skin coloring.
- Precancerous scaly spots called actinic keratosis.
- Rough skin, scaly patches, dull complexion.
- Dark patches (melasma) due to pregnancy or taking birth control pills.
You will work with your dermatologist to determine the depth of your peel. This joint decision can vary depending upon the condition of your skin and the objectives of treatment.
Sags, bulges, deep scars, deep facial lines and more severe wrinkles don’t respond well to chemical peels. If these are your concerns, other cosmetic surgical procedures, such as carbon dioxide laser resurfacing, a face lift, brow lift, eye lift or soft tissue filler will be better options. A dermatologic surgeon can help determine the best treatment for your concerns.
Is a chemical peel good for all skin types?
Generally, superficial peels can be used on all skin types. However, if you have a darker skin tone, you have a greater risk of experiencing a darkening of your skin after treatment. This condition is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. If you have a naturally darker skin tone, you may want to get the advice of your dermatologist about other less aggressive treatments to reduce the risk of hyperpigmentation.
Chemical peeling may also not be recommended if you:
- Have a history of abnormal skin scarring.
- Have extra coloring in your scars.
- Have skin conditions or take medications that make your skin more sensitive.
- Can’t stay out of the sun for the healing period.
PROCEDURE DETAILS
How are chemical peels performed?
A chemical peel can be performed in a doctor’s office or in a surgery center as an outpatient procedure. Your skin will be thoroughly cleansed with an agent that removes excess oils, while your eyes and hair are protected. A chemical solution is then applied to your skin. Chemical solutions typically used include glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid or carbolic acid (phenol). The different types of chemicals cause a controlled injury, each penetrating through to a different skin depth, then peeling away to reveal a new layer of skin.
The different chemical solutions provide different results. The choice of chemical depends on your goal. You will work with your dermatologist to determine the depth of your peel.
- A light (“lunchtime”) chemical peel provides subtle improvement over time and is often done in a series. The outermost layer of skin is removed. This choice may be best if you have fine wrinkling, acne, uneven skin coloring or dry, rough sun-damaged skin to help promote a healthy glow. Recovery from this type of peel may be within hours to a few days but with little to no down time.
- A medium chemical peel gives your skin a smooth, fresh look. The outermost layer and the upper part of your middle skin layer are removed. This choice may be best if you have uneven or moderate skin discoloring, age spots, acne scarring or fine-to-moderate wrinkles. Recovery from this type of peel may take a week or more and require some down time.
- A deep chemical peel produces the most dramatic results. This chemical penetrates down to the lower middle layer of your skin. Recovery time is longer with a deep peel. This choice may be best if you have moderate lines and wrinkles, extensive sun-damaged skin, deep acne scars, blotchy skin, and/or precancerous growths called actinic keratosis. A deep chemical peel requires pretreatment for up to eight weeks. Your doctor will provide specific instructions. A deep chemical peel is a one-time only treatment if applied to your face and does have significant down time.
To prepare for your chemical peel, some general instructions include:
- Avoid tanning and direct sun exposure for two weeks before each treatment.
- Apply topical products (such as hydroquinone) as instructed before treatment to prepare your skin.
- Don’t use any products containing retinoids (such as tretinoin) one to two weeks before treatment, unless your physician tells you differently.
- If you have been prescribed oral antibiotics or an oral antiviral medicine, start taking it at least 24 hours before your chemical peel.
- Peel areas must be free of any open sores, lesions or skin infections.
Your doctor will give you specific instructions for your peel type and your unique skin condition.
Day of peel: Your skin will be thoroughly cleaned. If you are having a deep chemical peel, you will receive general anesthesia (you will be asleep).
The procedure: During a chemical peel, solution is applied to your skin. You may feel a warm to somewhat hot sensation that will last a few minutes. This is followed by a stinging sensation. To relieve the sting, a cool compress may be applied your skin. The chemical is then washed off and/or neutralized.
What are the possible complications of chemical peels?
In certain skin types, there’s a risk of a temporary or permanent change in the color of your skin. Taking birth control pills, pregnancy or a family history of brownish discoloration on your face may increase your risk of developing abnormal pigmentation.
There’s also a low risk of scarring in certain areas of your face and certain individuals may be more prone to scarring. If scarring does occur, it can usually be treated with good results.
If you’ve had a history of herpes outbreaks, there’s a small chance of reactivating the cold sore. Your dermatologist can prescribe medication to reduce the chance of a flare up. Follow the instructions of your doctor.
Before your chemical peel, be sure to tell your dermatologist if you have a history of keloids (scar tissue overgrowth created at the site of a skin injury), any unusual scarring tendencies, any X-rays of your face or history of cold sores.
Infections are rare but still a risk.
What should I expect after the chemical peel?
What to expect varies depending on the depth of your chemical peel.
If you’ve had a light chemical peel:
- Expect a sunburn-like reaction to occur after your peel, meaning you’ll see redness followed by scaling that lasts between three and seven days.
- Apply lotion or cream as directed until your skin heals. After your skin heals, apply daily sunscreen.
- You can wear makeup immediately after treatment or the next day.
- Additional peels may be repeated every two to five weeks until you achieve your desired results. Typically three to five peels are needed to achieve your goal.
If you’ve had a medium chemical peel:
- Expect some redness, swelling, stinging and flaking of your skin. Swelling may last and/or worsen for 48 hours. Blisters can develop and will break open. Skin will crust and peel off over seven to 14 days.
- Perform daily soaks as directed by your doctor. Apply ointment after each soak. Apply lotion or cream daily. Don’t expose your skin to sunlight until completely healed.
- Antiviral medication will need to be taken for 10 to 14 days.
- You can wear makeup after five to seven days.
- Additional medium-depth peels may be repeated at six to 12 months intervals, if needed, to maintain results.
If you’ve had a deep chemical peel:
- The treatment area will be bandaged. Your bandages will be removed in a few days. Expect a healing time of 14 to 21 days.
- Perform daily soaks as directed by your doctor. Apply ointment after each soak. After 14 days, apply moisturizer as directed. Don’t expose your skin to sun for three to six months.
- Antiviral medication will need to be taken for 10 to 14 days.
- Wait at least 14 days before using any makeup.
- You can only have one deep peel performed on your face.
To get the best results, regardless of the depth of your peel, follow these tips:
- Don’t use a tanning bed or other type of indoor or even outdoor tanning while your skin is healing.
- After your skin heals, always apply a daily sunscreen.
- Apply a daily moisturizer, as directed, to keep your skin moist to prevent scarring.
Your new skin is fragile and more susceptible to complications. Your doctor will provide you with post-treatment instructions to reduce the chance of developing abnormal skin color after your peel and other complications.
If your skin itches, swells or burns, call your doctor. Scratching your skin could lead to an infection.
Is a chemical peel covered under insurance?
No, usually not. Chemical peels are considered a cosmetic treatment and therefore not covered by insurance.
Skin Looks Worse After Chemical Peel
A chemical peel can cause treated skin to become darker than normal (hyperpigmentation) or lighter than normal (hypopigmentation). Hyperpigmentation is more common after superficial peels, while hypopigmentation is more common after a deep peel.
Chemical peels are resurfacing procedures that gently remove the top layer of skin by applying a chemical (often an acid) to the skin in controlled doses.
When performed correctly, chemical peels are quick, efficient, and safe face rejuvenation treatments that help balance out skin tone and minimize all kinds of blemishes.
If you’re thinking about getting a chemical peel, you should anticipate that this procedure has some temporary side effects that usually go away within a week. Nonetheless, they make skin look a bit…weird during the recovery.
Can Chemical Peels Make Skin Worse?
While chemical peels are considered to be safe treatments, they do carry some risks.
The depth to which a chemical penetrates the skin during a chemical peel will determine how it affects the skin and if any issues may arise. Based on when they first manifest, complications can be divided into immediate and delayed skin reactions.
Immediate reactions happen within the first 24-48 hours and they include:
- Pain, burning, itching sensations
- Redness and changes in skin color
- Swelling and blisters
- Infection
- Adverse reactions (usually an allergic reaction, contact dermatitis, or the form of persistent irritation)
After these calm down, there may also be some delayed skin reactions. These are often what make people worried about the state of their skin’s health.
So, How Can Skin Look Worse After Chemical Peel?
Following chemical peeling treatment, there may be some delayed side effects such as skin discoloration and patchiness, a feeling of dryness and tightness – the skin may even look more wrinkled.
Out with the old and in with the new. Chemical peels treat fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, pore size, acne, pigmentation, and more. These aesthetic treatments are some of the most sought-after, and millions of people are already enjoying the life-changing benefits. At AURAE MD in La Jolla, CA, we offer the widest variety of peels to reveal a new, radiant, you. Read on to find the top ten benefits of chemical peels.
What Is a Chemical Peel?
A chemical peel is a powerful skin exfoliating solution applied to the face, neck, or hands to reveal the smooth and clear skin underneath. What makes this technique so popular is that it’s useful for a variety of skin concerns.
Are All Chemical Peels the Same?
No, there are different peels. Peels are generally classified by their ingredients. Each skin condition may respond differently to the ingredients in a peel. For example, wrinkles, pigment problems, and superficial blemishes respond very well to a stronger peel. Acne often responds best to salicylic acid peels.
Alpha-hydroxy (AHA), glycolic, lactic, or fruit acid peels are among the gentlest peels. Stronger options like trichloroacetic acid peels penetrate the skin more deeply and can rid the skin of wrinkles.
All peels can provide skin rejuvenating benefits, but your skin’s type and condition dictates which peel to use. Contacting Dr. Margo Aura Emami is the best way to find out which peel is right for you.
How Does a Chemical Peel Work?
The exact process varies depending on the chosen peel. Your skin is thoroughly cleansed and prepared for the treatment before the application of the peel. Next, a chemical solution is applied to your skin and left in place for a designated time. While you wait, the peel solution exfoliates the skin. Once the peel has completed its work, it is peeled away to reveal new, regenerated skin.
10 Top Benefits of Chemical Peels
There is a peel for all the most common skin concerns. Below are the top ten benefits of a chemical peel.
1. Treats Acne
Topical acne treatments can only go so far, and a peel exfoliates deeper. Getting a peel cleanses your skin more thoroughly and reveals a fresh new layer of skin, without the acne. Peels for acne work best when received in a series, and Dr. Margo Aura Emami can customize a peel schedule to help keep your skin blemish-free.
2. Minimizes Pores
Large pores are a common concern for many, and all who have them wish they’d go away. Removing the outer, often damaged layer of skin with a peel has the benefit of making pores look smaller.
3. Erases Fine Lines and Wrinkles
Nothing leaves us stuck in the past as much as lines on the skin. These reminders prevent us from living in—and fully enjoying—the present moment. When fine lines or wrinkles have got you down, peels come to the rescue. These chemical solutions can permanently remove fine lines and ease even the toughest wrinkles.
4. Fades Discoloration
You deserve to feel confident, vibrant, and beautiful. If sunspots, discoloration, and hyperpigmentation are getting in your way, a peel can help. Many clients find that a peel lifts discoloration from the skin for good.
5. Lifts Skin
When you don’t want the downtime of a facelift, a peel could be the right alternative for you. Skin lifting is one of the incredible benefits a peel offers.
6. Soothes Scarring
There is an implied permanence with scarring that isn’t accurate. Many scars from acne or anything else recede when exposed to the chemicals found in a peel.
7. Balances Texture
Uneven skin tone and blemishes add a dimension to the skin that many people don’t want. Peels bring balance to the overall texture of the skin.
8. Smooths Skin
Peels are best known for unparalleled skin-smoothing benefits. By lifting rigid layers of skin from the face, neck, or hands, the result is gorgeously smooth and touchable skin.
9. Non-Invasive Treatment
This treatment is one of the most effective options not requiring needles or surgery. Some clients pair this treatment with other treatments because of this. For others, it’s comforting to know that they can achieve their desired look without surgery.