Chemical peels have been around for several years and, as one of the most basic aesthetic treatments you can use to refresh the appearance of your skin, many people are compatible candidates for this treatment. But what can you expect during your appointment? Before you schedule your first peel facial at South Lake OBGYN in Clermont, FL, learn more about the peel process, recommended aftercare instructions, and more.
What Happens During a Chemical Peel?
In general, a chemical peel facial will usually take 30 minutes to complete. The length of your appointment will depend on the specific type of peel you are using, whether you have additional add-on treatments to your facial appointment, and if you are treating other areas besides the face. The steps of a peel facial are similar to many other facials and will include cleansing the skin, applying the special peel solution, neutralizing the skin, and protecting the skin.
Cleanse Skin
First, your skin will be cleansed to remove dirt, oil, makeup, and skincare products. It’s very important to neutralize your skin before an acid peel solution is applied to the surface of the skin to ensure that your peel facial is as effective as possible. Typically, the cleanser used to prep your skin for your facial will balance the pH on the surface of your skin.
Apply Peel Solution
Next, the peel solution will be applied to your skin. Peel solutions can be made of many types of acids, including glycolic acid, lactic acid, TCA, and much more. As a rule, the type of acid applied to your skin will be determined by your skin type, skin tone, skin concerns, and the depths of your peel. This acid solution is usually allowed to soak into your skin for at least 15 to 20 minutes.
Neutralize Skin
The peel solution will be removed from your skin with a neutralizing cleanser or sometimes a cool saline compress. Neutralizing your skin after removing the acid of the peel is an essential step since this will restore the balance of your skin and put your skin in the best position to produce optimal results after this facial.
Protect Skin
Sometimes, your peel facial is finished off with a final step to protect and soothe the skin. For example, a soothing serum, light moisturizer, or sunscreen may be applied to your skin to protect the underlying skin cells that will be turned over in a few days. Protecting and soothing your skin immediately after your facial is the best way to achieve optimal results.
How Long Until You See Visible Results?
Most of the time, you will be able to see visible results about seven to 14 days after your peel facial. The speed at which your results develop will depend on the strength of your acid peel, your skin type, and your age.
For example, people who use lighter strength peels or superficial peels will usually be able to see faster results because only the upper layers of skin cells have been exfoliated. On the other hand, if you use a medium or deep-strength peel, exfoliating deeper layers of skin cells may take longer to produce visible results.
Will Your Skin Peel?
Many people believe that a chemical facial will result in skin peeling. However, this exfoliating facial doesn’t always result in dry, peeling skin afterward. You may shed exfoliated skin cells without noticing when you wash your face every day. Many people don’t experience any dryness or peeling at all, but still achieve visible results with a brighter skin tone, even complexion, minimized dark spots, and much more.
What Are Your Treatment Options?
Light and medium peels are the most common strengths to resurface the skin and promote a more even complexion. Light peels are ideal for superficial concerns such as uneven skin tone, rough skin, dry skin, blackheads, active acne, hyperpigmentation, and sometimes very fine lines. Medium peels are typically used for anti-aging purposes, such as to reduce sun damage, correct scarring and uneven texture, and promote a more youthful complexion.
However, in addition to light, medium, or deep acid peels, you may have other treatment options. At South Lake OBGYN, we offer several signature facial packages to help you achieve your aesthetic goals. Some treatment options you have will include:
Facial With Chemical Peel
This facial treatment refreshes the surface of your skin with mild exfoliation using glycolic acid, lactic acid, and citric acid. After the acid peel portion of this facial is complete, you will have a ceiling facial massage that will stimulate blood flow to promote more effective results after your peel treatment.
DermaPeel
This treatment combines the power of dermaplaning and an acid peel. Before your peel treatment, your skin is prepped with the dermaplaning process, which will remove the uppermost layer of dead skin cells and peach fuzz from the surface of the skin. After a dermaplane facial, an acid peel will be applied to your skin to exfoliate your skin more deeply, which can significantly reduce dark spots and other superficial concerns.
MicroPeel
This treatment is another combination that unifies the power of microdermabrasion with a light acid peel. Microdermabrasion is a powerful exfoliation technique that can reduce enlarged pores, improve textural inconsistencies, and minimize the appearance of fine lines. When paired with an acid peel, this treatment can produce greater anti-aging results.
Why Should You Consider Signature Treatments?
You may want to consider combining your acid peel with signature facial treatments to target specific skin concerns. Although acid peels are powerful enough to improve the tone and texture of your skin, combining a peel with other signature facials can produce faster results. If you have complex concerns and you don’t want to use laser treatments or other more advanced options, combining facial treatments can help you achieve your desired aesthetic goals more quickly.
How Should You Prepare for Treatment?
To prepare for an exfoliating facial treatment, you will need to avoid unprotected contact with the sun for at least two weeks to minimize skin irritation, hyperpigmentation, and the risk of sunburn. You may need to stop using retinoids, harsh skincare ingredients, and exfoliants such as AHAs and BHAs. You may also need to stop using certain medications, such as oral antibiotics.
What Should You Do After Treatment?
After your treatment, it’s best to focus on soothing and protecting your skin so that you can promote optimal results. The new skin cells that are exposed after this exfoliation treatment will be vulnerable to the environment, which means that you need to protect your skin by wearing SPF every day.
It’s also a good idea to keep your skin moisturized to promote a healthier skin barrier and keep your skin supple. In addition to moisturizing creams and serums, drinking enough water each day is also an essential component of keeping your skin hydrated.
What Is the Best Treatment Frequency?
Many people use acid peel treatments frequently, sometimes as often as once a month. Ultimately, the frequency of your treatments will depend on your skin type, your age, and your skincare goals. For example, if you are using light peels to manage acne-prone skin, scheduling a treatment every four to six weeks is generally enough to regulate oil production, prevent dead skin cells from clogging pores, and eliminate acne-causing bacteria on the surface of the skin.
That said, the overall sensitivity of your skin may also influence the frequency of your treatment, particularly if you are using other aesthetic treatments or at-home skincare products between your peel appointments. For example, if you have very sensitive skin or you are using prescription-strength retinol at home, you may only need to schedule peel treatments every two to three months or sometimes only one or two times a year.
How Long Will Results Last?
The result of this treatment will generally last for the length of your natural cellular turnover cycle. This means that your results can last for 28 to 40 days, depending on your skin type and your age.
The longevity of your results can also be influenced by how well you can take care of your skin between treatments. For example, if you are treating hyperpigmentation, you can enjoy longer-lasting results by wearing sunscreen to prevent dark spots from developing.
Is This Treatment Right for You?
This treatment is generally a good match for all skin types, skin tones, and genders. You can use this treatment at any age to address superficial skin concerns. You may not be able to use this treatment if you are taking certain medications or if you are currently pregnant. People who have autoimmune skin conditions or active conditions such as psoriasis may not be good candidates.
Refresh Your Skin With Chemical Peel Facials
If you want to refresh your skin and correct superficial skin concerns at the same time, a chemical peel is usually a good option to consider. An acid peel treatment can be combined with other aesthetic facials to address each of your superficial skin concerns, including moderate anti-aging concerns. If you think the treatment is right for you, reach out to South Lake OBGYN in Clermont, FL, to schedule your initial treatment today.