If your skin looks dull, uneven, or aged, it may be time to refresh your complexion with a chemical peel. This non-invasive treatment effectively removes damaged skin layers, revealing smoother, more youthful skin.
What Are Chemical Peels?
A chemical peel is a skin rejuvenation treatment during which a specialized solution is applied to the outermost layer to exfoliate damaged cells and restore clarity and resilience. Chemical peels use a specially formulated solution to exfoliate the top layer of skin, encouraging cell turnover and revealing fresher, healthier skin. By removing the outermost layer of damaged skin cells, chemical peels reveal a brighter, more refreshed countenance.
When performed with precision, a chemical peel can erase numerous imperfections and blemishes while combating a dull, tired-looking complexion. Chemical peels remove damaged, dead skin cells by applying a personalized treatment to the skin that causes the upper layer to slough off. When your skin recovers and starts to repair and rejuvenate itself, you will see a smoother, clearer complexion.
Chemical peels use various active ingredients to exfoliate the skin and trigger the body’s natural healing process. Since many signs of aging and damage are found on the surface of the skin, removing that layer can provide a “cleaner slate” for patients of any gender seeking rejuvenation. There are many types of chemical peels, differing in terms of strength and the amount of time they are left in contact with the skin. During a chemical peel treatment, a specialized solution is applied to your skin.
Types of Chemical Peels
Chemical peels come in different types, and you’ll need the help of an experienced, board-certified professional to determine which type is best to meet your individual needs and make your skin look radiant and youthful. Depending on the strength of the peel, this process can address a range of concerns, from minor blemishes to deeper wrinkles and scarring.
Light Chemical Peels (Superficial Peels)
A light chemical or superficial peel gently exfoliates the skin to improve minor imperfections. This type of peel will remove the outer layer of your skin (the epidermis), giving your facial features a more radiant appearance and a smoother texture. These peels are an excellent choice for patients seeking a quick aesthetic boost, as they require no downtime. Light peels typically rely on mild acids, such as alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) or beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), to exfoliate the outermost compromised skin layer. You can receive a light peel on a lunch hour and go right back to your routine. We usually recommend that you schedule a light peel at least once a month for the ideal glowing results.
Medium-Depth Chemical Peels
A medium-depth chemical peel penetrates deeper into the skin, targeting more advanced skin concerns. This type of peel goes further into the skin and patients generally decide to have this type of facial treatment during an extended weekend. Medium-depth peels are for patients who have deeper damage to their skin, like deeper lines and darker pigmentation problems. A medium peel offers more dramatic anti-aging results and can help combat sun damage, uneven pigmentation, and deep-set wrinkles. It utilizes stronger acids, such as trichloroacetic acid (TCA), which can result in a few days of redness and peeling.
Deep Chemical Peels
A deep chemical peel is the most intensive option, providing dramatic, long-lasting results. The strongest of the three levels of peels is the deep peel and it does require the longest recovery time. This is an aggressive treatment that may leave your face itchy, peeling, and swollen for a few weeks. For more significant complexion issues, such as scarring or skin folds, a deep peel provides an advanced and powerful solution. Formulated with phenol or trichloroacetic acid (TCA), a deep peel penetrates the skin’s core levels to effect a dramatic change. Patients who have a deep chemical peel generally have age or dark spots, sun damage, entrenched acne scars, and/or deep scars.
Specific Chemical Peel Treatments
Several specialized chemical peel treatments are available to address unique skin concerns:
- VI Peel: The VI Peel is a medium-depth chemical peel designed to improve skin texture and combat discoloration. It is particularly effective for treating melasma, hyperpigmentation, and uneven skin tone. This peel enhances skin clarity and radiance while providing anti-aging benefits.
Benefits of Chemical Peels
Chemical peels offer a powerful way to address various skin concerns by gently removing the top layers of damaged skin. Whether you’re looking to improve the appearance of fine lines, uneven skin tone, or other surface imperfections, this treatment can leave you with a refreshed, revitalized complexion. Chemical peels help improve overall skin quality (texture, lines, brown spots, etc.).
Studies show that chemical peels significantly improve acne lesions and help with skin texture and pigmentation. Peels do not replace topical or systemic medicines, but they are very effective in enhancing and speeding the resolution of acne breakouts. Brighter-looking skin, smoother-looking texture, and more even tone are common outcomes.
The Chemical Peel Process
The sensation during treatment can range from mild tingling to a more intense stinging feeling, depending on the strength of the peel. This will subside after the treatment is finished. If you are undergoing a deeper peel, your skin may be simultaneously cooled with a fan to enhance your comfort.
Healing from a light peel usually takes three to four days, while healing from a medium peel can take about a week, though residual redness may take longer to fully resolve. You can expect to see initial results within one to two weeks after the procedure. As your skin heals and the peeling subsides, you’ll notice improvements in texture, tone, and clarity.
Deep Chemical Peel: The most powerful and dangerous skin treatment you can get
What to Expect and Recovery
Depending on the desired downtime, there are light, medium, and deep peels. Light and medium peels (typically involving just a few days of downtime) can be beneficial for most skin types in people with acne and mild to moderate sun damage. Chemical peels can cause redness, irritation, and peeling. Peeling varies by person and peel type.
The deeper the peel, the more dramatic the results - and the more significant the recovery time needed for healing following the session. Patients with darker skin tones often benefit most from lighter peels, as this minimizes the risk of pigmentation changes after treatment. Your treatment journey begins with a detailed consultation with our knowledgeable team of aesthetic specialists.
Consultation and Customization
Seeking the advice of a skin specialist is the first part in the journey to smooth, healthy skin. A team member will evaluate your skin during an examination before selecting the chemical peel that will provide your individual skin with the optimal results. During your first visit, we will conduct a comprehensive physical and medical assessment, address all your questions, and determine whether a chemical peel is the best option for achieving a vibrant, youthful appearance. We will review the risks, benefits, downtime, costs, and expected outcomes of a chemical peel, ensuring you have all the necessary information to make informed decisions about your care.
Which level of chemical peel is best for you will vary based on your specific skin concerns and aesthetic goals. In your initial consultation, a professional can help you decide which formula is best for your skin. A few things you might want to consider are your general health, the type of skin you have, the depth of your skin concerns, the time you can commit to recovery, and what you want the peel to accomplish. For your first peel, it is better to try a light chemical peel and decide what you think of the results. After this, you and your provider can adjust your treatment plan to find the best type of peel for you.
A chemical peel may be combined with another nonsurgical skin treatment. In your initial consultation, be open with your provider when describing your skin goals so they can develop a comprehensive treatment plan that delivers your best results.
Finding Chemical Peels in Greenwood Village
At New Age Aesthetics & Wellness in Greenwood Village, CO, our expert team, led by Dr. Jonathan Bernardini, a Harvard-trained, triple board-certified physician with over 13 years of experience, provides advanced chemical peel treatments tailored to your unique skin type and goals. Board-certified physician Dr. Ian Levenson offers chemical peel treatments that solve skin irregularities such as scars, fine lines, wrinkles, dry patches, hyperpigmentation problems, and more. The Colorado Center for Health and Longevity provides you with a wide range of choices for chemical peels in multiple strengths (light, medium, and deep) to accommodate your skin concerns.
Eden Health Club in Denver, CO, was founded with the mission of offering patients access to today’s most advanced wellness and aesthetic treatments. Our beautiful practice space in Greenwood Village is home to a team of experienced, licensed professionals who always go the extra mile to ensure your safety and satisfaction. AboutSkin’s virtual consultations allow you to easily highlight specific skin concerns on your face or body and connect with a dermatology professional. Receive personalized guidance and a custom care plan-all from the comfort of home.
Cost of Chemical Peels
Costs for a chemical peel will vary depending on the intensity you choose. Your provider can discuss your costs during your consultation once they have developed your personalized treatment plan. Many people choose a series for best results, spaced weeks apart. Buying a package with several chemical peel treatments can also help you save money.
Choosing the Right Peel
If you have questions for us, contact our office in Greenwood Village, CO. Our friendly, knowledgeable team is happy to help! Schedule your chemical peel today to look as radiant as you can.