We all dream of smooth skin like all celebrities seem to have, but there’s an issue: no one is spared of skin imperfections. Around 85 percent of teenagers deal with acne, most of which carry the condition into adulthood, and 43 percent of people with acne-prone skin will develop scarring. If only you could shed your skin like a lizard, that would be great—well, you kind of can! At Dermacare San Diego, we offer an alternative to “shedding skin” in the form of chemical peels.
Your skin can look better when the outer skin layer is shed, and a chemical peel can help quicken the process. Let’s talk about chemical peels and their benefits, ensuring you go into the procedure well-informed.
What Is a Chemical Peel?
Chemical peels are non-surgical treatments where a chemical exfoliant is applied to your skin. The outer layer of your skin can normally take between 28 and 42 days to replace and regenerate itself. With a chemical peel, the skin regeneration process is given a boost and occurs much faster.
The exfoliant applied to your skin will break the top layer down, causing it to “peel” away. Depending on your imperfections and their severity, you may receive different types of chemical peels: light, medium, and deep. Each one of them will trigger your skin to replace itself, leaving a smoother exterior.
What Can Chemical Peels Help You With?
We recommend using chemical peels for skin conditions such as:
- Hyperpigmentation
If you have melasma, age spots, sun spots, or other conditions that can lead to uneven skin tones, a chemical peel can prove very helpful. As your outer skin layer is shed away, your hyperpigmentation will be reduced. However, bear in mind that depending on the severity of your condition, you may need a deeper treatment or multiple chemical peels.
- Acne
Chemical peels can help remove dead skin that often ends up clogging your pores. At the same time, it can reduce your sebum-producing pores. As your pores will have a lower chance of getting infected and inflamed, you might be able to enjoy cleaner-looking skin. Moreover, since the size of your pores will be minimized, the skin will no longer look textured.
- Acne Scars
Just like chemical peels can help to reduce acne, they may also help you remove the scars left behind by acne blemishes. A chemical peel can reach deep into the skin and break down the raised collagen fibers. This often occurs when the skin attempts to heal itself. So, with a chemical peel for acne scars, you may decrease that raised skin and get a smoother complexion.
- Wrinkles and Fine Lines
A chemical peel does not necessarily tighten your skin, but through its skin-renewal process, it forces your complexion to heal itself. This makes it produce more elastin and collagen, which will help fill out and smooth your wrinkles as well.
Recovering From Chemical Peels
While you can expect a bit of chemical peel recovery, it does not require too much downtime—just a bit of care.
Depending on the type of chemical peel you used, you may expect the peeling to take place between seven and 21 days of your treatment session. The deeper the peel, the more it will take. Since your skin will be quite sensitive at this point, make sure to stay out of direct sunlight and use a moisturizer.
While it may be tempting, you should also refrain from picking at your peeling or flaking skin and pulling them away. Simply let them fall by themselves so that you don’t cause more damage.
Are Chemical Peels Helpful?
Chemical peels represent quite an effective tool for rejuvenating your skin and restoring your youthful look. If you want to rejuvenate your outer skin layer and don’t mind the side effects of your skin peeling for a few weeks, then a chemical peel can be a useful treatment. But first, we recommend that you book a consultation with Dermacare Laser & Skin Care Clinics to see if you are a candidate for a chemical peel treatment.
To learn more about chemical peels, you can contact Dermacare Laser & Skin Care at 858-943-2443 (San Diego) or 760-472-5088 (Carlsbad). We will be more than happy to answer all your questions. You can also use our contact form, and we will get in touch with you shortly.