If you’ve heard about chemical peels, you’re either intrigued or intimidated. And understandably so!
This advanced skin treatment uses a powerful exfoliant to remove dead skin cells, and creates powerful results when done in a series over a period of time.
If you’re looking to improve the texture of your skin, work on hyperpigmentation, or reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, keep reading to see if this is something you’d want to try out.
What is a chemical peek and how does it work?
It’s a skin treatment that uses acids like glycolic acid, salicylic acid, or trichloroacetic acid (TCA) to “peel” off the outer layers of the skin.
Sounds kinda freaky right? It isn’t. Freaky if you were to try it at home maybe – it’s a chemical process that you should very much leave to a professional esthetician, like Krista.
But it’s also the third most commonly performed non invasive cosmetic procedure in the U.S., according to research published in the National Library of Medicine. It’s a favorite among dermatologists and skin care specialists all over the world.
A specialist will make sure the right peel is chosen, that it’s left on the right amount of time, and that you leave with everything you need to know to take care of your skin while it heals.
Our esthetician Krista uses Dermalogica for her peels – and she’ll help you decide what “depth” is best for you, superficial or medium, depending on your skin and what your goals are.
A peel causes something called controlled damage – which triggers your body’s natural healing response. New collagen forms, cell turnover speeds up, and the fresh skin that emerges tends to be smoother, more even in tone, and clearer.
Does it hurt? What’s recovery like?
Here’s what you can expect:
During– you’ll feel a warm to hot sensation when the solution is applied, followed by some tingling or stinging. It’s temporary and usually only lasts a few minutes. A cool compress is used to help soothe during this part. People don’t say it hurts, some folks say it stings a little.
Right after– your skin will likely look a little red and feel sensitive, similar to a mild sunburn. You’ll want to keep it clean and free from makeup, chlorine water, etc for a day or so.
In the days following– peeling usually kicks in around days 2-4 and can last a few days. How much flaking and peeling you experience usually has to do with the depth of the peel. It’s completely normal and actually the whole point! During this time you’ll want to keep skin moisturized, avoid picking at anything, stay out of the sun, and wear SPF religiously.
After it’s all healed– that’s when the good stuff shows up. Smoother texture, more even tone, a noticeable glow. Most people say their skin looks brand new and and feels fresher and cleaner.
So I definitely need to do it more than once?
You’ll see results from just one peel, absolutely. But if you’re targeting skin issues that have built up over time like scarring, hyperpigmentation, and fine lines/wrinkles – it’s highly recommended to do these treatments as a series.
It’ll take some time to address these issues and coming in multiple times over a few month period is how you’ll get the best results. Each session builds on the one before it, and by the time you finish the series, you’ll really be able to see the difference in your skin’s texture and glow.
You’ll be in great hands with Krista
Krista is our esthetician here at Moonstone, and she specializes in advanced facials and chemical peels/microdermabrasion (we’ll talk about this another time!). She’ll take time to get to know what skin issues you’re dealing with and make sure you are a great fit for this service (don’t want to be pregnant or breastfeeding, for example).
Appointments with her feel like a spa day blended with a skin strategy session. She knows skin, and she also knows how to make the experience calm, restorative, and relaxing. Our facial room is a total oasis if you haven’t seen it yet!
Come see us!
If you’ve been on the hunt for chemical peels in Winston-Salem, we’d love to have you in. Book with Krista online or give us a call and we’ll get all of your questions answered.