What Is a Chemical Peel used for?

At the office of Christopher Tiner, MD, in Pasadena, CA, we offer what might be considered the holy grail of skincare: chemical peels. These treatments consistently rank among the most requested of all cosmetic therapies, not least because they’re minimally invasive. Peels also deliver a radiant glow, erase fine lines, and improve overall skin tone and texture. Need more convincing? Read further for a host of ways peels can improve your appearance.

What Is a Chemical Peel Used For?

At the most basic level, a chemical peel (CP) refreshes the skin on your face, neck, or hands. A carefully selected chemical solution is applied to the skin to prompt exfoliation. As old cells are removed, new and rejuvenated cells rise to the surface for a smoother and more refined appearance.

A Youthful Glow

These effects explain why people say a flawless complexion – free of lines and spots – is lying just below the surface of your current skin. And a CP is the fastest way to give life to that complexion.

But to truly understand the different uses of a CP, we need to dive a little deeper. Yes, it peels back old, damaged cells to reveal a healthier layer of skin underneath. In so doing, a CP can instantly provide softer and younger-looking skin. Tissues will reflect rather than absorb light to restore a vibrant, youthful glow to the cheeks and brow.

End Acne and Soften the Scars

Salicylic acid is a common ingredient in CPs because it effectively unclogs pores. Whether you wash your face at home twice a day or twice a week, pores get clogged with oil, dead cells, and cosmetics debris. Salicylic acid unglues this debris so pores can breathe freely – and it continues to linger to keep pores clear over time. You can finally goodbye to blackheads and whiteheads even as post-pimple scars similarly fade.

Reduce Sun Damage

Hyperpigmentation can be one of the most frustrating of all facial concerns to address. It causes dark patches of skin, such as freckles, sun spots, and blotchiness. Creams and serums designed to fade these spots can take weeks to work – if they ever do. Lasers similarly claim to fade sun spots, but if they do work, the pigmentation often reappears weeks later.

Melasma is a form of hyperpigmentation that can impact a person’s quality of life. Some melasma is the result of hormonal surges, and while no permanent cure exists for this or other hyperpigmentation varieties, visible effects can be faded with a peel.

Whisk Away Fine Lines

One of the most remarkable aspects of a CP is its ability to ignite collagen production. A peel damages tissues in a very controlled way and any damage sustained by the skin is met with increased collagen synthesis. Collagen is a naturally-occurring substance within the body that – among other activities – lifts, plumps, and smooths the skin. This means fine lines and shallow wrinkles can be effectively erased after just one treatment.

Improve Undereye Skin Health

Those pesky bags and undereye circles respond very slowly to topical serums. But a CP applied with careful hands can help remove hereditary dark circles created by clusters of pigment. That undereye concealer you’ve been using for longer than you can remember might finally get tossed in the garbage.

Additional Peel Benefits

It may seem we’ve exhausted the many benefits provided by a peel, but we haven’t gotten through all of them just yet. Before we go further, we need to say this treatment is no longer painful. If you remember the popularity of peels in the 90s, you likely also remember they were rather uncomfortable.

But over the years, the acid formulas used as well as application techniques have been refined. This means you can enjoy a pain-free treatment that thoroughly refreshes tissues.

Boost the Efficacy of Skincare Products

Dead skin cells pose a barrier that can prevent routine skincare products from working effectively. By removing those cells, a chemical peel encourages fresh skin to surface and multiply. And smoother skin is more receptive to topical serums and moisturizers. Bottom line? All those products you’ve been diligently using can finally penetrate and get to work.

Customizable Based on Your Needs

We should probably take this time to mention CPs come in three different strengths: superficial, medium, and deep. Each is progressively more powerful than the other to address more concerns. Don’t worry – we’ll help identify which peel is most beneficial for your needs. But the point is this treatment is highly customizable to provide you with a targeted skincare solution.

The CP Details You Need

Having your skin in top-notch condition is key to a successful peel. This means avoiding exfoliation for at least one week before your appointment. Also, watch for ingredients in your daily skincare products that may have exfoliating effects. These ingredients can be sneaky, so we recommend you stick to a basic regimen of washing and moisturizing in the days leading up to treatment.

Likewise, it’s a good idea to take a break from wearing makeup for a few days before your peel. Doing so gives your skin a chance to detox. Avoid the sun, and when you are outside, wear a wide-brimmed hat. Also, apply sunblock – you should be doing this every day as part of your basic skincare routine) – even when the sky is overcast. Last but not least, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water in the weeks before your appointment.

Gentle Enough for Most Patients

Aestheticians, dermatologists, and cosmetic surgeons favor CPs for their ease of use and efficacy. And these treatments are safe even for those with sensitive skin – much safer than mechanical exfoliators. With time, the body’s cell renewal rate significantly diminishes. Peels help speed up this natural process to uncover healthy cells just waiting to be seen.

We should note treatment may or may not cause your skin to physically peel. If you do experience peeling, it will be for a very brief period. But if you don’t peel, you shouldn’t worry – you’ll still reap the many benefits provided by treatment.  

Realistic Expectations Are Important

A peel can deliver beautiful results, but you will likely need several treatments if you have several years of damage on your skin. You can trust this therapy to smooth, tighten, and brighten your skin after just one session, but more will be needed to address deep scarring, large sun spots, and other significant concerns. Rest assured we’ll develop a treatment plan that delivers the results you want.

Treatments Move Quickly

Your session will take about 30 minutes to complete. It is for this reason that many patients call peels the lunchtime facial. Some results will develop immediately – especially that dewy glow we keep talking about. But full results will develop in about a week. You should keep this in mind when scheduling your session so you can look your best for any big events coming up, including a family gathering, vacation, or wedding.

Peel Your Way to Beautiful Skin

A CP is an easy and effective way to achieve beautiful, healthy skin. We’ll help identify the right peel for you, and after treatment, you can expect a softer, smoother canvas with fewer lines, wrinkles, and spots. And the peel itself is highly customizable to target your specific concerns. Schedule your consultation today by contacting the office of Christopher Tiner, MD, in Pasadena, CA.