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Need to Know About: Chemical Peels

Ever wonder how your co-worker achieves perfect, youthful skin when she is the same age as you?

It can be frustrating to feel like you’ll never again be able to take pride in your skin. But don’t lose hope! Getting a face peel may be just the thing you need!

Just as CoolSculpting treatments are great for when you work out a lot but can’t seem to lose weight, chemical face peels may be the solution you’re looking for in skincare. This is especially true if you need advanced acne treatment or anti-aging help.

Below you’ll find out more about what a chemical peel does and how it can help you achieve the results you are looking for.

Purpose of a Chemical Peel

A chemical peel is a treatment for many types of skin conditions, such as acne, dry skin, hyperpigmentation, melasma, scarring, and wrinkles.

How a chemical peel works: it wounds your face in a controlled manner. This is in order to generate new skin. The old skin then peels away and the new skin underneath is younger-looking, with fewer wrinkles and discolorations.

While the process sounds painful, the treatment is very popular because of the tried-and-true results. It is also less involved than laser skin resurfacing.

Types of Chemical Face Peels

There are three types of chemical peels: superficial, medium-depth, and deep tissue.

Superficial peels, also called mild peels, have no downtime. In fact, a superficial peel is sometimes called a “lunchtime facial” because it is so quick. Dermatologists or estheticians apply them in under an hour, with no immediate peeling.

A milder acid—like lactic, glycolic, or citric acid—is applied with a cotton pad or a brush. In some cases it self-neutralizes. In other cases, the acid will have to be neutralized and removed.

Users will immediately have a better complexion and better skin texture. They may experience flaking after three days or so. However, chemical peels keep improving skin up to 3-4 weeks after, as the skin heals and regenerates.

Medium-depth peels use the same ingredients as superficial peels, they just use more concentrated amounts. Trichloroacetic acid is sometimes used. After medium-depth chemical face peels, your skin may be red and swollen, and it may develop blisters.

Blisters break open sometimes and crust, and eventually the skin peels. This happens between one and two weeks after treatment.

Even here in the Milwaukee area, where the sun rarely seems that intense, using sunscreen every day is very important. This is because the new skin is very sensitive and unprotected. Doctors may prescribe medications to help control infection and pain after the procedure.

With deep tissue peels, users often must be sedated before the procedure. The recovery time is also longer since in order to treat deeper wrinkles or pigmentation issues the treatment needs to reach the deeper layers.

Doctors apply the phenol or carbolic acid, and sometimes bandages are required after the procedure. While recovery time is longer, the results are drastic and can help improve deeper wrinkles, brown spots, and uneven skin tones.

Scarring is rare, as are allergic reactions. Tell your dermatologist if you have a history of cold sores or other issues.

Ready for Younger-Looking Skin?

Chemical face peels may be the answer for you if your at-home treatments just aren’t showing the results you want.

Contact us to learn about our services and which solution may be best for you. Our skincare spa is conveniently located in Waukesha, just minutes away from Milwaukee.

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