It's Chemical Peel Season, Baby!
I slept with my windows open last night, so that means one thing! Fall, Spooky season & Chemical Peel season is upon us. Scott (my husband) is going to get his first ever full blown peel this week. He has gotten sooo many sunburns on his scalp, and his pigment is starting to appear. So I decided we needed to tackle it before it gets worse. So, a peel series is in his future.
BUT What are chemical peels? What do they do? Who are they for? I will break down exactly this plus some of the peels I offer here at TruePenny.
What are Chemical Peels? What do they do?
Okay I know everybody has probably heard of chemical peels but what are they actually? Basically, it is a treatment where I apply a solution to the skin to initiate a fast skin cell turnover cycle. The different resurfacing acids “breaks up the glue” holding skin cells together, forcing them to shed away from the skin. Some peels you will see a lot of shedding, some might just create some “dry looking skin”, and some you won’t even notice it.
When the outer layers are forced to shed, it brings up new cells that are lower in the skin through a healing response to help create smoother, and more even toned skin.
PS Peels can be done anywhere on the body! Not just the face, we can do back, shoulders, arms, hands, or wherever you’d like!
Who are Chemical Peels for?
Most skin types and conditions can do peels! There are tons of peels out there that have different acids, different pH levels and formulations. But typically you will see them marketed for hyperpigmentation and acne skin. I use a variety of peels in my studio that tackles both of these, plus they are great for dry skin, aging skin, textured skin.
Acne - unclogs pores, reduces bacteria, helps acne scarring, remodels the skin.
Hyperpigmentation - fades dark spots, prevents dark spots. (a monthly light peel could be your bff)
Texture - great for making the skin feel soft and smooth.
Dry skin - with removing the dry outer layer, products penetrate more effectively.
Aging skin - cell turnover slows as we age, and regular peels can give your skin the boost it might need!
Sensitive and rosacea prone skin will need more tlc and guidance with peels, but it can be done!
Hyperpigmentation & Peels
The reason it works so well for hyperpigmentation is that it forces the skin cells holding excess pigment to shed. So the sooner you do peels after you see pigment surface the easier it is to clear those dark spots. The longer the pigment lingers, the more the melanocytes will continue to be in overdrive and continue making pigment.
So even though the peels help shed away pigmented cells, other factors to consider are how long the pigment has been there. What is the pigment caused by? (age, sun damage, hormones, acne) That is also why you need to be using brightening ingredients at home to help calm your melanocytes so that the pigment doesn’t come right back. (same is true for laser treatments). The longer the pigment has been there, the more peels and home care you most likely will need to get rid of that stubborn pigment.
Refer back to my blog last month all about hyperpigmentation!
Types of Peels:
Light (superficial) Peels - Uses acids like glycolic, lactic, mandelic, salicylic acids with pH typically between 2.0 to 3.5, with a variety of percentages of the peels. Peels in this range typically are also formulated with other benefits to help create minimal irritation and better comfort. You might have no to mild flaking. (slow and steady wins the race!)
Medium Peels - Uses acids like TCA (trichloroacetic acid), Phenol, stronger glycolic acid, retinoic acid, or mixtures of many acids. You will get typically 5-7 days of peeling. This peel typically can only be used under a medical director (which truepenny has). The pH of these peels are typically 1.0-2.5.
If you want quicker results, but don’t mind some visible peeling, this would be a go to.
Deep Peels - These peels are probably some of the horror stories or crazy amount of downtime you have seen on the internet. Some of these peels can only be done in the presence of a doctor, and some require to be hooked up to actual cardiac monitors. You may have a local anesthetic or sedative too. Full phenol peels go deep into the skin’s dermis layer, and can be absorbed by the bloodstream, which is why it can be more risky. The downtime can be 2-4 weeks, with very intense aftercare. But since the results can be so drastic, the results can last up to 10 years.
Skin Concern and Peels at TruePenny I would recommend:
Acne - Acne Treatment, Custom Peel, Green Power Peel, Perfect Derma Peel
Sensitive/Rosacea - Lira Pure Peel, Custom Peel, BioRePeel
Melasma - Green Power Peel, BioRePeel
General Hyperpigmentation - The Perfect Derma Peel, Custom Peel, Green Power Peel
Texture/Prevention - Pure Peel, Custom Peel
Comments