Chemical peels are a popular option to address skin damage and improve overall texture. It’s the third most popular non-invasive aesthetic treatment in the United States — after Botox and soft dermal fillers. Its results depend on the intensity of the treatment, but they can last anywhere from a few months to the rest of your life.
At Revive Wellness Group in Perrysburg, OH, we believe in satisfying our patients with results that can create a more youthful appearance. We also provide the foundational education necessary to make an informed decision about treatments and procedures. With that in mind, here’s more about the various types of chemical peels and the science behind them.
What Are Chemical Peels?
Chemical peels are a potent, non-invasive treatment that removes the top few layers of skin. We accomplish this by topically applying a chemical solution and peeling away dead skin while simultaneously stimulating growth in the healthy cells underneath.
This is a popular approach to tackle the blemishes, discoloration, wrinkles, and pigments that often fill the top few layers of skin. For this reason, chemical peels for acne scars are a popular choice since these superficial scars are both shallow and can profoundly affect facial appearance.
What Do Chemical Peels Do?Â
Chemical peels can potentially handle many varying skin concerns, including:
- Acne scarring and other minor scars
- Discoloration and uneven skin tone
- Shallow wrinkles
- Sun damage
- Wear and tear
Your specific concerns will help determine the kind of peel we recommend. During your consultation, we’ll discuss the type of peels you can use, how they work, and more.
Types of Chemical PeelsÂ
Chemical peels come in three types, varying in scope and intensity. The further down the list you go, the heavier the materials we use to remove old skin and reveal a new surface.
Light Chemical PeelsÂ
Light chemical peels affect only the outermost layers of skin. These can include chemical peels for dark skin and surface blemishes, chemical peels for acne scars, and more. These peels can be performed more often because they target only a few layers of skin.
Medium Chemical PeelsÂ
Excellent for deeper wrinkles and fine lines, we can use medium chemical peels for dark skin, hyperpigmentation, sun damage, and deeper wrinkles. With the top layers of skin removed, the unblemished layers of skin underneath often retain their clarity as they come to the surface.
Heavy Chemical PeelsÂ
Heavy chemical peels are the most intensive option, removing several layers of skin. However, they are still minimally invasive and usually allow people to immediately return to their everyday routines.
Caring for Skin After a Chemical PeelÂ
You can typically wear makeup and use other skin products a day after a light peel. After a medium peel, you may be able to resume makeup use after 24 hours, but we may recommend longer in some instances. After a heavy peel, we often recommend clients avoid makeup for around 14 days. Otherwise, you risk clogging up exposed pores or otherwise irritating the skin.
When it comes to protecting the skin, make sure you liberally apply chemical-free sunscreen and avoid sun exposure whenever possible. Furthermore, you should also avoid high temperatures and overexertion. Our team is here to guide you through the aftercare process, and we encourage you to ask any questions you may have!
What Do Chemical Peels Do to Rejuvenate the Skin?
Chemical peels remove the top layer of skin with chemicals like glycolic, salicylic, trichloroacetic, or carbolic acid — depending on the intensity of the peel. The right solution allows us to target the exact layers needed to achieve results without going deeper than necessary. There are two main goals of a chemical peel: exfoliation and growth.
Exfoliation
We’ll aim to remove dead and damaged skin in layers of consistent thickness. The chemical agents we use will cause carefully targeted inflammation in problem areas, which re-activate the body’s natural healing processes.
Growth
When the body targets damaged and scarred areas with new healing, the rejuvenation may go beyond the peeled layers and help address the underlying causes of blemishes. It can also lead to thicker layers of healthier skin in the epidermal (outer) layers.
How Long Do Chemical Peels Last?
The duration of your chemical peel results will vary with the type of peel you receive. Lighter peels usually last between one and two months and may need to be performed more often to maintain the same results. Thankfully, they have a shorter healing time and can therefore be performed more often. Medium peels last longer, usually between two and four months. The deeper heavy chemical peels can last for a long time, usually permanently.
So how long do chemical peels last? It depends, so make sure you contact our team to set up an appointment and learn what’s best for your skin. We can help you decide on the type of treatment you need and form a realistic picture of how long the results might last during your initial consultation.
Request an Appointment TodayÂ
Our team of expert dermatologists at Revive Wellness Group knows the effect that blemishes and wrinkles can have. We’re here to help you achieve a smoother, healthier, and more youthful skin appearance — courtesy of our versatile array of chemical peel procedures. If you have any outstanding questions or want to learn more about chemical peels and their potential benefit for your skin, don’t hesitate to contact our team through our website or call our office in Perrysburg, OH, for more information.