FAQ – Chemical Peels

When people hear the word Chemical Peel, it conjures up images of extreme facial redness, excessive peeling and long down time. With most of our superficial peels you will not experience any, or minimal, discomfort. There is NO down time and you can go straight back to work, hence the term lunch time peels. Our philosophy incorporates a progressive rather than aggressive approach. For that reason we recommend that you can rather do a series (4-6) of superficial peels with no downtime. This will gradually speed up your normal rate of cell turnover A series of our superficial peels, serums and treatments will hydrate, nourish, rejuvenate and strengthen your skin, delivering optimal results with little or no down time.

Right before the peel, the skin is cleaned. The Peel (usually a liquid or gel) is then applied to the skin with a small brush or gauze. The chemical is left on the skin for several minutes. An alkaline solution will then be used to neutralize the acid and end the chemical reaction, and then it is wiped off.

A Typical superficial peel treatment takes approximately 15 to 30 minutes, giving it the widely known nickname the lunchtime peel. Times may vary depending on the severity of the skin condition.

With all our superficial peels there is little or no discomfort during the treatment. You may feel a slight sting or burn with some of the other peels, depending on the strength (depth) of the peel, the condition of your skin, your home care routine, the number of layers we apply and the strength of the peel. But the client is in full control and we will discuss with you your concerns, expectations, needs and lifestyle, before recommending the right treatment for you.

Chemical peels are administered not only to exfoliate, but the different active ingredients also treat a wide variety of skin problems. Patients who receive chemical peel treatments can enjoy the improvement of acne and acne scarring, elimination of fine lines, deep wrinkles, sun damage, improving uneven skin pigmentation, blotchiness and a variety of other skin conditions. Chemical peels remove dead skin cells to allow a new layer of skin to flourish. Leaving you with new, regenerated skin that is smoother and less wrinkled than the old skin.

Before having a Chemical Peels you need to go for a consultation so the therapist can determine if a peel will be the right treatment for your specific skin concern. Although we can do Skin Peels for a variety of conditions and skin types, we still need to see you and make an assessment of the condition of your skin.

Chemical peels can improve the skin's appearance by brightening and smoothing the skin, evening out the skin tone and treat skin conditions. We have specific Body Peels that are used to lighten uneven skin tone and smooth the texture on the legs, arms, chest, neck back and the face. The new skin is left much brighter and smoother which also makes it a very popular treatment for brides. We also do body peels to get rid of chicken skin, those tiny bumps found on the back of the arms.

Your therapist may ask you to stop taking certain drugs and stop the use of certain creams before your treatment. Two to Three weeks before your professional treatment it is important to start preparing your skin and ensuring excellent results. There are a few products that were specifically formulated to enhance your peel results if use prior to treatment. Skin that is balanced and hydrated will help reduce the risk of complications and typically lead to better treatment results. Sun block is also crucial.

Your therapist will advise you on aftercare products and procedure. For 48 hours after the treatment session, the patient must avoid direct sun exposure or artificial light, heat, saunas, steam baths and swimming pools. Shower in lukewarm water It is very important to wash with a mild cleanser and rinse with cool water. Followed with a gentle moisturizer or a prescribed ointment But by far the most important step in preventing damage and hyperpigmentation while healing is to wear the correct sunblock SPF50 DAILY.

No, visible exfoliation doesn’t determine the efficacy of the treatment. Generally healthy, well hydrated skin has less visible exfoliation. Exfoliation often takes place at a cellular level and is not always apparent to the naked eye. Also some people’s skin may be so impacted that it can take a few peels to loosen dead skin cells enough to allow them to shed. Typically these people will see little or no peeling initially and then see sloughing after a few treatments. Either way, the efficacy of the peel is not dependent on the visible peeling.