WHAT IS A CHEMICAL PEEL?

A chemical peel, also known as chemexfoliation or derma peeling, uses a chemical solution to improve the appearance of your skin. In this treatment, a chemical solution is applied to your skin, which causes trauma or injury to your skin’s layers. The skin layers eventually peel off, revealing more youthful skin. The new skin is usually smoother with fewer lines and wrinkles, has a more even color, and is brighter in complexion.

There are many benefits to receiving a chemical peel. Not only do chemical peels reveal a brighter, smoother, and more refined complexion, but they can also improve the overall look and feel of the skin in just one treatment. Other benefits of receiving a chemical peel include:

-Improving the skin’s color, clarity, tone, and texture

-Stimulating new collagen and healthy skin cell growth, resulting in a radiant complexion

-Reducing discoloration caused by sun damage

-Helping to clear up breakouts

-Smoothing away the look of fine lines and wrinkles

-Increasing hydration of the skin

-Addressing visible skin imperfections and superficial scars

-Enabling skincare products used at home to be more effective because a peel can remove several layers of skin build-up and congestion, allowing products to penetrate deeper into the skin.

We recommend a series of three peels, spaced about four to six weeks apart, for optimal results. The benefit of receiving a series of peels is that this treatment will be able to target the deeper layers of the epidermis, giving your skin an enhanced exfoliation. This type of deep exfoliation can stimulate cellular turnover, producing healthy, glowing skin.

Your clinical aesthetician will determine the chemical peel used during your initial consultation based on your skin type, current condition, lifestyle, and desired outcome. Here atEverglow Medical Aesthetics, we use the following peels:

The Perfect Derma Peel: FMI see https://www.theperfectdermapeel.com/

ZO Stimulator Peel and the ZO 3-Step Peel: FMI see https://zoskinhealth.com/

VI Peels for face and body: FMI see https://vipeel.com/

PRX-T33 Peel: BioRevitalization Treatment, a medium depth “peel” with no peeling. This is not really a peel but a new category called bio revitalization.

The Perfect Derma Peel, the ZO 3 Step Peel, and the VI peels are all “medium depth” peels, while the ZO Stimulator Peel is considered a light peel, also known as a “Lunchtime Peel” because there is no actual skin peel with that. It’s a great option to brighten and exfoliate before a special event. The medium-depth peels will give you better results, but you will peel for 3-5 days, depending on the peel. The PRX-T33 doesn’t usually peel. We don’t do deep chemical peels here – that should be done by your Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon.

To give you an example of how this works, I will usually do a Perfect Derma Peel at the beginning of each season. I will do the peel after work on a Wednesday so I can go home after (the peel is left on the skin, so it is a bit red, and you cannot wear makeup or sunscreen after). Skin is a bit red on Thursday, but you can wear makeup, so it is not noticeable. On Friday, the peeling usually starts slowly around your nose and mouth. It’s not crazy at that point, so you can easily go to work and out. Saturday and Sunday are good peel days with obvious skin peeling, so I lay low at home. I’m usually done by Monday, and if there is still a bit of peeling, by that time, it is just my outer face, so my hair will cover it. The VI peel is a bit stronger than the Perfect Derma but has a similar timeline.

The ZO 3 Step Peel is also considered a medium-depth peel, but the results and the peeling are a bit more than the other peels. You will need to “pre-condition” skin with ZO medical skincare and retinol for at least a month before your peel for best results (you should use medical skin care and retinol before any peel for best results!). You will peel for about 5-7 days with this peel but may only need to do it once because the results are so good.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF A MILD CHEMICAL PEEL SUCH AS THE ZO STIMULATOR PEEL?

• Chemical peels help to smooth dry skin

• Can help with pigmentation problems

• Controls acne

• Removes blemishes

• No recovery time

• Helps with mild sun-damage

• Reduces mild blotchiness

• Fresher and younger-looking appearance

What Are the Advantages of a Medium-Depth Chemical Peel? ZO 3 Step, VI peel, Perfect Derma Peel, and PRX-T33 are examples.

• The appearance of facial lines is less noticeable

• Hyperpigmentation is improved

• Helps with dry skin and old acne scarring

• Helps with sun-damaged skin

• Improves blotchy skin

• Younger-looking overall appearance

What Are the Disadvantages of a Chemical Peel?

• Excessive peeling normally happens more with the medium-depth peel, particularly with the deep peel

• The stinging sensation, when initially applied

• Redness appears. Again, this is particularly so with the deep and medium peels. The light peel normally does not sting or create redness.

• Sensitivity to the sun? You will need to stay out of the sun for a short time after the peel as your skin is more sensitive.

• Some peels can be expensive – PRX-T33 is $900 for the package of 4 treatments, and our other peels range from $75-$350 per treatment.