Every year, millions of Americans refresh their appearance with chemical peels. These non-invasive topical treatments help the old, dry, damaged surface layers of skin peel away and reveal the fresh new skin underneath. While many people have facial chemical peels, you can also have them on your neck, chest, and hands to reduce signs of aging and other skin imperfections.
Our team here at SculptMD, in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, offers personalized chemical peels to address skin issues, including:
- Rough skin texture
- Uneven skin tone
- Redness
- Melasma
- Sun damage
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Acne and congested pores
- Scarring
But what type of chemical peel is right for you? Let’s explore the different types of peels.
Superficial chemical peels
Superficial peels are the lightest of the available treatments. We use a mild chemical solution to peel away only the top layer of skin. Superficial peels can improve the texture of your skin and eliminate redness and mild discoloration.
You’ll need up to seven days to recover from a superficial peel. Your skin appears red and flakey as your old dead skin cells peel away. You can have superficial peels regularly to keep your skin looking youthful and fresh.
Medium chemical peels
Medium chemical peels use a more robust acid solution to intensify the peeling process. We recommend this treatment to target discoloration from sun damage, melasma, or freckles. These peels can also reduce the appearance of some fine lines.
Because medium peels penetrate your skin more deeply, you will need a little longer for the redness and peeling to subside than you would with a superficial peel. Your skin will look noticeably younger after just one treatment, but you can have more peels every 6-12 months, depending on your skin type and needs.
Deep chemical peels
Deep peels are the most intense chemical peel available, and it’s only recommended to have one in your lifetime. We use a strong chemical agent to penetrate the deepest layers of your skin and eliminate imperfections such as shallow scars, fine lines, deep discoloration, and the other more superficial skin concerns addressed with the less intense peel options.
Taking care of your skin after a chemical peel
We’d be remiss not to remind you of the importance of appropriate skincare after a chemical peel. Your provider gives you personalized advice before you go home, but in general, you should be prepared to spend at least a day or two, or longer for a deep peel, at home to recover.
We can recommend special skincare products to keep your skin clean and soothed as your top layers of skin flake away. It’s also critical to stay out of the sun while you recover and use a high-factor, broad-spectrum sunscreen after. Sun protection is essential, even if it’s cloudy or you don’t spend much time outside.
Get expert advice
The best way to know which type of chemical peel is best for you is to schedule a consultation with one of our skincare experts. We carefully examine your skin and review your medical history before recommending any treatments. If a chemical peel isn’t the best option for you, we do offer other procedures to rejuvenate your skin, including microneedling, laser, and radiofrequency treatments.
Give us a call or schedule a consultation online if you want to enhance your skin and are curious about chemical peels.