Considering a Chemical Peel?
Chemical peels have been used dating back to Ancient Egypt. Cleopatra used sour milk to improve the appearance of her skin, according to some sources. Lactic acid (an alpha hydroxy acid) is the active ingredient in sour milk.
So while the idea of Chemical peels can be a little nerve-wracking, they are intriguing! Understanding what a Chemical Peel is, what it does and the potential results may help!
A Chemical Peel is applied to facial skin to cause intentional damage to the epidermis and/or dermis with the goal of stimulating new tissue to improve skin texture and tone.
Chemical peels improve skin texture and firmness, decreasing fine lines and wrinkles. Peels also even out skin tone, improve acne-prone skin and reduce pore size appearance. If you are considering a Chemical Peel, here is what you need to know to choose the best option for you!
Classifying Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are classified as superficial, medium or deep, depending on the depth of penetration of the ingredients used. Superficial peels exfoliate to various levels of the epidermis. Medium-depth peels treat through the papillary dermis and deep peels to the mid-reticular dermis.
The strength of a chemical peel is determined by the type of ingredients used, their concentrations and the pH of the formulation.
Superficial chemical peels decrease the pH, which loosens the connections between dead skin cells, inducing exfoliation and stimulating new cell growth. This process causes superficial layers of dead skin to peel off, revealing a smoother and more radiant complexion. Chemical peels can also thicken the epidermis, increase dermal volume and stimulate collagen.
Superficial peels rarely cause side effects. However, hyperpigmentation can still occur with darker skin types.
Medium and deep chemical peels cause protein coagulation and cell necrosis (cell death) in the epidermis and dermis. This induces inflammation and the wound-healing cascade, which leads to dermal regeneration including collagen stimulation. Since medium and deep chemical peels treat through to the dermis, re-epithelialization starts from the epidermal lining of hair follicles outwards.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Medium and deep chemical peels require more downtime and carry with them a higher chance of side effects including hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, infection, and scars. ⠀
Compare the Ingredients
Some common peeling ingredients include alpha-hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids, trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and retinol. Alpha hydroxy acids include glycolic acid (originally from sugar cane), lactic acid (originally from milk), malic acid (originally from apples and pears), tartaric acid (originally from grapes) and mandelic acid (originally from bitter almonds). Salicylic acid (related to aspirin) is the only beta hydroxy acid.
Not all peels are created equal, and one peel type doesn’t suit all. Certain ingredients may be more effective for treating acne, while others may be more successful in treating hyperpigmentation or the signs of aging.
Types of Peels
AHA Chemical Peels
If you are looking for a non-invasive treatment that removes the upper layers of dead and damaged skin and encourages skin cell regeneration, an AHA Chemical Peel may be right for you. This type of peel provides gentle treatment for fine lines, acne, chronic dry skin, and uneven pigmentation. AHA peels work by reducing sulphate and phosphate groups from the surface of corneocytes to decrease corneocyte cohesion leading to exfoliation of epidermal cells. Salicylic acid peels are lipid-soluble allowing deeper penetration into the follicle. As well as exfoliating, salicylic acid works as both a keratolytic and comedolytic agent by causing cells of the epidermis and in the follicle to shed, clearing the pores and allowing room for new cell growth. In addition, salicylic acid has anti-inflammatory properties and is able to neutralize bacteria at low percentages. These properties make salicylic acid ideal for acne.
Enzyme Peels!
Like a chemical peel, an Enzyme peel is also a treatment used to improve skin texture and appearance. Enzymes are applied to the skin, which loosens the connections between dead skin cells, inducing exfoliation and stimulating new cell growth. This process causes superficial layers of dead skin to peel off, revealing a smoother and more radiant complexion. Enzyme peels both nourish and exfoliate the skin and are usually made with fruit enzymes. The most popular fruit enzymes are papain, found in papayas, and bromelain, found in pineapple. You can also add an Enzyme peel to any facial, including microdermabrasion.
What to Expect during and after your Peel
Post-treatment products minimize complications, soothe the skin and then maintain the results. Our professional treatments enhance the results of your home skincare products.
Most beneficial ingredients for the skin tend to degrade or denature when placed in the low pH of chemical peel formulas. With that scientific information in mind, the peels we use from AlumierMD use only the pure acids; anti-aging, antioxidant and brightening booster ingredients are applied post-peel in our Brightening Accelerator keeping all components effective.
Because peels remove the outer dead layers of the stratum corneum, we apply the booster ingredients post-peel so they are better absorbed.
Beautiful skin doesn’t happen overnight!
However, a single chemical peel can provide the immediate effect of bright and radiant skin. If you have more questions about if a Chemical Peel is right for you, let’s connect.
