A chemical peel is a highly effective way to transform dull or aging skin. The nonsurgical treatment reveals newer, healthier-looking skin, but you should know that different types of peels have varying recovery times.
Understanding what to expect before a chemical peel is essential so you're not surprised by the sensations during treatment — and afterward. Dr. Lori Scott provides a range of aesthetics services to help you feel better about how you look, and she gives you all of the information you need to prepare for your chemical peel.
This aesthetic treatment utilizes a chemical solution to remove the outer layers of skin to address signs of aging and scarring. The chemicals exfoliate — literally peeling back old skin layers — removing fine lines, age spots, and acne scars.
There are three main types of peels:
A light peel is the least invasive and only removes the outermost layer of skin, but it beautifully addresses skin concerns like acne, fine lines, and an uneven skin tone or texture. There's little downtime with a light peel.
These peels target both the epidermis (outer layer) and dermis. A medium peel addresses more significant skin issues, such as acne scarring, wrinkles, and bothersome age spots.
A deep peel is the most aggressive treatment, penetrating deeper into the dermis than a medium peel. This treatment requires some downtime and it’s more uncomfortable, but it offers stunning results, particularly with skin concerns like scarring, sun damage, and deep wrinkles.
Chemical peels feel different to everyone, but they shouldn't cause intense pain. The chemicals we use do cause a reaction on the skin, which leads to various sensations like tingling or light burning.
The less intense the peel, the less uncomfortable it will be. A light peel may feel like a tingle on your skin. Some people describe the peel as causing sensations of skin tightness or warmth. A deeper peel may cause a more intense stinging or burning feeling.
These feelings vary from person to person, but they usually subside within a few hours for a light peel and a few days for deeper peels.
To help with discomfort, Dr. Scott applies a numbing cream to the skin before the peel. This reduces discomfort, but you may want to follow up with oral pain relievers after a deep peel.
How you feel following your peel depends on the type of peel and your sensitivity to the chemicals. Some people describe the feeling of their skin after a peel as being sensitive or feeling tight. You may also notice your skin feels dry or seems itchy.
Taking care of your skin after a chemical peel is essential to helping it heal and recover. We recommend these tips to help your skin heal faster:
It's essential to follow these steps to avoid skin damage or a delay in healing, and they’ll help you feel more comfortable, too. Avoid picking at the skin or scabs or scratching if your skin itches.
Contact Lori Scott Family Care in Kinston, North Carolina, today to learn more about our aesthetic treatments or to schedule your chemical peel.
