All about Chemical Peels!

Who can forget the episode of Sex and the City where Samantha gets a chemical peel? When I first saw that episode I thought I would NEVER do that to my face! Can you believe that episode aired in 2000!? In my twelve years of adult living, I have aged a bit and I am not ashamed to admit, that not only have I gotten a chemical peel, I have actually done a series of them and looked nothing like Samantha.  Not even remotely close and no beehive-type hat to hide in embarrassment!

Can you get a chemical peel and have a similar response as Samantha did? Yes! If you remember at the end of the episode she did love her result. However, you can achieve similar results with a lot less down time! What is important to remember is there are many different levels of chemical peels based on your age, cosmetic goals, skin types, and skin damage.

Glycolic Acid Peels:

For a chemical peel newbie who hopes to improve skin the best peel is a light superficial skin only chemical peel. Such as glycolic acid peel which is sometimes called a lunch time peel. A physician applies a solution dissolves dead skin cells. The treatment helps to achieve brighter, softer skin. If done in a series, the patient may also see his/her brown sun spots fading. I personally recommend this type to all patients as their first experience with a chemical peel! One really wonderful brand is SkinMedica’s Vitalize Peel.  You will have very minimal down time and should have light peeling for a couple of days. These types of peels typically run from $100-$300 per peel. Often times you can get discounts when you do a series!

TCA Peels:

For the patient who takes great care of their skin, loves their skin care regimen and hopes to achieve a more dramatic result, a TCA peel is recommended.  TCA stands for trichloroacetic acid and is a more aggressive peel that should only be administered by a trained physician. A TCA peel affects deeper skin layers and also provides you with a radiant glow, smoother skin, and reduction in pore sizes! Many patients also feel that their skin is tighter after a peel too! Double plus!  One great TCA peel is the OBAGI Blue Peel. These peels do have a couple more days of down time and have longer healing time; however patients often obtain more substantial results with less treatments. These types of peels range from $250-$1500 per peel depending on the strength of peel and the area(s) treated.  

Interested in more aggressive peels? How about laser peels? Check back next week for more information on the wonderful options with laser peels/treatments!

It is very important to remember that these are all just suggestions and based on my experience with chemical peels. Everyone’s skin is different and will have a different reaction and response. Please consult with a physician before deciding on any chemical peels no matter the strength!