The scoop on chemical peels

Coralee Shaman LPN
23 hours ago
3 min read

One side of the face treated with chemical peel; the untreated side shows extensive brown spots and hyperpigmentation.

What is a chemical peel?

A chemical peel is a cosmetic treatment that uses a chemical solution to improve the appearance and texture of your skin. When conducted by a qualified practitioner, chemical peels are safe and effective.

During a chemical peel, a solution is applied to your skin. There are different types of peels, but some of the most common types use alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) such as glycolic or lactic acid, beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) like salicylic acid, and/or trichloroacetic acid (TCA).

Chemical peels work by causing controlled injury to targeted layers of the skin. Once the skin layer peels off, you will have brighter, smoother and even-toned skin.

What can chemical peels treat?

My clients get chemical peels for several reasons, but some of the most common reasons include:

Sun damage
Wrinkles and fine lines
Acne scars
Other types of mild scarring
Uneven skin tone
Dull, rough patches
Melasma

The most treated areas include the face, neck and décolletage.

What are the different types of chemical peels?

There are three main types of chemical peels:

Light or “Lunchtime” Peel: This type of peel targets the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin. It’s sometimes called a lunchtime peel because a single treatment can be done over lunch hour, with minimal downtime. It is often used for fine lines, acne, and sun damage. In most cases, this treatment is most effective as a series.

We offer many light peels. My favourite light peel is a series of 6 Vivier peels, performed every 2 weeks.

Medium Peel: This type of peel targets the epidermis and the upper part of the dermis. A medium peel is effective for uneven or moderate discolouring, sun damage, acne, and fine to moderate wrinkles. The downtime is pink flaky skin that starts at day 3 until day 7 to 10. After day 10, you have bright, fresh, new skin that is glowing.

A couple of my favourite medium peels are:

For acne or skin dullness, I love a series of 3 Jessner peels held 1 month apart.
For melasma, my go-to chemical peel is the Melanopro Peel System.

Deep Chemical Peel: This type of peel targets the lower middle layer of your skin. Although a deep chemical peel produces a dramatic improvement in your skin’s appearance, there is significant downtime. If you have deep acne scars, extensive sun damage, and/or moderate lines and wrinkles, this treatment might be suitable for you. An example of this type of peel would be a phenol peel or TCA.

There is a pre-treatment phase of up to eight weeks to prepare your skin. Unlike the light or medium peels, a deep peel is only done once. I refer these types of peels to a dermatologist as they usually involve systemic responses or sedation.

How can you prepare for a chemical peel?

Be gentle with your skin and avoid direct sun exposure. Stop using retinoids two weeks before treatment. If you have specific conditions, your practitioner will give you personalized instructions.

How can you determine which peel is right for you?

Most skin can tolerate a series of light or medium peels. Booking a consult with a qualified professional with extensive experience is key. Getting the wrong treatment for your skin type may have the opposite effect you intended.

What’s a typical treatment cycle?

The skin peel treatment cycle depends on the condition that is being treated. I can describe the cycle of my go-to treatment for clients who want to address environmental skin damage, such as dark spots, uneven skin tone and rough skin texture.

Melanopro is a clinical strength peel system that usually delivers visible results in six weeks.

Here are the steps:

Step 1: Book a consult so we can determine if Melanopro is right for you.

Step 2: If you’re a suitable candidate, I can apply the peel.

Step 3: You will leave on the Intensive Peeling Mask for 4–7 hours.

Step 4: Over the next six weeks, you will follow a prescribed regimen of applying the Continuous Resurfacing Cream.