Benefits of a Chemical Peel

What is a chemical peel?

Chemical peels are skin treatments that use chemical solutions to rejuvenate the surface of your skin. The chemicals in the peel make superficial wounds on your skin. These wounds are small, but they still put your body’s natural healing processes to work. 

When your skin is injured or wounded, your body naturally creates and sends more collagen, a naturally occurring protein, to the affected area. Chemical peels increase collagen production in your face. This is key for rejuvenating your appearance as collagen is essential in creating fresh, new skin cells and improving your skin’s tone and texture.

The chemical solutions placed on your skin during a chemical peel trigger collagen at the same time they cause the top layer of skin to peel away. This leaves room for your younger-looking, healthier skin to grow.

Are all chemical peels the same?

No. There are different peels that affect your skin differently. At Dermatology Associates of Central NJ, we offer several types of chemical peels that address the many skin types and concerns we treat. Your provider works with you to determine the right peel for your skin’s condition and unique skin goals.

Our practice offers three types of peels. Each one has a different effect on your skin and requires a different healing time. Here’s a look at each of the three main chemical peel types:

Light (superficial) peels

Light or superficial peels use a milder acid and work best if you’re looking for a quick refresher for your skin. You can expect good results from light peels if your concerns include mild discoloration and fine lines. Mild redness after the peel is common, and it typically goes away in about a day.

Medium peels

If you have more damage than a light peel can treat, such as deeper wrinkles or darker age spots, or don’t want to spend as much time recovering as a deep peel requires, a medium-level peel may be for you. This peel goes through the outer layer and into your middle layers of skin and requires up to five days of recovery time. 

Deep peels

Deep chemical peels remove the most damaged skin cells and can treat the most skin concerns. The chemicals in these peels penetrate the mid-and lower levels of your skin. Deep peels offer the most dramatic results but require bandaging and a recovery time of up to two weeks.

Do chemical peels have benefits?

Chemical peels work by removing old skin cells to allow healthy, new skin to take the limelight. This cosmetic treatment offers dramatic results without surgery or other more invasive treatments. 

Some benefits you can expect to see after your peel include:

• Improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Refreshing tired-looking skin
• Minimizing dark spots and freckles
• Improving the appearance and texture of scars 
• Evening out skin tone
• Eliminating dry, flaky skin

Additionally, peel treatments take little time (usually 30-60 minutes), you can go home right after your treatment, and you won’t have to wait long to see results! Around the three-day mark after your treatment, your skin begins to flake and peel away. It takes about three to four days for the flaking and peeling to resolve. 

About one week after your treatment, you’ll see noticeable results. And because peels use your body’s healing process, your results keep improving over the weeks that follow as new skin continues to grow.

Take the first step toward rejuvenating your appearance and enjoying the benefits of chemical peels! Contact the Dermatology Associates of the Central NJ office most convenient to you, or book an appointment online now!