Chemical Peels

What are chemical peels?

Chemical peels are exfoliative skin treatments that remove the upper layers of skin cells with a chemical agent. Your skin grows back shortly after a chemical peel, and many of the unwanted features and flaws confined to the upper layers of skin are gone or reduced. 

The team at Keehan Dermatology might recommend a chemical peel if you want to target:

• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Light scarring
• Skin discoloration
• Dry skin
• Acne blemishes and scars
• Precancerous growths
  
  

During a peel, the team applies the solution to your skin. You can do a chemical peel on your face or other areas of skin that need improvement. If you get a more aggressive chemical peel, they apply a numbing agent to your skin beforehand to prevent discomfort. 

Finally, they removes the chemical peel from your skin with or without a neutralizing solution, depending on the type of peel you get. 

Which type of chemical peel should I get?

There are several types of chemical peels that range in their aggressiveness and their abilities. Keehan Dermatology offers glycolic peels and salicylic peels. 

Glycolic peels are gentle and can brighten your skin while working against discoloration and pigment issues. Salicylic peels work well for acne and acne scars. 

Chemical peels are generally divided into three categories:

Superficial peels

Superficial peels, or light peels, remove only the outermost part of the top layer of skin, called the epidermis. It takes about seven days to heal and you can get them regularly.

Medium peels

Medium peels reach a bit deeper than superficial peels. Your skin feels tight and swollen afterward, but you’ll heal completely in about two weeks.

Deep peels

You can only get a deep peel once in your lifetime. It removes the entire epidermis and parts of the middle layer, called the dermis. You should stay home as you heal and you’ll have healed enough to cover the remaining redness with makeup after about two weeks.

How should I prepare for my chemical peel?

After you decide which type of chemical peel best fits your needs, the team gives you instructions to follow as you prepare. Preparing properly for your chemical peel can reduce your chances of unwanted or long-lasting side effects and minimize your recovery time. 

To prepare your skin for treatment with a chemical peel, your Keehan Dermatology provider might recommend that you:

• Use sunscreen diligently for four weeks
• Avoid waxing the hair off your face
• Avoid using hair removal products
• Avoid facial scrubs
• Drink lots of water
• Allow adequate recovery time before any special events
• Arrange for a ride home after a medium or deep peel
  
  

Following these steps can also help you prevent skin pigmentation issues following a chemical peel. 

The team might recommend using certain products before your chemical peel to prevent issues with the color of your skin or taking antiviral medications to prevent a viral infection from flaring up after your peel.  

For more information about the various types of chemical peels, call Keehan Dermatology or book an appointment online today.