What Do Chemical Peels Do?

If you have facial skin concerns but want a minimally invasive procedure with little or no downtime, consider a medical peel. Medical peels treat a wide variety of skin concerns including fine lines, sun damage, dull skin, uneven pigmentation, acne scars, and enlarged pores. It also enhances the penetration of topical skin products. Medical peels are classified based on their depth of penetration in the skin. Most commonly, light and medium chemical peels are used with minimal to a few days of recovery. Whichever peel you have, you will enjoy improved skin tone and texture, improved appearance of scarring, as well as lightened pigmentation and a more even skin tone. You can even have a chemical peel on skin concerns other than on the face, such as the neck, décolletage and back of the hands, which makes chemical peels an effective and also versatile treatment.

How do medical peels work?

Medical peels remove the outer layers of the skin to improve overall skin function and enhance its appearance. This stimulates cell renewal and regenerates healthier skin. Peels are performed with regularity to promote healthy skin and enhance your appearance. Peels are normally categorised into three different strengths — light, medium and deep. Examples of light peels are lactic, glycolic or salicylic acid peels. These are used to treat dry, dull skin, fine lines and acne and have minimal recovery time. Medium peels involve higher concentrations of acids such as TCA, which have a longer downtime and must be used with caution in those with darker skin.

What benefits do medical peels treat?

Medical peels can provide you with a number of benefits which include:

• exfoliation of dead skin
• improved skin tone and texture
• improvement in the appearance of acne scars
• reduced visible sun damage
• improvements in facial blemishes, blotchy skin and uneven skin pigmentation
• smoothening of facial lines

Do medical peels have risks?

Medical peels, like all cosmetic procedures, carry some small risks. These risks include infection, scarring, swelling, and changes in skin pigmentation. However, most patients who have a medical peel enjoy refreshed, rejuvenated skin with the improved appearance of blemishes, blotches, and scarring, as well as better skin tone and texture. Your practitioner at Kaya Cosmedica will also ensure that any risks are minimised by choosing the appropriate peel for your skin type and condition and closely monitoring the treatment whilst the peel is active.

Can I have a medical peel?

If you have good health and reasonable expectations about the results a medical peel can provide, you would make a suitable candidate for this treatment. Medical peels tend to produce better results on individuals with fair to light skin, but individuals with darker skin can still benefit from chemical peel treatments. Your practitioner will provide her recommendation on which type of peel will work best for your skin type and concerns during your consultation.

What happens during a medical peel procedure?

Lighter peels usually do not require any preparation, however some more concentrated peels require “prepping” the skin with certain skin products to ensure great results. Once the appropriate peel is selected, the skin is cleansed. A peel preparation is then applied. This is then followed with the selected peel, and the skin is monitored for any reactions. Multiple layers may be applied depending on the reaction of the skin. Patients generally experience mild stinging or tingling sensations once the solution is applied, but care will be taken to ensure you do not experience pain. Some peels are inactivated, and others are washed off 8 hours later at home. A calming soothing balm with sunscreen is applied. Following the treatment, there may be slight redness and peeling for up to 5 days.

Trust Your Skin to Kaya Cosmedica

Medical peels enjoy much-deserved popularity among skin care treatments for their ability to improve a wide variety of concerns safely and with minimal downtime. To explore chemical peel procedures in more detail — as well as other skin care treatments to rejuvenate and refresh your skin — schedule an in-person consultation with the team at Kaya Cosmedica today. You can set up an appointment quickly and easily online. The team looks forward to providing you with the high-quality skin treatments and personalised care you want to get the look you deserve.