If you ever wished you could erase sun-damaged or acne-ridden skin to reveal a fresh layer underneath, then chemical peels may be for you!
They involve coating trouble spots with naturally occurring acids that treat just about everything from bumps to blemishes, and many people have been lauding them as the key to a glowing, rejuvenated complexion.
So many people that 931,473 chemical peels were performed in 2020, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported. The number may not be surprising when you know the chemical peel benefits:
- Relatively inexpensive
- Generally safe way to treat skin problems
- Several types of chemical peels available
In this article, we unpack the different types of chemical peels so you can make an informed decision on the most suitable one for you.
It’s wise to research skincare, especially when it involves a chemical solution. One resource you can always turn to is DLK on Avenue for personalized advice on chemical peels.
Understanding Chemical Peels
Chemical peels (also known as epidermal peels) are a treatment that rejuvenates your skin by improving the look of acne, scarring, fine lines, sun damage, and enlarged pores. They work well on the face, neck, and hands, too.
The procedure involves the application of a medical-grade chemical solution to a specific skin depth. The solution, made of organic compounds, such as beta-lipohydroxy acid, a derivative of salicylic acid, exfoliates and removes damaged layers of skin to reveal a brand-new layer of skin. This quality makes chemical peels an effective treatment for various skin concerns.
In addition, the exfoliative effect of chemical peels also stimulates new skin growth and collagen, resulting in smoother, younger-looking skin.
The beauty of chemical peels is they can be formulated to target specific skin concerns at three levels: superficial, medium, and deep. Using a chemical peel at the correct depth is critical to obtaining the desired results. We’ll dive into these three levels now.
The Three Levels of Chemical Peels
Superficial Epidermal Peels
Superficial peels, which boost the production of collagen, only penetrate the outermost layer of skin. In particular, they’re effective at targeting acne scars, fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. Nearly all skin types can benefit from superficial peels because they’re just that — superficial.
Once you complete a superficial chemical peel, you can expect your skin to regenerate in 3–5 days, which may involve some peeling or flaking. So yes, downtime is minimal, and you can go about your regular activities as usual.
Medium Dermal Peels
For more moderate skin concerns, there are medium-depth chemical peels. These penetrate the skin a little more deeply than superficial chemical peels to treat concerns such as age spots, sun spots, deeper wrinkles, superficial scars, changes in skin texture, pigmentary disorders, and scaly spots or patches.
A skincare professional must be the one who applies a medium-depth chemical peel due to its intensity. These peels involve a longer healing process of about one week.
After your medium-depth chemical peel, help protect your skin and maximize the results by wearing sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 for several weeks.
Deep Chemical Peels
Deep chemical peels are the most intense and transformative of chemical peels. They penetrate the skin more deeply than medium-depth peels to target severe skin concerns, such as scars, sun damage, deep or coarse wrinkles, and sometimes precancerous skin lesions.
The deep peel works to maximize the production of collagen and requires a longer time to heal, usually two months or more.
Remember to always wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 after a deep chemical peel. Your skin will thank you.
Chemical Peel Treatments at DLK on Avenue
DLK on Avenue has earned a reputation as a leading provider of skincare treatments in a friendly and welcoming environment.
At DLK on Avenue, you can expect the highest standard of clinically effective, medically directed skincare treatments in a state-of-the-art facility.
We’re Toronto’s dermatology clinic that provides the most effective and sophisticated skin treatments available today. Whether you choose among the best traditional medical treatments or leverage the latest advancements in innovative technological therapies, you’ll receive the highest level of personalized attention and continued support from a highly trained team of on-site medical experts.
Our chemical peels are carefully formulated to bring out the best in every patient’s skin:
- Put your best face forward with a facial peel
- Reduce the appearance of sagging and fine lines in your neck area with a neck peel
- Minimize age spots and sun spots and restore even skin tone and texture on your chest with a chest peel
- Even out skin tone and eliminate bacteria, whiteheads, blackheads, and scarring on your back with a back peel
- Treat signs of aging on your hands, such as fine lines, age spots, and uneven skin tone or texture, with a hand peel
There’s more: At DLK on Avenue, you can target acne with a chemical peel for acne, or a chemical peel for acne scars. Or treat wrinkles, uneven skin tone and texture with a DLK Brightening Peel.
DLK Acne Peels
You don’t have to live with acne-prone skin thanks to DLK Acne Peels. They target acne, including active papules, blackheads and whiteheads, caused by factors such as stress, cosmetics, medication, and hormones (pregnancy or menopause).
Featuring vitamin A and a combination of natural acids that are multifunctional and work to control acne and sebaceous glands, DLK Acne Peels are carefully formulated to reduce acne and prevent breakouts, whatever the underlying cause. The result is the improved appearance of acne and acne scars.
During your DLK Acne Peel, one of the skilled and experienced doctors at DLK on Avenue will apply the chemical solution to your face. The solution usually contains a form of glycolic or salicylic acid. The treated areas will start to lighten, and you may feel a mild stinging as if you have a sunburn. The doctor will then use a neutralizing solution to remove the peel, and a cold compress may be applied to your skin. The treatment takes about 15 minutes to half an hour.
When it comes to acne, chemical peels are often used in conjunction with medical therapy. The two together produce quicker improvements in skin texture and appearance. Chemical peels may also enable acne treatments applied to your skin to penetrate it more efficiently.
If you have acne concerns, put them to rest with a DLK Acne Peel. We’ll start the process with a dermatological consultation.
DLK Brightening Peels
Move over lotions and potions — DLK Brightening Peels are workhorses, improving your skin’s tone, texture and clarity while reducing the look of pores. It does this by tackling sun-damaged skin, uneven skin tone, and hyperpigmentation to rejuvenate and restore your skin’s radiance.
Just like the process involved in a DLK Acne Peel, an experienced doctor at DLK on Avenue will apply the DLK Brightening Peel to your face.
Featuring a form of salicylic acid or glycolic acid, you may feel a mild burning sensation as the treated areas begin to lighten. The doctor will then remove the peel with a neutralizing solution, and may then apply a cold compress to your skin. The process takes about 15–30 minutes.
DLK’s Brightening Peels are a new generation of multifunctional chemical peels. We think you’ll love them because they’ve been formulated with a unique blend of naturally occurring acids to be more effective and heal faster than conventional peels, and because they’ll help you achieve a more youthful and luminous complexion.
But first, you’ll receive a thorough dermatological consultation.
Factors Influencing Your Choice of Chemical Peel
There’s no “best chemical peel.” You’ve probably figured out there are several factors involved in choosing a peel that’s best for you. These include your own particular skin type, your skin concerns, the results you’re looking for, and your preferences in terms of downtime and recovery.
This is why a thorough consultation with a skincare professional is key, to analyze all the factors and identify the best treatment plan for you. There are no cookie-cutter approaches here.
Personalized Treatment Plans by DLK on Avenue
At DLK on Avenue, our expertise is providing a range of chemical peels, from a chemical peel for hyperpigmentation to a chemical peel for acne, and more.
Our doctors have the expertise to create personalized treatment plans, which involve taking a collaborative approach to tailoring chemical peels to your individual needs. Clear communication is critical during the planning stage because it’s where great results begin.
By understanding things like your skin concerns, desired timeframe and result, your doctor can create a treatment customized especially to you.
The DLK on Avenue Difference
DLK on Avenue’s team of medical experts is led by dermatologists Dr. Lisa Kellett and Dr. Sonya Abdulla. One of our priorities is to educate our patients on the importance of treatment supervised under the expertise of a board-certified specialist.
Dr. Kellett develops specialized, comprehensive skincare programs based on each patient’s particular skincare needs. By focusing on a complete skincare program with the best medical, aesthetic, light source, laser and radio-frequency treatments, every patient receives an individualized skincare program with effective results that last.
If you’re ready to look and feel your best by leveraging all the expertise and chemical peel benefits at DLK on Avenue, book an epidermal peel consultation with us today.
