Chemical peels in Westlake TX are perhaps the easiest ways to whip your skin into shape. Whether you want to permanently stop breakouts, correct hyperpigmentation, or erase fine lines, peels do all this and more. And at Timeless Laser & Skin Care in Westlake, OH, we offer several different treatments to provide the dewy, glowy, and satiny-soft results you want.
Are Chemical Peels Good for Your Skin?
Many believe peels are the secret to perfect skin. They reveal new, healthy, undamaged cells that are sitting just beneath the surface of your skin. The trouble is those cells sometimes have a hard time pushing through the dull tissues marring your complexion. A chemical peel unglues and casts off these cells to improve fine lines, discoloration, acne, and much more. Best of all, they deliver these results for all skin colors and types.
A Treatment That’s Proven Itself
Before you think peels are brand new without the test of time behind them, let us assure you they’ve actually been around since the 1800s. They gained mainstream popularity in the 1990s and are today better than ever. To illustrate, old glycolic peels were well-loved even in the early 2000s, but they hurt dearly and left skin raw.
Now, peels have evolved so they no longer focus on visible peeling but instead strive to infuse the skin with nourishing ingredients that improve tone, build collagen, and deliver a more youthful appearance. By breaking down the top layer (or layers) of skin, peels can give you a glow that showcases smooth, radiant, and hydrated skin.
Three Different Varieties
Peels can be broken into three essential groups: superficial, medium-depth, and deep-depth. More often than not, when people refer to peels, they’re talking about superficial treatments also known as “lunchtime peels.” These reflect the mildest of the bunch, require little downtime, and allow you to return to business as usual. The most common acids used for these treatments include:
- Malic
- Salicyclic
- Glycolic
- Kojic
Superficial peels can deftly treat concerns like dark spots, large pores, and fine lines and wrinkles. They’re also a great way to rejuvenate skin before a big event. Simply schedule your appointment a week before the occasion and plan on looking lit from within.
Medium-Depth Peels
Treatments under this umbrella often use trichloroacetic acid concentrated at 35% or less. They’re ideal for treating dark circles or crepey skin under the eyes, mild to moderate acne scars, sun spots, and a substantial amount of photodamage. Skin needs to be covered with a soothing ointment or lotion after, but the results are significant.
Deep Peels
The deepest peels are designed to target more serious skin issues like laxity, excessive sun damage, and severe acne scars. These treatments also use trichloroacetic acid – but at much higher concentrations of 50 to 70%. Phenol acid may also be used. Whereas superficial and medium-depth peels are ideal for all skin tones, deep peels are generally not recommended for Black or Brown skin. This is because scarring or hyperpigmentation can occur.
What Happens During a Peel
Before the actual treatment, a member of our staff will thoroughly cleanse your skin to remove oil, sunscreen, and makeup. Any residue can serve as a barrier and keep the acid from sinking deeply into tissues.
The chemical solution, which will likely have a gel-like consistency, will then be applied to the face. This creates a controlled wound that helps “unglue” dull and dead surface cells and build new collagen. Essentially, we’re allowing the skin to regenerate itself.
Important Treatment Details
The length of time the acid remains on your face depends on the type and strength of the peel. A superficial peel will neutralize itself with time, and you’ll then wash it off at home. Stronger peels, on the other hand, require a neutralizing agent to stop the acid’s effects.
After removing dead skin cells to help even tone and texture, the peel also deposits skin-loving ingredients. This combines the best of two critical tasks: exfoliating and nourishing. After the treatment is complete, your skin will feel as soft as silk.
Benefits You May Not Know About
Peels encourage your skin, and skincare products, to function optimally. Dead cells get lifted away in mere minutes to create a welcome chain reaction. For starters, shedding your skin’s top layer sends signals to the living cells below to multiply and move up, increase hyaluronic acid production, and ramp up collagen synthesis.
A thorough sloughing offers another immediate upshot: skin is smoother and more receptive to your skincare products. Dead cells no longer act as a barrier to impede their penetration. This means all those juicy, vitamin-enriched products contained within your beauty regimen will finally begin working the way they were intended.
A Low-Risk, High-Reward Therapy
Many dermatologists prefer chemical peels in Westlake TX over other cosmetic treatments because they’re efficient and predictable. In other words, they deliver as expected. And because chemical peels in Westlake TX are (mostly) safe on all skin colors without risk of hyperpigmentation, nearly any patient is a strong candidate.
The key is in using a combination of acids at low percentages to prevent irritation. Peels of the 1990s contained a single acid at a higher concentration, thus leading to the raw skin we mentioned earlier. But today, even patients with sensitive skin can safely choose peels.
You Can Finally End Acne
A peel can effectively – and finally – end acne. It can also soften the accompanying scars to give you a fresh complexion. Peels made with ingredients like salicylic acid dive deep into tissues to unclog pores. They also work on the surface to eradicate blackheads and fade pesky post-pimple marks that, as you may have noticed, don’t respond well to topical treatments.
A great advantage of salicylic acid is that it lingers in the pores to continue removing gunk and keeping them clear over time. Even pitted scars can be treated with chemical peels in Westlake TX, with results often surpassing most resurfacing lasers. And, again, patients don’t have to endure downtime.
The Best Way to Control Melasma
No permanent cure exists for treating recurring sun-triggered dark patches caused by hormonal fluctuations – like those triggered by the Pill and pregnancy. But when paired with daily sunscreen and strict sun avoidance, peels provide the best fighting chance. Lasers may claim to improve melasma, but pigment often reappears a few short weeks later. Peels are much more effective.
You May No Longer Need Undereye Concealer
While acid needs to be handled with extreme care when applied to the undereye area, doing so gently and in the right combination can beautifully erase dark circles. These are created by an accumulation of pigment. A combo of acids can bypass the epidermis and loosen those pigments right up. You may need a series of treatments to enjoy full results, but profound improvements are likely.
Aftercare Tips
After your peel, you definitely want to avoid the sun and slather on sunscreen. Your skin is at its most vulnerable in the days immediately following treatment – after all, you’ve just had layers of old skin dissolved. The new skin that’s revealed will be soft and sensitive. It therefore needs more TLC than usual. Stay in the shade, choose sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, and protect your face with a wide-brimmed hat.
Also, stick to soap-free cleansers that will gently but effectively clean your face. Soap dries the skin by stripping its natural oils. What you want is a product made with a mixture of fats and alkaline additives that keep the natural oils but remove dirt and grime. Likewise, use cool water when washing to avoid irritation. Hot temperatures can cause inflammation. And remember to pat your skin dry afterward – no rubbing.
Apply Moisturizer Liberally
Now is not the time to skimp on your facial moisturizer. Just the opposite: you want your skin to stay as hydrated as possible. Again, however, you’ll need to read some product labels before ultimately settling on the right cream for your face. Avoid harsh chemicals and irritants and instead choose a gentle water-based moisturizer. This will be light and refreshing on the skin.
Follow Our Recommendations
It’s always best practice to listen to our staff when we give advice for post-peel care. We’ll provide you with tailored instructions that meet your skin’s specific needs and reflect the type of peel you had. We can even offer guidance on the right cleanser and moisturizer for your skin type.
Say Hello to Gorgeous Skin
A chemical peel is an easy and effective way to rejuvenate your skin. It sloughs away dead cells, ignites collagen production, and addresses common concerns like acne and fine lines. Schedule your appointment today by contacting the experts at Timeless Laser & Skin Care in Westlake, OH.