- Light peels are gentle enough to do in either your home or a spa. They are great at correcting sun damage, reducing mild scaring, minimizing wrinkles and removing black heads. Users should not expect dramatic results nor permanent changes. If you go to a spa or physician, you probably will purchase a package of peels administered over a period of months. If you do them at home, you can repeat the treatment every two weeks. Most spa and in-home peels will use a glycolic acid of less than 30 percent or trichloroacetic acid (TCA ) of 10 to 20 percent. The realistic expectation is brighter, healthier-looking skin. A side benefit is that skincare products will be better able to penetrate. It is important when doing an in-home peel to closely follow the manufacturer's instructions. Burning can occur with light peels when the mixture is too strong or left on longer than recommended. Always use sunscreen following peels.
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Medium chemical peels should be administered by a med spa or physician. Medium peels can be purchased for home use, however burning and scarring can occur if done incorrectly. Most often, your med spa or doctor will use TCA to remove the top layers of skin. After a week to 10 days, the skin will slough off, allowing the new, smoother skin to appear. Do not try to accelerate the process by picking off the dead skin; this could result in scarring.
During the healing process, you will be told to keep the skin clean and moist by using a gentle cleaner and an anti-bacterial ointment. Your medical team will recommend products for you to use. The result from a medium peel should last a minimum of six months to a year. - Deep peels use the chemical phenol to penetrate into the deeper skin layer called reticular dermis. Phenol peels are serious treatments that require anesthesia. They provide superior wrinkle reduction and only one treatment is needed. There are some major concerns when considering a deep peel. After the initial redness fades, your skin will turn white. The paleness is irreversible, and tanning will not be possible. There are other options to a deep peel. Laser resurfacing may be preferred and should be discussed with your medical team.
