What are chemical peels?
Chemical peels are treatments that can improve the skin’s overall appearance. During peels, a chemical solution is applied to the skin, which makes it “blister” and eventually peel off. The new skin is usually smoother and less wrinkled than the old skin.* Chemical peels can be done on the face, neck, or hands. Additionally, areas of sun damage may improve after chemical peeling.
Peels are the perfect treatment if you’re looking to:
- Reduce fine lines under the eyes and around the mouth*
- Treat wrinkles caused by sun damage and aging*
- Improve the appearance of mild scars*
- Treat certain types of acne*
- Reduce age spots, freckles, and dark patches (melasma) due to pregnancy or birth control pills*
- Improve the overall look and feel of your skin*
After a chemical peel, the skin is temporarily more sensitive to the sun, so wear sunscreen every day. It should say “broad spectrum” on the label, meaning it protects against the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. Also, it should be a physical sunscreen and be above SPF 30. Limit your time in the sun, especially between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
Which peels are offered at Skin Medical Aesthetics?
At Skin Medical Aesthetics in Windham, Maine, we provide the following peels:
- ZO Skin Health: 3-Step Peel
- ZO Skin Health: Stimulator Peel
The ZO 3-Step Peel is an innovative, in-office peel followed by an at-home treatment to help fight the signs of aging and discolored skin. Utilizing a blend of exfoliants, retinol, and multi-action agents, the 3-Step Peel helps improve skin health. It also provides antioxidant protection and anti-irritant benefits.
The ZO Stimulator Peel is used to smooth away fine to moderate lines and wrinkles, acne, age spots, uneven pigmentation, and rough skin texture.* This peel is designed to exfoliate the skin by stimulating cellular turnover to improve skin tone, texture, and clarity.* Best of all, there is no downtime, peeling, or redness afterward; just glowing, healthy skin.
Am I a candidate for peels?
Generally, fair-skinned and light-haired patients are better candidates for chemical peels. If you have darker skin, you may also have good results, depending upon the type of problem being treated. But you also may be more likely to have an uneven skin tone after the procedure.
Skin sags, bulges, and more severe wrinkles do not respond well to chemical peels. They may need other kinds of cosmetic surgical procedures, such as laser resurfacing, a facelift, brow lift, eyelid lift, or soft tissue filler (collagen or fat).
