Years ago, chemical peels got a bad reputation, and some patients looking to restore their skin were scared away from the treatment imagining it would leave their skin red and raw. The truth is that chemical peels are an effective and typically gentle skincare treatment that removes damaged skin cells to reveal the healthier skin underneath.
At RKM Aesthetics & Wellness in Ventura, CA, we precisely formulate each of our chemical peels to meet your needs. Our specialists customize our chemical peels for even the most sensitive skin and offer both light and medium skin rejuvenation, depending on your concerns.
Read on as we tackle all of the common misconceptions around chemical peels and help you to make an informed decision on this effective skincare treatment.
What Is a Chemical Peel?
Chemical peels are a skin resurfacing treatment in which a chemical solution is applied to the skin to remove the outer layers of dead skin. Your skin cells turn over through this chemical exfoliation, correcting discoloration, unclogging pores, and delivering a glow to your skin.
Our chemical peels come in different strengths and different depths of your skin, depending on your needs. Our experienced aestheticians highly control the depth of your peel. In addition, we often pair a chemical peel with nourishing and restoring skincare products to deliver a complete skin rejuvenation.
What Are the Benefits of a Chemical Peel?
One of the most significant advantages of getting a chemical peel is that they are incredibly customizable, so each chemical peel is different and made to meet your needs.
We offer a chemical peel solution for all of the most common skin concerns, including:
- Acne
- Large pores
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Discoloration
- Scarring
- Uneven skin texture
Since chemical peels are non-invasive, they offer these benefits without needles or surgery.
What Are the Different Types of Chemical Peels?
At RKM Aesthetics & Wellness, we offer two main chemical peels: a lighter or “lunchtime” peel and a medium chemical peel. The ingredients used in a peel generally determine how it’s classified.
Each ingredient included in your customized chemical peel targets a different skin concern. For example, acne often responds well to salicylic acid peels.
Lunchtime Peel
A lunchtime peel typically takes about 20–25 minutes and utilizes an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) solution. Other mild acids used in a lunchtime peel are glycolic, lactic, or fruit acids. All of these offer the gentlest options for your skin.
This gentle skin treatment exfoliates the outer layer of your skin. It targets basic skin discolorations like hyperpigmentation and sun spots, acne breakouts, and skin tone and texture concerns, such as acne scarring.
Light chemical peels work best on those with relatively good skin who are looking for a refresh. You can receive a light chemical peel as often as every two weeks, though we generally recommend this treatment about once a month.
Medium Peel
Medium chemical peels utilize more potent ingredients to penetrate both the outer and middle layers of your skin. As a result, medium peels inspire a more thorough skin cell turnover but are still relatively quick and completed in about 30 minutes.
Our skilled aestheticians at RKM Aesthetics & Wellness typically use either glycolic or trichloroacetic acid for medium peels. These acids penetrate the skin more deeply and can lift wrinkles from the skin.
Medium chemical peels offer more thorough skin rejuvenation, treating deeper lines and wrinkles, skin discoloration and pigmentation, melasma, acne scars, and other skin concerns. Many patients have medium chemical peels three to four times a year.
How Is a Chemical Peel Performed?
Light and medium chemical peels are in-office procedures that are relatively quick. Before the treatment, we’ll clean your face, and we may apply eye protection.
Chemical peels are simple procedures during which we apply the chemical solution to your skin through an applicator. You may feel a warm, tingling sensation at this time.
We’ll then neutralize the chemicals through cool saline compresses or remove them altogether, depending on your specific formula. After your chemical peel, we’ll apply any nourishing skin products needed to target your particular skincare needs.
How Do You Prepare for a Chemical Peel?
Before your skincare treatment, you’ll meet with one of our aesthetic specialists. At that time, we’ll discuss your best treatment options and detail the ingredients and expected results from the specific peel you’ll receive. We’ll also discuss anything that could interfere with your peel’s effects, including any regular medications.
Before your chemical peel, you cannot use any type of retinol cream or medication for at least 48 hours, and you need to inform your specialist about any medicines you take or have taken in the last year.
Depending on your skincare needs, sensitivity, and your chemical peel formula, we may recommend you use special products either before or after treatment, avoid specific hair removal methods, and take a short break from using facial scrubs and exfoliants.
Is a Chemical Peel Right for Me?
Since chemical peels are infinitely customizable, one of our highly skilled aestheticians can formulate a chemical peel that works for your skin and its needs. Even sensitive skin can benefit from a chemical peel.
Chemical peels can address almost any and every skincare concern. Despite their reputation for being an aggressive treatment, chemical peels offer gentle rejuvenation and exfoliation to resurface your skin’s texture, tone, and pigmentation.
If you’re ready to learn more about chemical peels and what they can do for your skin, schedule your appointment with RKM Aesthetics & Wellness in Ventura, CA, today. A member of our highly skilled team will provide you with a complimentary skincare analysis, and we can design a treatment plan to deliver your best skin ever.