Is your skin looking dull and lackluster? Does it feel rough or show early signs of aging? A chemical peel exfoliates the skin, improving its tone and texture. If you’re considering a DIY chemical peel, it’s important to understand what an at-home chemical peel can accomplish compared to one performed by a skilled professional.
Are At-Home Chemical Peels Safe?
Performing a chemical peel in the comfort of your home is an attractive option for many people. Because the peels used at home have a lower concentration of chemical ingredients like glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid, they’re often gentler on the skin. That also means, though, that even the best at-home chemical peel can’t produce the results you’d get at a med spa or physician’s office.
Taking Precautions
While at-home peels are generally safe for most skin types, you need to carefully apply the peel and diligently follow instructions to prevent an adverse reaction. You’ll also need to test the product on a small area of skin.
If you have skin conditions such as rosacea, very sensitive skin, or a history of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), be sure to check with your physician before performing an at-home peel. Do not give yourself a chemical peel at home if you have an active skin infection or broken or compromised skin.
Professionally Applied Chemical Peels
A chemical peel performed by a licensed skincare professional or physician uses higher concentrations of active ingredients, enabling them to target more severe skin conditions. Our practice offers a range of peels performed either at our med spa by medical professionals under the supervision of our board-certified plastic surgeons or by one of our physicians. The skill of your provider matters!
Professional peels are categorized into 3 main types based on their depth of penetration:
Superficial Peels: These are the mildest peels, often using alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic acid. They primarily target the skin’s outermost layer (the epidermis), improving texture and tone with little to no downtime. Superficial peels are suitable for treating mild skin imperfections and can be performed more frequently.
Medium Peels: Medium peels penetrate deeper into the skin, reaching the upper layers of the dermis. They commonly use trichloroacetic acid (TCA), which is effective for treating moderate wrinkles, acne scars, and pigmentation issues. The VI Peel Precision Plus treatment offered at our med spa is a medium peel. These peels require more downtime, as the skin often peels for several days after treatment.
Deep Peels: These physician-performed chemical peels include phenol peels and 35% TCA peels that penetrate the deeper skin layers to produce dramatic results. Unlike superficial and medium peels, which often require multiple treatments, a deep peel typically accomplishes a patient’s goals in a single session. We recommend deep peels to treat severe wrinkles and extensive sun damage. Because they are much stronger than other peels, deep peels involve significant downtime and require careful post-treatment care to ensure proper healing.
You can see other transformations in one of our previous blog posts.
Which Peel Is Right for You?
The choice between at-home and professionally performed chemical peels depends on individual skin concerns, your desired results, and the amount of downtime you can manage. If your concerns are limited to mild issues, our online store offers an at-home peel for a convenient solution. However, you’ll see more substantial results after a professional peel.
You can request a consultation to discuss your options by using the online form or calling us at (850) 219-2000 to schedule an appointment.
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