What Is a Chemical Peel?

The cosmetic treatment of using chemical peels entails the use of acids with exfoliating properties. This potent chemical solution removes dead skin, oil, and debris to reveal new, smooth, and clear skin.

The acid solution found in acid peels removes dead skin and pore-clogging impurities on contact, affording them a moniker of controlled injury to surface skin cells. Although it may sound overwhelming, chemical peels only cause minuscule injuries on a cellular level. The strength of the peeling solution will determine the level of injury to your skin. A simple search for a chemical peel in Miami, or any city near you, will reveal a litany of benefits, which are further described below.

Benefits of a Chemical Peel

If you are in two minds about opting for a chemical peel, this exhaustive list of benefits will sway you in the right direction. A chemical peel has the following benefits.

Brightens pigment

Smooths skin

Evens skin tone

Unclogs pores

Reduces acne

Improves the penetration and efficacy of your other skincare products

Routine use of a peeling agent for four to six weeks or more, you will surely experience a smooth texture in your skin, with the building of new and healthier collagen and elastin and even boost the skin’s own internal hyaluronic acid, which gives it that desirable plump, luminous quality.

For acne-prone skin, chemical peels can prove extremely helpful. In the case of comedonal acne, where one’s pores are blocked and the skin is oily, chemical peels offer mild improvement in texture for shallow-depth boxcar scars over time. Aggressive peeling can improve acne scars significantly.

Chemical Peels at Home vs in Clinic

If you are looking for chemical peels in Miami or any other city for that matter, you may be torn between the two options. Both peels are useful. However, the peels used in a doctor’s office or med spa are often stronger than those available at home. When applied, they remove the top layer of skin, unclogging pores and improving skin texture by increasing skin turnover. They offer additional benefits such as removing hyperpigmentation and the undesirable darkening caused by acne flares.

What to Expect During a Chemical Peel

Chemical peels vary in composition and formulation. However, the steps to prepare for the application of chemical peels typically remain the same. When you arrive for your peel, you will receive a thorough cleansing of your skin. Deep peels will require general anesthesia to put you to sleep and therefore require a surgical setting. Once you are prepped and ready to go, your dermatologist or treating aesthetician will quickly and evenly apply the peel, followed by promptly removing it once ready.

As for how soon you can expect to see results, it depends on a few different factors—the type of peel, the frequency of its use, and your specific skin type.