Everyone dreams of having fresh, bright, and beautiful skin. But for many, that is only a distant fantasy. Good news: You can achieve better skin with the help of a light chemical peel!
The Light Chemical Peel: Brighter and Fresher Skin
A light chemical peel is a skin-resurfacing treatment in which a layer of alpha-hydroxy acid or beta-hydroxy acid is applied to the skin. The procedure encourages sloughing of dead and damaged skin cells of the upper superficial layers. The skin beneath these layers is younger and smoother.
This process increases the production of collagen and elastin proteins and resolves a wide range of conditions like acne, uneven skin tone, chronic dryness, and fine age lines.
People who have mild skin conditions and want to get rid of them without the healing period of more severe treatments are perfect candidates for a light chemical peel.
What Is the Peel Procedure Like?
The peel procedure usually takes less than an hour to complete. Before the treatment has begun, the patient’s skin is examined. Based on this, a chemical solution is chosen or formulated to be applied to the treatment area.
The chemicals used in light chemical peels are usually natural acids that are extracted from fruit. These chemical solutions fall under the alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) category. In some cases, like in the treatment of acne, the physician will use salicylic acid on the patients instead. This is a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA).
The treatment is started by cleansing the patient’s skin and then applying the chemical solution on the required areas. Though anesthetics are usually not required for light chemical peels, many patients request sedatives or a local anesthetic to avoid any potential discomfort.
During the process, patients may either feel a slight warm, stinging, or tingling sensation on their skin. Some patients might even experience a slight burning sensation. In many cases, physicians use small handheld fans to cool the skin, which aids in restoring patient comfort.
Once the chemical peel has been on the face for the necessary amount of time, the physician washes it off with water and a neutralizing agent. They then apply a lotion to soothe the skin.
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After a Light Chemical Peel
Patients should expect little to no facial redness after the treatment. In the worst-case scenario, they might look slightly sunburnt, which usually fades in anywhere from a few hours to five days.
Patients can usually return to their day-to-day activities by the day after treatment. There are precautions that physicians usually advise the patients to take for a few days after their peel. These include avoiding heavy sun exposure and staying away from hair-removal procedures like waxing and depilatory creams.
Patients usually need to undergo a series of light chemical peel treatments to achieve optimum results. The exact number of treatments will be recommended by their doctor.
You Deserve Beautiful Skin
Revitalize your skin with the help of a light chemical peel – schedule a consultation for your treatment by contacting our office. Dr. Andres Gantous is a facial plastic surgery specialist with years of experience and will be happy to help.