If you’re bothered by dark spots on your face, which could be a sign of sun damaged skin, or you want to improve your fine lines and wrinkles without surgery, there are actually a good number of options you can choose from. From non-surgical chemical peels to laser skin resurfacing, Botox^®, and more, individuals who wish to regain their youthful glow without surgery will be happy to know that there are now more readily available options for patients just like them.

What are non-surgical chemical peels?

In a nutshell, a chemical peel is a non-invasive, non-surgical procedure designed to correct such skin issues as discoloration, uneven skin tone, acne scars, fine lines and wrinkles, and dry skin. A chemical solution will be applied on your skin, which will then gradually peel away the damaged layer of your skin.

Here are a few things every first-time patient should know about chemical peels:

1. A chemical peel isn’t for everyone

It may be a safe, non-invasive treatment but it still isn’t recommended for everyone. In particular, people whose jobs require them to be outdoors most of the time may not be an ideal candidate for a chemical peel. Those who have a history of poor wound healing or abnormal scarring, have deep wrinkles, deep scars, darker skin complexion, loose or sagging skin, or are pregnant or breastfeeding aren’t ideal candidates as well.

2. There are three types of chemical peels

Chemical peels come in different formulations and strengths or depths. In general, the three types of chemical peels are based on these depths: light, medium, and deep. Light and medium chemical peels target the outer layers of the skin; epidermis for a light peel and both epidermis and dermis for a medium peel. A deep peel, on the other hand, targets the deeper layers of the skin, and as such, is generally recommended for men and women with deeper scars or wrinkles, or may have pre-cancerous skin patches.

Depending on the type of peel, you may receive regular treatments between two and five weeks or three and six months. With deep chemical peels, patients won’t need to undergo follow-up treatments to maintain results as results from this peel can last up to ten years.

3. A chemical solution will be applied

As mentioned above, a chemical solution will be applied on your face during your treatment. Depending on the chemical solution or product used, your doctor may remove the peel after it sits on your skin for about two to three minutes or may leave the solution for up to one hour.

4. A chemical peel will make you more sensitive to the sun

Patients who have undergone non-surgical chemical peels will be more sensitive to the sun and as such, they shouldn’t stay long under the sun, and should always wear sun protection (sun block, and large-brim hats and facial coverings when necessary).

5. Recovery differs from one type of peel to the next

With a light chemical peel, the skin will usually be fully healed on the 7th day following treatment. With a medium peel, healing may take between seven and 14 days; and for a deep chemical peel, swelling may completely recede 14 days after treatment but the redness may persist for up to three months.

Patients also need to know that with a deep chemical peel, the doctor will need to cover the face with a surgical dressing until their skin has healed, which can take up to 14 days. They may also be prescribed with pain medicine.

Learn more about non-surgical chemical peels

If you wish to learn more about chemical peels or you want to schedule a consultation, please feel free to give us a call at (240) 630-8175. You may also leave us a message here. We’d be glad to hear from you.