Camas, WA
We hate to be the bearers of bad news but there’s no getting around it; the sun will take its toll on your skin. Even if you shade yourself every time you leave the house, even if you wear an SPF of 60+, and even if you douse your face with the very best skincare morning and night, you will still endure at least mild damage from the sun, pollutants in the air, and even the fluorescent lighting in your office.
But here’s the good news! There is hope in achieving a fine-line and sun-spot free glow! And it comes in the form of a good-ole, tried and true, chemical peel. Used religiously in medical aesthetic practices, dermatology offices, and spas worldwide, chemical peels have been successful in treating an array of complexion concerns for over 30 years.
While lasers certainly have their advantages, they are extremely costly, time-consuming, and often times, painful. And there’s also only so much your skincare is capable of “fixing.”
Chemical peels are truly the most straight-forward and effective method to getting your skin looking better than it ever has.
It’s true! Chemical peels diminish fine lines, textural issues, and mild hyperpigmentation to severe melasma. For minor concerns, like faint and sporadic sun spots or fine lines, 1-2 peels is generally sufficient to get your skin back to its most beautiful spot and wrinkle-free state! But for more moderate to severe concerns, 3-4 consecutive treatments is standard.
Peels remove dead skin cells thus promoting skin cell turnover, which means newer, brighter, and smoother skin. However, not all peels can be treated equal when it comes to turning back the clock. It’s important to always consult with a highly knowledgeable medical professional to determine what peel is best for your skin concerns and goals.
With that said, we’re partial to the Vi Peel. It’s a moderate-grade peel, formulated with a combination of Trichloroacetic, Retinoic, and Salicylic acids. You’ll only peel for 4-6 days and once your skin is finished peeling, you can expect a much smoother, softer, and brighter complexion. The results speak for themselves. It’s great for a wide range of ages too – so whether you’re 28 or 78, you’re most likely candidate for the Vi Peel!
When used in conjunction with effective products and/or medication, peels can be great for clearing up acne and acne scars. Peels containing salicylic acid and lactic acids are most commonly used to treat acne while Alpha-hydroxy and glycolic peels are also safe and effective. Peels containing any of these acids will exfoliate the dead skin, thus unclogging pores and gently relieving inflammation.
There are tons of acne-focused chemical peels out there but our current favorite is Innoaesthetic’s Inno-Exfo Lightening treatment. Containing an array of acids including Vitamin A, Salicylic, Kojic, Phytic, and Lactic, it can be quite helpful to patients with inflammatory acne. On top of that, it also aids in reducing hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin).
We don’t recommend using coupon or deal websites when booking chemical peels (or any medical aesthetic treatments for that matter). But don’t worry, peels aren’t frighteningly expensive. And medical aesthetic practices often offer great deals on them too. Costing anywhere from $400 to an upwards of $900 for the Cosmelan Peel (AKA, the cream of the crop in melasma treatments), they’re pretty cost-effective – especially in comparison to laser treatments.
Results are usually long-lasting too! You don’t have to worry about more than just a few consecutive peels to achieve the results you’re looking for and don’t have to stress over routine appointments either. Even better news, some patients only need one peel a year to sweep away minor damage to their skin. The best news? When paired with proper skincare, strict sunscreen use, and general sun avoidance, those pesky fine lines and darkened patches (hyperpigmentation) won’t be reappearing any time soon.
Most peels only require a 30-minute appointment and application is super easy too. Your skin will be thoroughly cleaned and often prepped with alcohol. Then, the peel is applied. You’ll leave with the peel on your face but in most cases, it’s almost invisible so you can go about your daily routine.
While there are a few peels out there that can be pretty uncomfortable during application and post-treatment, there are way more that are near painless, with little to no discomfort during the actual peeling process. As long as you’re okay with the way you look during the peeling process, there’s no reason you can’t carry on with life per usual after being treated with a peel.
While the Vi Peel is perfect for most complexion concerns and the Inno-Exfo peel is great for acne, there’s a long list of effective peels out there that can tackle other issues. If you suffer from melasma (patches of severe hyperpigmentation), the Cosmelan Peel is the gold standard. With just one treatment, most patients see results that are so dramatic, they don’t even need a second treatment for years to come.
There are also peels that are ideal for on-the-go patients or younger patients who just need a little “refresh” to their skin before vacation or a big event. Take for instance, SkinMedica’s Illuminize Peel, which has been coined the “party peel” since it leaves skin glowing with absolutely no downtime.
The skin care specialists at Skin by Lovely in Santa Monica, California and Portland, Oregon are ready to assist you in finding the best chemical peel for your skin care concerns. Schedule a consultation today online to discuss what bothers you about your complexion and how we might be able to help you with one of our many safe and effective peels.
