3 Levels of Chemical Peels- Benefits and Procedures

Aging is a natural phenomenon, and the skin is not immune to the effects. How amazing would it be to just “peel” away the signs of aging. The good news; dermatologists, such as Dr. Susan Schroeder, can do just this with a chemical peel. Chemical peels use combinations of natural acids, lighteners, and brighteners to diminish signs of aging and acne scarring on your face, neck, and chest, including wrinkles, scars, and discolored skin. Peels vary in their strength and effectiveness and can be tailored to address specific needs. At Perfect Skin Dermatology, we offer two levels of chemical peel procedures.

The chemical peel procedure is usually an in-office procedure. Prior to the procedure, your face will be thoroughly cleaned. Your physician will apply barrier ointment to sensitive areas. 

Types of chemical peels and their benefits

Chemical peels are essentially skin-resurfacing procedures accomplished using natural acids. Depending on your concerns, you choose a chemical peel in one of the three different depths:

• Superficial peel – also known as a light peel, uses a mild acid, such as alpha-hydroxy to gently exfoliate the surface of your skin. This type of chemical is designed to only penetrate the outermost layer of your skin (epidermis). A light chemical peel is used to freshen the skin and to treat fine wrinkles, uneven skin tone, acne, and dryness. Superficial chemical peels typically have minimal downtime, and some of them can be done at home or in Medispas.
• Medium peel – uses glycolic acid or trichloroacetic to reach the middle and outer layers of your skin. Medium peels are more effective at removing damaged skin because they penetrate deeper into the skin to reach the superficial dermis (the middle layer of the skin). Medium peels are used to treat acne scars, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. Depending on your goals, you may need to repeat a medium-depth peel 2-4 times in order to achieve dramatic results.
• Deep peel – these are performed using phenol and require sedation. A deep peel fully penetrates the middle dermal layer of your skin in order to remove damaged skin cells.

Chemical peel options at perfect skin dermatology

Dr. Schroeder offers two levels of chemical peels:

• Light peels – can be added to facials as part of an aesthetic treatment. We also offer the insanely popular Skinbetter Alpha-Ret Peel Pads, available for purchase from our online store or in-person for at-home use.
• Medium-depth peels – Vi peels either address aging with Precision Plus (lines, dull skin, and discoloration), or acne, scarring  and discoloration with Purify Plus. Both of these peels are highly effective and have minimal downtime (6-7 days) as compared to more traditional medium-depth peels requiring 14+ days of downtime.

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