What does a chemical peel actually do to your skin?
A chemical peel is a controlled exfoliation treatment. It encourages your skin to shed the damaged cells sitting on the surface, and it speeds up your skin cell turnover, quicker than your body does on its own. Depending on the peel, it can also stimulate renewal in the deeper layers of the skin and promote collagen production.
The result is that the dead skin cell layers are turning over quicker, Which we call “the shed” to allow the new, healthy skin to surface “the glow”.
Why we love PCA peels
A lot of chemical peels are just one targeting acid, PCA is a blended peel. Each formulation has multiple exfoliating and active ingredients in one, to target multiple concerns.
What can a chemical peel treat?
We customize every PCA peel to what you are coming in for. The most common concerns we treat are:
Melasma, one of the hardest skin conditions to target, and one of the most common reasons people come to us
Hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation, including sun spots and the dark marks left behind after acne
Dullness, when your skin just looks tired and flat
Dehydration
Wrinkles and fine lines
Laxity and firmness, if your skin does not feel as firm or tight as it used to
Sensitivity, redness and rosacea
That last one surprises people. A lot of people think that if their skin is sensitive, they cannot get a peel. PCA actually has a peel formulated for sensitive skin, redness and rosacea.
What about active acne?
If you are dealing with active breakouts, we always want to heal the acne first. That happens through our Acne Boot Camp program with Face Reality, which has its own acne-targeted peels and hydrating enzyme treatments.
Once your acne is under control, usually around the 12-week mark, that is when we turn to whatever it left behind: the pigment and the dark marks. That is where the PCA peels come in. For true indented acne scars, we work with Sharon on acne scar treatment.
What to expect during your peel
Don’t worry, peels are not scary. We cleanse your skin, apply the first layer, and wait one to three minutes to see how your skin is handling it. You can feel a tingling sensation, like a light sunburn after a day at the beach, but it should not be more aggressive than that.
We check in with you on a scale of one to ten. Depending on where you are, we either stay at one layer or apply another, anywhere from one to four layers total. We fan your skin in between to bring the sensation down.
PCA peels are self-neutralizing, so you will leave your treatment and not wash your face for 4-6 hours. You go home with a seven-day supply of aftercare products, and you can expect little to no downtime. Some mild flaking and peeling may happen.
How often should you get a chemical peel?
We recommend a peel every two to four weeks, depending on how aggressive you want to be with your results.
The sweet spot is every 21 days, because that lines up with your skin's natural shedding cycle. That is when the dead skin cell buildup is rising up, so it is a good time to come in and target it. Depending on how aggressive you want to target your concerns we can do a Bi-weekly peel.
Your peel treatments will be discussed with your esthetician based on your concerns to determine how often your individual treatments should be, Pairing your peels with the right home care helps your results last longer.
How soon will you see results from a chemical peel?
Results vary, Anywhere from 7-10 days after your skin peeling has subsided you should start to see healthier, hydrated skin.
Can you add dermaplaning or microneedling to a chemical peel?
Yes. Dermaplaning before a peel is a double exfoliation. It mechanically removes the dead skin cell buildup and peach fuzz, to allow the peel to penetrate a little deeper into the skin. In our esthetician Marissa's experience, you see better results with dermaplaning and a peel than with the peel alone.
We also offer a PCA peel with microneedling for aggressive melasma pigmentation, The peel is first applied followed by a microneedling session.
Whether you are ready for either add-on depends on your skin barrier. If you are experiencing sensitivity and redness during our skin analysis we will discuss a new home care routine to strengthen your barrier and prepare for your first peel.
Before you book
To prepare for a chemical peel:
Stop active ingredients at least 48 to 72 hours before your appointment: retinols, vitamin C, tretinoin, acids (mandelic, salicylic, glycolic, lactic, azelaic), and benzoyl peroxide
Avoid direct or long periods of sun exposure for 48 hours before
If your skin is sunburned, wait until it has healed to book
No Botox within 7 days before your peel
No filler within 2 weeks before your peel
If you have had neurotoxin injections or dermal filler recently, just let us know when you book so we can space things out.
Book a chemical peel online or call or text 856-474-3636
