All you need to know about chemical peels!
September 23, 2022
Have you seen that Sex and the City episode where Samantha shows up to lunch with a bright red face, having had a chemical peel to refresh her skin? I can’t tell you the number of clients that have come into the clinic wanting a chemical peel, but are terrified that they will experience the same fiery redness of the treatment that is associated with some of our favourite TV characters! How can something that sounds so horrible actually be good for your skin?
When you visit us at External Affairs, we hope to change the way you think about chemical peels entirely, and maybe even help you fall in love with just how amazing they can be for your unique skin goals! After reading today’s blog, you’ll learn all the chemical peel basics, how the procedure feels, its benefits, and whether or not it’s the treatment for you. Plus, there may just be some more details about a special chemical peel value package available this month, so stay tuned!
What actually is a chemical peel and what does it do?
There are several different kinds of chemical peels out there, from gentle peels that are often done in a spa type environment, to a more clinical version used to treat and correct deeper issues within the skin. At EA, our chemical peels use high quality, medical-grade salicylic and retinol products to help you shed that top layer of damaged skin, and target those unique skin concerns. Our chemical peels will specifically focus on transforming skin with active acne, acne scars, congestion, sun damage, melasma, as well as many other skin texture and skin tone concerns! No matter what age you’re at in your skin journey, we can also customize your chemical peel depending on what your specific treatment goals are, your skin type and sensitivity level, and how much peeling you’d like to achieve!
It’s important to know that as we age, our cell renewal rate decreases significantly. Peeling is the best way to speed up your natural cellular turnover to uncover the fresh, healthy skin underneath the layers of dead surface skin cells. A very common myth is that a chemical peel treatment will leave you peeling for weeks, which actually isn’t the case! The action occurs at the cellular level—the visible peeling is just a side effect of the dead skin being removed. So, you don’t necessarily have to visibly peel to reap the amazing benefits!
What are the benefits of chemical peels?
As mentioned above, many people of all ages can enjoy chemical peels for their ability to turn over new cells, reduce fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration, redness, congestion, acne scarring, and blemishes. A wow-factor about chemical peels is that they also help to improve skin texture by reversing sun damage, smoothing out rough skin, increasing collagen, and keeping your skin glowing! It’s a super cost effective treatment if you’re looking to combat any of these unique concerns, and achieve stunning skin results. An added bonus is that this minimally invasive way to visibly improve the appearance of skin can also be administered on many other parts of the body beyond just the face! We commonly perform chemical peels to help treat the back and chest, as these are areas that can often have painful blemishes and congestion that can lead to scarring if left untreated. No matter what your goals are, there are tons of amazing benefits when it comes to treating your skin to a chemical peel with us at EA - you really can’t go wrong with this one!
How long is a chemical peel at External Affairs?
Chemical peels are an amazing option if you’re someone who’s always a bit of a busy bee, with very little time for self-care! Our chemical peels take about 20-25 minutes, which is why this treatment is sometimes referred to as “the lunchtime facial.” For anyone who is always on the go with a jam-packed schedule, we can also tailor your treatment to customize the amount of time you’ll peel afterwards! Depending on your goals and what you are comfortable with, you can enjoy a more aggressive shed of the top layer of skin, or a lighter and gentle peel. Both offer phenomenal skin results, the lighter version just allows your peel to be quick and subtle! When scheduling your treatment and visiting us for a complimentary skin consultation first, you also have the option to decide if adding on a BluLight laser treatment to your chemical peel is right for you. This add on can assist with taming painful inflammation and breaking up recurring congestion that just won’t quit! This BluLight laser add on won’t affect your treatment time either, and you can always expect an attentive experience every time you visit us for a chemical peel!
What does a chemical peel feel like?
At External Affairs, we care about making your experience a comfortable one! Our peels can be tailored to your sensitivity level by specifically incorporating a cooling machine to help with the “stingle” sensation. Whether it’s your first chemical peel or your tenth chemical peel, the feeling truly varies for everyone. It can even vary at each appointment depending on your skin’s sensitivity levels, and where you’re at in your skin journey! To get a general idea of how the procedure feels for most individuals, you can expect it to be a little spicy at first as the topical solutions integrate with your skin, but after a minute or so with the cooling device, the sensation tapers down right away. After that, you essentially get to relax while the salicylic and retinol does its magic! Plus, our skin experts always make sure to check in with you every few minutes during the treatment to see how you’re feeling, and give you a little break if needed. We like to go above and beyond to help you feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible!
What can I expect to happen after my chemical peel?
Immediately following your treatment with us, you may feel some tingling and added heat in the area, however this is normal! The sensation usually resolves within 30 to 45 minutes post peel. What surprises most people is that you typically won’t start to see any peeling or flaking of the skin until about 2 days later! After that, most of your peeling will occur over the course of the next 2-3 days. At the peeling stage, this is when you’ll use the recommended post-treatment homecare products: The EA Lavender Creamy Cleanser and the ZO® Skin Health Hydrating Creme! The peeling process subsides within a few days and you can return to your normal skin care routine after 5 days post-treatment.
An important thing to remember after your chemical peel is to be super diligent about applying your SPF! Since we are working to peel away the top layer of skin, you’ll be more susceptible to sun damage. Burning your fresh and glowy skin is never ideal, so we have a couple of different medical-grade products that you can incorporate into your routine to help, like the EA Replenishing Sunblock SPF 40 and ZO® Skin Health Smart Tone Broad Spectrum SPF 50! If you’re someone who burns easily, you can also wear a hat on the days where you're peeling as an added layer of sun protection. With these phenomenal products, we promise that keeping up with your homecare routine while you peel is super easy, and the amazing skin results will speak for itself!
Is there anything I shouldn’t do before a chemical peel?
Skin prep before a chemical peel is incredibly important, and what you do before coming in will make all the difference in achieving your best results. First, if you are using any AHA, retinol, or glycolic products, make sure to stop using them about five days prior to having a chemical peel. This will ensure your skin isn’t too sensitive before your treatment, and that you can get the most out of the experience with us!
Another important thing to remember before coming in is your peeling timeline! One thing we never want to do is rush your best results. Understandably, you probably don’t want to go to any big events or attend exciting plans mid-peel. If that’s the case, we always recommend scheduling your treatment at a time where you know you can stay in and have a few lowkey nights to yourself while your skin does all the hard work!
How do I maintain my best skin results?
Chemical peels will certainly help reduce your unique concerns and improve the overall appearance of your skin quality! However, skin is something that is always changing with age, hormones, season, and many other factors. At External Affairs, we believe that 75% of the success you have with your skin is what you are doing at home! Skincare regimes are incredibly important. Even if you are unable to come visit us in the clinic and keep up with a series of chemical peels treatments, your skincare products can be just as valuable. By practicing consistent self-care routines at home, we can achieve well exfoliated, hydrated, and glowing skin! The best part is that this good skincare habit can only enhance the longevity of your professional-grade chemical peel results! Remember though, Glycolic and Retinol products used at home should be accompanied by the advice of your clinical skincare technician and must always be paired with a proper SPF. If you aren’t sure where to start, we’d love to see you for a complimentary skincare consultation!
Of course, it’s important to note that making big changes in the skin can take time. What does that mean for you? Sometimes getting one individual peel can be a great way to refresh your complexion, but in other instances, we may recommend doing a series of peels to help correct and control the underlying issues. Everyone is so different, especially depending on what your exact goals are. We are always sure to keep this in mind when helping you create a plan to achieve your best skin results together!
How do I know if this treatment is right for me?
There are so many skin treatments out there, so deciding what’s best for you can be a big challenge! At External Affairs, our first priority is to help you figure out what’s right for your unique goals. To achieve this together, we always like to start by seeing you for a complimentary consultation first! Consider this like a fun first date. Together, one of our skin experts will chat with you about all of your ideal treatment options, discuss homecare, answer any questions you have, and develop a custom treatment plan geared towards your individual needs!
It is important to note that chemical peels can eliminate superficial scars and pigmentation, reduce the size of pores and even out the tone and texture of your skin. They are wonderful treatments for acne and congested skin, as they help to reduce inflammation associated with deep, painful blemishes and the very nature of the exfoliation helps free up the dead cell layer needed for proper purging of the follicles. However, if you are looking to transform extremely deep scars, we may recommend one of our other retexturizing treatments such as Microneedling or CO2 Laser Resurfacing, as these treatments work at the dermal layer! It is always best to have your clinical skin technician analyze your scars and assess what to expect in terms of results.
What is the special chemical peel value package?
If you’re ready to take the leap on your chemical peel journey with EA, now’s the perfect time to start! From September 1st to 30th, you can enjoy a special complimentary skincare trio valued at $158 with the purchase of a series of three chemical peels for $350! This thoughtfully curated skincare trio includes the EA Dual Action Toner, the Salicylic Face + Body Wash, and the EA Clarifying Moisturizer. When used together, these three products are absolutely phenomenal for helping you maintain your best skin results in tandem with your series of chemical peel treatments! Having medical-grade skincare products incorporated into your daily routine is truly the foundation to achieving skin you’ll feel your very best in. Want in on this limited-time offer, but aren’t sure where to start? Visit us for a complimentary consultation, or click here to get more details on how to claim your special chemical peel series + complimentary medical-grade skincare trio!
It’s safe to say that you’re officially ready to peel like a pro now! If there’s only one thing you take away from this chemical peel blog today, it should be that everyone deserves to feel confident in their own skin. At EA, we promise that our team of experts are here for you every step of the way on your unique journey. Here’s to achieving beautiful skin, together!
