A chemical peel is a gentle form of exfoliation that involves the application of a formula based on naturally derived ingredients.
Chemical peels improve the texture of the skin by removing damaged outer layers. This cosmetic procedure works well for those with acne, wrinkles and uneven skin pigmentation and can also remove pre-cancerous skin growths and soften acne facial scars. A choice of phenol or glycolic and lactic acid formulations are used for this procedure. The levels of each are determined according to the patient’s needs, ranging from superficial to deep depth.
Chemical peels provide cosmetic benefits, enhancing your appearance and self confidence.
What Issues Can Chemical Peels Fix?
Chemical peels are proven to correct facial issues such as:
Acne
Wrinkles
Uneven pigmentation
Growth removal
Acne scars
Rough textures
Fine lines and wrinkles
This chemical solution is applied to the skin, where it soaks in. The skin of the face will peel off over the next 1-14 days, and new skin will grow in its place.
What Do Chemical Peels Do?
Simply put, chemical peels enhance the skin's overall texture by removing the older, duller skin layers and paving the way for a smoother, more radiant surface.
The first question that might spring to your mind is - what do these peels contain? The chemicals in these peels are typically a concoction of various acids like alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), beta hydroxy acid (BHA), trichloroacetic acid (TCA), and phenol. Each substance has a unique role, from removing fine wrinkles, treating pigmentation, handling acne, and even dealing with more severe skin abnormalities.
Light peels, often called superficial peels, employ milder acids like AHA and BHA. They only target the outermost skin layer or the 'epidermis,' leading to minimal discomfort. Typically used for brightening the skin and dealing with minor issues like acne or light sun damage, they offer almost instant results with minimal recovery time.
Medium peels, on the other hand, use stronger chemicals like TCA and have a more profound effect. They can penetrate the uppermost and middle layers of the skin and effectively treat wrinkles, age spots, and even precancerous skin growth. While medium peels offer more noticeable results, they require a more extended recovery period and have a slightly higher risk of complications.
Lastly, deep peels employ potent chemicals like phenol, reaching the deepest skin layers. They are reserved for critical issues like deep wrinkles, scars, or severe sun damage. Deep peels offer the most striking transformation but also necessitate extended recovery time, demand meticulous post-peel care due to heightened risks, and are thus performed under a professional's stringent supervision.
Regardless of the peel type, the core process remains the same: applying the chemical solution, letting it rest for a specified duration, and eventually removing or neutralizing it. This triggers a cascading reaction that includes inflammation, the peeling off of the treated skin layer, and stimulation of new skin generation.
While chemical peels offer many benefits, it's pivotal to consider certain factors before opting for one. Your skin type, the level of damage or abnormality, general health condition, and the recovery period you can afford should all factor into your decision.
What chemical peels can be encompassed in one single phrase - they enable your skin to sprout anew, leaving it glowing, smoother, and markedly healthier. However, they're not a one-size-fits-all solution. Make sure you seek professional guidance before incorporating them into your skincare routine.
How Much Are Chemical Peels?
Chemical peels range in price, depending on the type of peel selected. Generally speaking, they range from just over $100 upward. The phenol peel, a more intense treatment, is $1500+
Our most popular peel: the SkinCeuticals Gel Peel
The Gel Peel is a therapeutic combination of glycolic and lactic acids designed to refresh, rejuvenate and strengthen the skin. It eliminates excess sebum and cellular debris to clarify the pores while at the same time boosting collagen production. This reduces discolouration, roughness, inflammation and skin laxity. The unique molecular structure of the acids in this peel allows its therapeutic ingredients to penetrate faster and deeper than other formulations.
The Gel Peel contains 20% glycolic and 10% lactic acids. It can do the following:
gently exfoliates the damaged uppermost layers of the skin
increases moisture levels
balances healthy pH levels in the skin
accelerates the rate of cellular turnover
stimulates collagen production
is ideal as a gentle skin refresher or as an additional treatment to enhance the results achieved from microdermabrasion of a photofacial
The intensity of the Gel Peel is fully customizable to all skin conditions and can be used as a gentle or aggressive peel.
For More Intense Exfoliation
If you’d like more intense exfoliation, the phenol peel may be more appropriate for you. This is a deep depth peel that is performed by one of our surgeons. The phenol peel is formulated with carbolic acid to penetrate lower into the skin, past the epidermis and into the dermis. It can dramatically improve the appearance of acne scarring, discolouration, roughness, wrinkles and sun damage. Because of its intensity, the recovery period may be longer, with more obvious flaking, redness and crusting.
The beauty of a phenol peel lies in its versatility and deep-reaching effects. It's particularly effective for treating coarse wrinkles, blotchy or damaged skin due to sun exposure, and even pre-cancerous growths. It's also the go-to treatment if you're looking to improve your skin tone and texture or reduce the appearance of age spots or acne scars. Moreover, the results of a phenol peel are long-lasting. We're talking years, not just weeks or months. It's a lasting solution for skin rejuvenation.
Here's what to expect during a phenol peel procedure. First, your skin will be thoroughly cleansed. Then, the phenol solution is carefully applied. The solution starts working immediately to penetrate and exfoliate the skin. You might feel a slight burning sensation but don't worry, that's normal. Your surgeon will monitor the process closely to ensure your comfort. The treatment typically lasts about one to two hours, and it's done on an outpatient basis.
Post-Peel: After the procedure, your skin might feel a bit tender and look red, but this is a normal part of the healing process. Your surgeon will provide you with a detailed aftercare plan, which usually includes avoiding sun exposure and using specific skincare products to aid recovery. The initial healing period takes about 7-10 days; complete skin healing usually occurs within two weeks. But the real kicker? The results continue to improve over the following months as the skin tightens and improves in texture.
You should begin preparing your skin 2-3 weeks before the peel. This will require:
Cleansing your skin twice a day.
Applying a special moisturizer or cream once or twice a day.
Using sunscreen every day.
Depending on your case, daily use of Retin-A, a topical acne medicine, may be recommended to speed the healing process.
For medium to deep peels, a course of medication may be prescribed to prevent viral infection.
Following these steps will help the skin peel evenly, heal faster, and will reduce any risk of complications.
After the Peel
Depending on what type of peel you had, recovery time can vary. Caring for your skin properly following a peel includes:
Cleansing frequently with water, or with a doctor-prescribed cleanser.
For medium or deep peels, changing the dressing or applying ointment.
Moisturizing daily.
Avoiding the sun. Sunscreen should not be used until after peeling has stopped, but after that is should be used every day as new skin is highly susceptible to sun damage.
For a deep peel, oral painkillers, antiviral, and antibiotic medications are often prescribed.
It’s very important to care for your skin before and after a peel. Taking proper care of your skin will help you get the best possible results.
Why choose Cosmedical Rejvuenation Clinic
We take an honest approach to resolving your aesthetic issues, maintaining full transparency about the procedures, risks, and potential results. This ensures that you are aware and completely comfortable with your treatment plan. Based on decades of experience in non-surgical aesthetic medicine, we will assess your issues and provide a solution that will fully resolve them. Our unwavering commitment to achieving the beautiful, natural looking results you want will be appreciated.
Your safety and comfort are given utmost priority. We adhere strictly to medical standards and precautionary procedures, providing a safe and comfortable environment for your treatments.
We are conveniently located at Yonge and York Mills, on the second floor above the York Mills subway station and across from the GO station. There is plenty of parking on site.
