PEELS

Exfoliation is key to having smoother skin. Peels are the best way to exfoliate your skin. They can help stimulate collagen for a more youthful skin, while also reversing sun damage and adding antioxidant benefits to the skin.

Peels are great for a variety of skin conditions such as acne, large pores, congestion, hyper-pigmentation, fine lines, deeper wrinkles and acne marks. They exfoliate the upper layers and some deeper layers of skin, to reveal smoother, more even toned skin. The pores will look more refined and the skin will appear firmer.

There are many formulations on the market with varying results. The type of peel, its strength, PH level, and the amount of time it is left on the skin will determine how it works, and how aggressive it is.

The word "Peel" is a misconception, as not all Peels actually make your skin Peel. Peeling is a side effect of a Peel, and isn't always necessary to get a desired result. Milder peels are very effective and do not damage the skin in order to get good cells to come to the surface and regenerate your skin. More sessions may be needed to get the result you want with each treatment making the skin look better.  If you never had a peel before it is always best to start with a milder Peel and then move up to a more aggressive Peel if needed, so as not to shock your skin. This can help to prevent or reduce some of the side effects, as your skin becomes accustom and builds some tolerance to the ingredients in a Peel's formulation.

There are many types of Peels such as Fruit acids AHAs, which are acids that come from fruits and most tend to be mild like Citrus, Tartaric, Malic, and lactic acid that comes from dairy, and some fruits or vegatables like pumpkin. Glycolic acid from sugar, normally being stronger. Salicylic acid which is derived from the bark of a willow tree, is used a lot to treat breakouts and acne. Some times various acids are mixed together to achieve better results or for a more intense exfoliation. Peels formulated from chemicals, Retinoids (vitamin A) and some Fruit acid peels with low Ph levels can work on deeper layers of skin, giving dramatic results, but require downtime, as your skin will need time to heal. The side effects can be harsh. Most thick skins can handle deeper peels better.

If you can get away with using a milder peel to get your results then why take a chance on a stronger Peel that has risks. Risks from trauma to the skin can result in hyper-pigmentation (darker skin), hypo-pigmentation (lighter skin), scarring, dilated capillaries which make the skin appear red, and thinner skin, in the long run can make you wrinkle and age faster.

With so many Chemical Peel options, there is a Peel out there for every type of skin and skin condition. The technology used now a days is better than in the past and much safer, so long as the technician knows what they are doing and are careful. Always avoid the sun before and for several weeks after a peel, even if it is mild, otherwise you can cause more damage to the skin, and defeat the purpose for getting a peel to begin with. Keep in mind that an aggressive peel is not always better, especially in the long run. Have patients, play it safe, and choose a milder, antioxidant rich, fruit acid Peel, with minimal or no side effects, and long term benefits!