Almost everyone experiences uneven skin tone, blemishes, or wrinkles at some point. Although these changes are normal, they can make it hard for patients to feel confident about their looks. At Worcester Dermatology Associates in Worcester, MA, we offer several kinds of Chemical Peels Worcester to customers who would like to achieve smooth, even skin.
How Do Chemical Peels Worcester Work?
A chemical peel is a treatment that aims to remove the top layer of skin and replace it with fresh, healthy cells. It involves applying a substance that breaks down the tissues in the treatment area. There are several types of peels. While some are designed to address small problems like an uneven skin tone, others are meant to remove severe sun damage or precancerous cells.
What Is the Process Like?
The treatment process depends on the kind of peel you’ve chosen. A light peel doesn’t take long, but you might have to come to the clinic several times to experience excellent results. You won’t feel any pain, and you don’t have to spend a long time recovering after the appointment. A medium peel is a little more invasive, so you might need to spend a day or two recovering at home.
A deep peel is meant to help patients get rid of extreme blemishes and signs of aging. It takes the skin several weeks to fully recover from this treatment, but it’s unlikely that more than one session is necessary. A few weeks after their initial appointment, we usually ask patients to return, so we can check on their progress and determine whether additional treatment is necessary.
Who Should Get a Chemical Peel?
Almost anyone can benefit from a light chemical peel because it addresses mild skin issues. As mentioned, this treatment is minimally invasive, so people don’t need to change their routines or cancel other events. However, we only recommend moderate and deep peels to people who have significant damage because the treatments involve a longer recovery time.
When you first come to see us, we’ll analyze your face to determine whether you’re a good candidate and what kind of peel could be right for you. We can only treat you if you are free from infections and don’t have serious health issues. Some medications are incompatible with a chemical peel, so we’ll ask you what drugs you’ve been taking in the past six months.
Light Peels
A light peel is great for most people because it doesn’t require a lengthy recovery time. The active ingredient is usually alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). It removes the top layer of the skin, called the epidermis, and stimulates the production of collagen in the lower layer.
The best candidates are those who have mild sun damage, minor wrinkles and lines, or an uneven texture in the facial area. Patients with rough or dry skin are also eligible. Most people need four to six appointments to experience full results.
Medium Peels
Medium peels are similar to light peels, but the active ingredient, called trichloroacetic acid (TCA), is more aggressive. Patients who’ve had a medium peel often need to spend three to five days recovering, but they experience more significant results than those who have had a light peel.
Some of the issues that can be addressed include blotchy skin, moderate sun damage, and more significant blemishes. After the damaged skin layer has been removed, a new, evenly toned epidermis grows back. Sometimes, medium peels have to be repeated, but patients often see great results after their first treatment.
Deep Peels
If you have precancerous growths, serious sun damage, or deep lines and wrinkles on your face, we might recommend a deep peel. This treatment is more intense because the active ingredient, phenol, removes both the top and the middle layers of your skin. We might ask you to follow a pre-treatment skincare routine for several weeks to help prepare for a deep peel.
Afterward, you have to spend several weeks recovering from the treatment. During this time, exposure to sunlight must be avoided. It’s important that you always choose a trusted doctor like Dr. Seth Kates when getting a deep peel because this treatment could be dangerous if administered by someone who isn’t properly qualified.
Is the Chemical Peel Suitable for All Skin Types?
Light peels work very well on all skin types, but deep peels aren’t suitable for people who have dark skin because phenol sometimes lightens the tissues. Before allowing you to take part in treatment, we’ll check that your skin is in good condition. If your scars are darker than the rest of your face, you have a history of abnormal scarring, or you have sensitive skin, we might need to choose an alternative.
Achieve Beautiful and Smooth Skin Now
Chemical peels Worcester work by removing the top layer of your skin and encouraging the lower layers to produce more of the structural protein collagen. When new skin grows back, it’s smoother and more even than before. There are several types of peels, and they offer different results. Get in touch with us at Worcester Dermatology Associates in Worcester, MA to book your assessment and find out which peel works best for you.