Dermaplaning and chemical peels are each non-surgical cosmetic treatments used to rejuvenate the look and feel of the skin. There are various chemical peel options available, including light chemical peel, each tailored to address specific skin concerns and needs. Each serves a different purpose and may be administered independently of each other. However, many people opt for a combination dermaplaning and chemical peel service to optimize treatment outcome and achieve a smoother and more radiant complexion.
Did you know…
that the skin begins to lose its glow over time? This is because the skin’s natural shedding of dead cells slows with age, causing it to appear dull and lackluster. Though new, healthy skin exists below the surface, it is often masked by an old and uneven external layer of skin. These treatments are particularly effective in addressing issues such as uneven skin tone, fine lines, and dullness. Dermaplaning and chemical peel combination treatments help reveal healthy, glowing skin and restore a youthful appearance. A skin peel, in particular, can effectively remove dead skin cells and stimulate new growth, promoting skin rejuvenation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is dermaplaning and how does it remove dead skin cells?
Dermaplaning is a non-invasive procedure in which a blade is gently moved across a dry skin on the face, removing dead skin and evening out rough, dry skin. Dermaplaning is generally painless and can be performed as often as twice per month. In addition to removing the rough outer portion of the dermis, dermaplaning also helps to remove unwanted vellus hairs, also known as ‘peach fuzz’.
What are chemical peel treatments?
A chemical peel is an in-office procedure during which an acid solution is applied to the surface of the face. A chemical peel treatment involves applying an acid solution to the surface of the face. The type of chemical peel solution used can vary based on individual skin types and concerns. A medium chemical peel can have noticeable peeling effects while still maintaining minimal downtime, making it effective for achieving visible skin improvements without extensive recovery time. The solution is left on for a few minutes, after which time it is removed or neutralized. Most people experience some mild tingling during a chemical peel, which usually takes only a few minutes to complete. Following a chemical peel, the skin may ‘flake off’ for a couple of days before revealing newer, healthier looking skin beneath the surface. Proper chemical peel recovery is essential to minimize side effects and achieve the best results. Chemical peels are useful for improving the appearance of the skin and conditions like hyperpigmentation, fine lines, sun damage, acne scars and age spots.
Why get a combination dermaplaning and chemical peel?
While dermaplaning and chemical peels are effective apart, they work synergistically together. Dermaplaning helps to remove the outer layers of the skin, making the chemical solution in a chemical peel far more effective. Since dermaplaning enables the acid solution to reach deeper levels of the dermis, the chemical solution in a combination treatment is left on the skin for a shorter period of time than it is during a chemical peel alone. Dermaplaning can be combined with many different types of chemical peels, from mild glycolic and salicylic acid peels to stronger peels containing trichloroacetic acid (TCA), such as the TCA chemical peel. For more information about dermaplaning and chemical peels, contact our office to schedule a consultation.
What Are Chemical Peels?
Definition and purpose of chemical peels
Chemical peels are a non-invasive, non-surgical skin rejuvenation treatment that uses a chemical solution to remove the top layers of the skin, revealing smoother, brighter, and more even-toned skin. The primary purpose of a chemical peel is to improve the appearance of the skin by reducing fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation, while also enhancing skin texture and tone. By targeting these common skin concerns, chemical peels help to restore a youthful and radiant complexion.
Benefits of chemical peels for the skin
Chemical peels offer numerous benefits for the skin, including:
- Improved Skin Texture and Tone: Chemical peels help to smooth out rough patches and even out skin tone, giving your skin a more uniform appearance.
- Reduced Appearance of Fine Lines and Wrinkles: By promoting the shedding of dead skin cells and stimulating collagen production, chemical peels can minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Minimized Acne Scars and Hyperpigmentation: Chemical peels can significantly reduce the visibility of acne scars and areas of hyperpigmentation, leading to a clearer and more even complexion.
- Enhanced Skin Brightness and Radiance: The removal of the outermost layer of dead skin cells reveals fresher, more radiant skin underneath.
- Improved Skin Hydration and Elasticity: Chemical peels can enhance the skin’s ability to retain moisture, improving overall hydration and elasticity.
- Reduced Appearance of Pores: By exfoliating the skin and removing dead skin cells, chemical peels can help to minimize the appearance of enlarged pores.
How chemical peels work to remove dead skin cells
Chemical peels work by applying a chemical solution to the skin, which penetrates the top layers and causes the dead skin cells to separate and peel off. A light peel can be performed every 4-6 weeks and has minimal downtime. This process, known as desquamation, reveals smoother, brighter, and more even-toned skin. The chemical solution used in a chemical peel can vary in strength and type, depending on the individual’s skin type and concerns. By effectively removing the outer layer of dead skin cells, chemical peels promote the regeneration of new, healthy skin cells, resulting in a rejuvenated and refreshed appearance.
Types of Chemical Peels
Superficial Peels
Superficial peels, also known as light peels, are the mildest type of chemical peel. They are designed to remove the top layer of the skin, revealing brighter and smoother skin. Superficial peels are ideal for:
- Improving Skin Texture and Tone: Light peels help to smooth out rough patches and even out skin tone, giving your skin a more uniform appearance.
- Reducing the Appearance of Fine Lines and Wrinkles: By promoting the shedding of dead skin cells and stimulating collagen production, light peels can minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Minimizing Acne Scars and Hyperpigmentation: Light peels can significantly reduce the visibility of acne scars and areas of hyperpigmentation, leading to a clearer and more even complexion.
- Enhancing Skin Brightness and Radiance: The removal of the outermost layer of dead skin cells reveals fresher, more radiant skin underneath.
Superficial peels typically use a gentle chemical solution, such as glycolic acid or salicylic acid, and have little to no downtime. They can be performed every 4-6 weeks for optimal results, making them a convenient option for maintaining healthy, glowing skin.
Glycolic Peel and Illuminize Peel
The Glycolic Peel and Illuminize Peel are two popular chemical peel options that can help address various skin concerns. The Glycolic Peel is a superficial peel that uses glycolic acid to exfoliate the skin and promote collagen production. It is ideal for treating mild to moderate signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and dryness.
The Illuminize Peel, on the other hand, is a gentle peel that is suitable for all skin types. It is designed to provide vibrant-looking skin and brighten the overall appearance of the skin. The Illuminize Peel is the gentlest in the SkinMedica family and may be ideal for patients seeking chemical peel treatment for the first time.
Both peels are effective in improving skin texture and tone, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and promoting collagen production. They are also relatively quick and easy to administer, with minimal downtime required.
Medium-Depth Peels
Medium-depth peels are a type of chemical peel that penetrates deeper into the skin than superficial peels. They are designed to address more moderate to severe skin concerns, such as acne scars, uneven skin tone, and fine lines and wrinkles.
Medium-depth peels typically use a combination of alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) to exfoliate the skin and promote collagen production. They may cause some skin irritation, redness, and peeling, but these side effects are usually temporary and resolve on their own within a few days.
Some popular medium-depth peel options include the Vitalize Peel and the SkinCeuticals Smart TCA Peel. The Vitalize Peel is a medium-depth peel that is designed to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, smooth rough patches of skin, and improve uneven skin tone and texture. The SkinCeuticals Smart TCA Peel is a medium-depth peel that uses trichloroacetic acid (TCA) to exfoliate the skin and promote collagen production.
TCA Peel and VI Peel And VI Peel Precision Plus
The TCA Peel and VI Peel, along with the VI Peel Precision Plus, are powerful chemical peel options designed to tackle more severe skin concerns. The TCA Peel, which uses trichloroacetic acid, is particularly effective for treating deeper wrinkles, more pronounced acne scars, and significant sun damage. This medium-depth peel works by penetrating the middle layers of the skin to remove damaged skin cells and stimulate collagen production, resulting in a smoother, more youthful complexion.
The VI Peel and VI Peel Precision Plus are advanced chemical peels that combine TCA with other potent ingredients to address a variety of skin issues. The VI Peel is suitable for all skin types and is known for its ability to improve skin tone, texture, and clarity while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The VI Peel Precision Plus takes it a step further by targeting stubborn pigmentation and acne scarring, making it an excellent choice for those with more challenging skin concerns.
Both the TCA Peel and VI Peel options require some downtime for recovery, during which the skin may peel and flake as it heals. However, the results are often well worth the wait, with patients experiencing significant improvements in their skin’s overall appearance and health.
