What to Expect Before and After Chemical Peel Treatment?

There are varying degrees of depth to choose from when getting a chemical peel; light, medium, and deep, and the depth of the peel will directly influence the total healing process and timeline. Following a medium and deep chemical peel treatment, the skin should be entirely healed over around 2 weeks following the appointment. During this healing process, it is very important that patients follow the instructions and recommendations provided by the specialist to ensure that the skin is able to heal properly to allow for flawless and beautiful results. While the new skin will be revealed and healed to the point where patients can once again safely apply makeup after 2 weeks, it is common for patients to experience some redness in the face for several months following the appointment. Makeup can be easily used at this point to conceal any unwanted redness. 

Most patients will need several “build-up” chemical treatments in order to achieve their desired results before being able to enjoy these results long-term. It is common to need around 4 to 6 initial chemical peel appointments, allowing for at least 1 to 2 months in between sessions to allow for the skin to heal entirely before the next treatment, but this number can change quite a bit depending on the original skin condition that is being treated, the severity of the skin condition, and the depth of the chemical peel being performed. Once the initial sessions have been completed, many patients will opt for a touch-up or maintenance appointment every 6 months, or 4 months if the chemical peels are being done to treat aging skin, to sustain their beautiful results for as long as they wish.

Chemical peels are an effective treatment for a variety of skin conditions, including reducing the appearance of acne scars, fine lines, and wrinkles, and improving the overall tone and texture of the skin. With this in mind, there are no real age limitations placed on who can receive a chemical peel, as long as the treatment is deemed a safe and appropriate option for the specific patient by a specialist. For teenagers or young adults that are wanting to treat mild scarring, and discoloration, or who just want a bit of a refreshed appearance to their skin, a light chemical peel may be exactly what they need. 

The deeper chemical peels will not likely be the appropriate option for younger patients, as they are more frequently used to treat deeper creasing and more significant discoloration such as age spots, making them a better option for patients in their 30s or older. One of the biggest factors that affects our skin is our age, so there is no age that is deemed best suited for a chemical peel, it simply depends on the condition of the skin and if a chemical peel is the right option for effective and safe treatment.

Chemical peels are an effective treatment option for reducing the appearance of scarring on the facial skin, most commonly used to treat acne scars. The depth of the scarring that is being treated will determine how intense the chemical peels need to be, with very mild acne scars often only needing a light or medium chemical peel treatment plan in order to achieve the desired results, and deeper chemical peels along with more treatments often been needed in order to treat more severe acne scars. Contact us today to book an appointment with our functional medicine doctor, or visit our clinic conveniently located at 490 Post St, Suite 1703, San Francisco CA 94102. We serve clients from San Francisco CA, Oakland CA, Pacifica CA, Brisbane CA, Millbrae CA, and San Francisco Bay Area CA.