CHEMICAL PEELS

Chemical Peels to Counteract the Effects of Face Masks

Many people who never had acne or clogged pores before, are now experiencing these skin problems due to the effects of wearing facial masks during the coronavirus pandemic. And, people who had pre-existing problems are finding that face masks are aggravating these already frustrating skin conditions.

The good news is that an affordable and relaxing Chemical Peel treatment in our Troy, MI area med spa can counteract the effects of wearing masks – for glowing, clear skin.  In addition to overall exfoliation, breakout reduction and pore unclogging, facial peels can also treat imperfections due to aging, acne, sun exposure or hyperpigmentation.

History of Chemical Peels

Though chemical peels actually date back as far as the mid-1800s, this skin rejuvenation procedure became more sophisticated and more popular in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. When “Sex and the City’s” notorious character Samantha underwent her own chemical peel, awareness of the procedure grew even more. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2017 alone, approximately 1.4 million chemical peels were conducted!

It’s important to understand that not every chemical peel is identical to the other. Chemical peels are classified as superficial, medium-depth and deep. Each with their own benefits.

How Masks Aggravate Skin Conditions

During stressful situations the body’s increases production of the stress hormone “cortisol” – which stimulates increased production of oil. This can clog pores and worsen existing acne – as well as cause new breakouts in people who normally do not suffer from acne.

And, because masks are designed to keep germs out and moisture in, the masks only serve to keep this pore-blocking oil within the skin. As a result many people are experiencing pimples and acne eruptions from wearing masks. Additionally, when worn for long periods of time, the masks can cause abrasions and redness of the skin. Fortunately, chemical peels are an affordable skin care procedure available in our Troy, MI area med spa that can reverse the negative effects of mask wearing.

Light Chemical Peels

Superficial chemical peels – sometimes called “lunchtime peels” have a short recovery time, and are the most gentle of them all.

Patients can immediately resume normal activities, with only the possibility of slight redness lasting up to 20 or 30 minutes. The only other secondary effect may be that of mild flaking or dry skin.

Superficial peels can help minimize fine lines, unclog pores, and reduce discoloration and dark spots. They can also help rejuvenate the skin’s elasticity. Planning ahead before a special occasion to have a light chemical peel can give you a refreshed and glowing look on the big day – without having to worry about downtime.

Medium Chemical Peels

Medium-depth peels generally use a low concentration of trichloroacetic acid, or a similar chemical formula. These types of peels usually use a form of the acid that isn’t neutralized. Because of their strength, they aren’t typically available in salons and are only available in to medical professionals for use in a clinical setting.

Medium-depth peels can help treat skin that has deeper lines, a significant amount of photo damage, discoloration caused by the sun, mild to moderate acne scars, and/or bags or dark circles under the eyes.

It can take up to a week afterwards to recover completely from a medium chemical peel. Although it isn’t painful, skin remains red and tender, and must be treated with ointment while healing.

Many people avoid going out in public for the first few days after a chemical peel, until the redness and flaking subsides. It’s a great procedure to schedule on a Friday – so skin has the opportunity to heal over the weekend.

Deep Chemical Peels

The deepest peels target more serious skin issues such as deeper acne scars and pitting, lines that are more deeply etched, severe sun damage and even looseness of the skin.

Typical “downtime” for deep chemical peels is about a week to 10 days. While patients can resume normal daily activities, they need to avoid sun exposure, excessive sweating, and wearing makeup until the skin heals. So, many patients prefer to take a little time off work until the redness subsides.

Additionally, deep-depth peels may not be suitable for those with darker skin tones, as they could result in scarring or hyperpigmentation. For these patients, we offer other skin resurfacing treatments that work well on darker skin tones, such as Fraxel skin resurfacing.

Best Chemical Peels – Troy, MI

Schedule a consultation at our Birmingham, MI Med Spa and we will help you select the perfect chemical peel for your skin type, aesthetic goals and lifestyle. Whether you are interested in treating the adverse effects of mask wearing, reversing the signs of aging or wish to eliminate scarring, dark spots or sun damage, we have the right chemical peel for you!

Chemical Peels Troy, MI area Med Spa: 248.335.7200