Facial Peels

Facial Peels Smithtown

Facial peels use various chemicals to improve the texture and tone of your skin. These treatments remove the outer layers of damaged skin tissue and reveal new, smoother skin underneath. Chemical peels come in light, medium, and deep intensities to improve acne, pigmentation, wrinkles, facial scarring, and other skin concerns. At Landsman Plastic Surgery, facial peels are adjusted to fit your unique needs with specially formulated topical solutions.

How Chemical Peels Work

The surface layer of skin (epidermis) may be dull and rough and accentuate skin imperfections, such as acne, scarring, and skin discoloration. Chemical peels slough off the dead skin cells from the epidermis to reveal fresh, new skin tissue. A topical chemical is brushed onto the skin to exfoliate the tissues, and the skin peels away after the treatment. The exfoliation process stimulates collagen production and removes layers of sun-damaged tissue.

Chemical peels are typically performed in a series of treatments spaced one or more months apart until you reach your desired results, and then maintenance facial peels are necessary. Dryness and flaking are expected, and patients must avoid retin-A or retinol products before and after a chemical peel. The newly exposed skin tissue is more sensitive to sun exposure, so patients should avoid direct sunlight and wear sunscreen for at least one week after a chemical peel.

Facial peels can complement other skincare treatments, such as microneedling and microdermabrasion, and enhance facelift results.

Facial Peel Procedure

Facial peels begin with cleansing the face and brushing a chemical solution onto the skin. A light peel leaves the acid on the skin for several minutes before it’s washed off. Light peels typically cause mild stinging sensations during treatment and may not have noticeable flaking while the skin heals.

A medium facial peel penetrates the epidermis and the upper mid-layer of the skin (dermis). The more intensive treatment may cause the skin to appear grey or white with a burning or moderate stinging sensation as the acid penetrates deeper skin layers. A cool saline compress neutralizes the chemical after a medium peel. The skin starts to flake within 48 hours and may peel for up to a week. Medium facial peels typically cause skin redness or a brownish color during recovery.

Deep facial peels involve a more intensive treatment and recovery. You may be given a topical retinoic acid to apply to your face before the chemical peel to help the acid reach the deep skin tissues, and a local anesthetic may be used to ease discomfort during the procedure. The acid solution is brushed on in layers at specific time intervals, then neutralized with water, and a thick ointment is spread on the skin to protect the tissues and avoid dryness. These treatments, which reach through the epidermis to the dermis using phenol chemicals, require a longer recovery (up to two weeks) but lead to dramatic, long-lasting results (up to 10 years). Only one deep facial peel is typically needed.

Types of Facial Peels

Facial peels may use several types of acids. Salicylic acid (beta hydroxy) peels are often used on acne-prone skin to clear away blemishes caused by bacteria. Lactic acid peels may be used to improve dry skin and pigmentation concerns, and lactic acid works well with microdermabrasion. Salicylic and lactic acids are generally used in light facial peels for gentle exfoliation to smooth superficial wrinkles and address dull skin, acne, and hyperpigmentation.

Glycolic acid (alpha hydroxy) peels rejuvenate dull skin with rapid exfoliation and work on all skin types for medium chemical peels. Jessner peels with retinoic acid and trichloroacetic acid (TCA) are also best for medium peels and address moderate to severe rhytids (wrinkles), facial scarring, and uneven skin tone. Medium peels improve collagen production and skin elasticity.

Deep peels use carbolic acid (phenol) to drastically improve severe wrinkles, blotchy skin, pre-cancerous growths, sun damage, and facial scarring. These peels are applied in layers at timed intervals because phenol can harm the liver and kidneys.

Schedule Your Chemical Peel at Landsman Plastic Surgery

Learn more about your skincare treatment options and discover which chemical peel will work best for your unique needs. Schedule an appointment at Landsman Plastic Surgery in Smithtown, New York, at (631) 864-4111.