Aging Skin But Not Ready for Needles? Try a Chemical Peel
What to Know About Chemical Peels
Surface Level Work
When fine lines and wrinkles start to show on the face, some of us might start wondering if a corrective treatment is the answer. You might not be in need of needle-applied procedures, which are much more powerful options. A chemical peel might be enough to deeply exfoliate your skin and help diminish any lines that have started to form.
What Does a Chemical Peel Do?
Wrinkles are caused by a buildup of dead skin around and along a crease, where skin will grow over and make the crease deeper if not properly exfoliated. A chemical peel is a topical exfoliant and helps remove the top layers of dead skin and buildup. This exposes the healthiest outer layers of skin, evening the surface texture and tone.
You dermatologist applies a solution that is designed specifically for your skin type and the intended result. The solution helps dissolve dead skin by breaking the bonds between the cells, lifting them more easily when the solution is removed. It can be made for a light, superficial refresher, or it can be made stronger for deeper penetration. Your dermatologist will perform an examination prior to the peel procedure, and depending on the need, you might have multiple sessions over several months. Some people schedule their appointments once every few months for regular maintenance.
Why Not a Needle Procedure?
If you’re still young, or if you are mature and desiring a less invasive wrinkle reduction, a chemical peel might be better for you than an injectable treatment like Botox or dermal fillers. These are much deeper solutions that target the dermal layer of skin below the epidermis (the outermost layer). The epidermis grows out of the dermal tissue, and these needle-applied skin treatments seek to add volume to a specified area (in the case of fillers) or stillness from relaxation (in the case of Botox). While they can help reduce deep wrinkles by adding fullness below the epidermis, a surface-level treatment is better for newer, more shallow wrinkles.
Prevention, Maintenance, and Corrective Treatments
When it comes to wrinkles, exfoliating at home is an everyday tactic for wrinkle prevention. Keeping dead cells from building up in the first place will put off the development of wrinkles to a more mature age. A good diet, drinking lots of water, and a regular skincare routine are essential skin maintenance that will help your skin stave off the development of wrinkles itself. Hydrated, moisturized skin is better able to perform its functions and grow new, healthy skin below the surface.
Professional Skincare Treatments
When wrinkles do set in and are too stubborn to remove with home treatments, a dermatologist can perform a chemical peel facial treatment that is gentler and custom-calibrated to your specific needs. They’ll determine this based on the reason your wrinkles are starting to show: if it was from a lack of fullness in your skin, that would be a good reason for a Botox injection or a dermal filler. If your epidermis is just in need of exfoliation, a chemical peel is an easier, less invasive solution.
Schedule an examination with one of our dermatologists to find out what kind of a chemical peel is right for you!