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Norwood Clinic:

How Does a Peel Work?

So we’ve told you all about the different ZO® Signature Peels we offer, but how does a peel in itself work to achieve skin rejuvenation? If you’re feeling apprehensive about getting a facial peel, it can help to know what exactly they are. Learn what a chemical peel entails and how it manages to give you revitalised and youthful skin.

An Overview on Peels

A chemical peel is very simply a chemical solution that can be applied to the skin. It is designed to give a deeper exfoliation than your average at-home scrub, to help actually peel off the damaged upper layer of skin to reveal new, revitalised skin underneath.

Chemical Peel Benefits

Peels are one of the most effective ways to treat signs of ageing, discoloration and UV damage. Commonly used for the face, chemical peels can also be used on the body such as the neck and hands. They can be used to correct and reduce conditions such as a damaged skin surface, pigmentation, uneven texture, lines and wrinkles. They can not only reverse these skin problems but also increase the overall health of the skin.

Peels go beyond exfoliation to provide dermal and epidermal stimulation that help stabilise skin functions and support skin renewal. Designed to improve and correct a wide range of skin disorders, each treatment helps to achieve a specific skincare goal for every patient’s skin condition, lifestyle and skin health objective.

Are Peels Painful?

Chemical peels do sting but do not cause an extensive amount of pain. It’s a discomfort but you should not worry about experiencing unbearable levels of pain. Your tolerance is generally built up, with your skin health professional but you should always speak to them openly about what you can and cannot tolerate.

peel

Types of Peels

There are three basic levels of intensity when it comes to peels; superficial, medium and deep. The intensity of the peel is entirely down to you, in terms of what improvement you want to see, the downtime you can afford to take and the level of irritation you can tolerate.

Superficial peels

These peels only penetrate and gently exfoliate the outer layer of skin (the epidermis). It’s suitable for mild skin discoloration, rough skin and for general skin rejuvenation. Your skin may feel tight for a couple of hours afterwards but will return to normal following this. However, due to the mildness of this peel, regular treatment is needed to maintain its effects. 

Medium peels

This peel can penetrate the outer and middle layers of skin to remove damaged skin cells. This type of peel can be used to improve skin pigmentation such as freckles and age spots in addition to moderate skin discoloration, fine lines and wrinkle. It also can be used to smooth rough skin and treat skin growths such as actinic keratosis (chicken skin). With a medium intensity peel, you may experience a slight stinging sensation when the peel is applied. Your skin may also go slightly brown or red in the days following the treatment and can take up to 6 weeks to return to normal. Although, you only need to return every 6 – 12 months to maintain its benefits.

Deep peels

This level of intensity is the most aggressive treatment that targets the deeper layers of skin. You can expect to see a dramatic improvement in your skin with this peel as it can help remove tougher skin problems such as melasma, deeper wrinkles and scars. This peel can cause some discomfort and visible peeling for a few days. Swelling can last up to 2 weeks, whilst skin redness can take up to 3 months to diminish. However, it all depends on the individual and your skin’s level of tolerance. Which is why it is so important to speak openly with your skin health professional and discuss the best option for you. Note that this peel can only be performed once.