Chemical Peels 101
Have you heard people touting the benefits of chemical peels but aren’t sure exactly what they do? Kathe Malinowski, lead esthetician and marketing manager for Eterna MedSpa & Laser Vein Center, lays out what you need to know about the treatments.“A chemical peel chemically sheds the top layer of the dead skin cells,” she said.In turn, that helps to rid the skin of fine lines, hyperpigmentation, acne and redness.
At Eterna, clients will find a variety of chemical peel options geared toward their skin types and conditions.
Lactic acid peels, for instance, are best suited for mild skin problems, as they tend to be more gentle than other chemical peels.
“It’s a very superficial chemical peel...a good one if you are new to them,” Malinowski said.
Other varieties include salicylic acid peels which help with breakouts, glycolic skin peels that target premature signs of aging, and mandelic acid peels which are specifically formulated for patients who experience redness or sensitivity on a regular basis. Pyruvic acid peels are ideal for those clients experiencing premature skin aging, acne blemishes, and mild hyperpigmentation, while the Jessner peel, made up of salicylic acid, lactic acid and resorcinol, is geared toward those individuals who battle comedogenic and inflammatory acne, hyperpigmentation, actinic keratosis, general hyperkeratosis, and chronic and photoaging.
TCA chemical peels, known as trichloroethanoic acid, can also help reduce skin discoloration. Eterna offers the TCA Light peel for lighter hyperpigmentation, and the TCA Strong peel for severe hyperpigmentation.
The peels should be done in a series of three to five treatments, depending on which option.
“The time between the peels are different depending on the protocol of the peel,” Malinowski said.
But all can improve your skin's appearance.
“I am a firm believer in chemical peels,” Malinowski said.