Many people hear the term “chemical peel” and make two false assumptions. Firstly, they think this treatment actually “peels” away the skin. Secondly, they think that “chemical” means something extremely harsh or even toxic. Neither is true. Chemical peels do not peel away anything; they simply dissolve and exfoliate the uppermost layer of the epidermis, revealing a new layer of rejuvenated skin. In fact, you can undergo a chemical peel during your lunch break and return to work that very afternoon without anybody being the wiser - although you may receive comments on how your skin glows and has that “healthy” look. You may hear that anybody can do a chemical peel procedure. As with any procedure involving your skin, a prudent approach is to trust your care to a trained professional. Peels are used to treat a variety of skin conditions—fine lines, age spots and uneven pigmentation, acne and acne scarring. Deciding which peel is right for your very particular skin type and condition should be made only with the help of an experienced and knowledgeable professional who can give you sage advice about all the options available.
TCA PEELS
Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peels are considered medium-depth peels. They reach slightly deeper into the skin than alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) peels--and can produce better results, depending on the concentration of the acid. These peels also have the advantage of being suitable for most skin types, including darker-toned skin.
THE TREATMENT
A TCA peel generally takes 15 to 30 minutes. The exact length of treatment will depend on how many "coats" of the acid are applied to your skin. First, your skin will be cleansed and degreased. Then the acid will be applied. You’ll experience a slight stinging sensation during the 2 to 3 minutes the solution remains on your skin. Within a few days, your skin will tighten and darken--and then begin to crack and slough off for the next 4 to 7 days--at which point the tighter, smoother and more youthful-looking layer of skin will emerge.
Your skin’s newly formed outer layer will be temporarily more susceptible to sunburn. You must protect it with an effective broad spectrum sunscreen SPF 30 sunscreen for several weeks. Daily use of a sunscreen on exposed areas is the basis for good skin care. Many of you have most likely heard our take on sunscreens and how zinc oxide ones are the best, if not check out our release on the Perils of Not Screening your Sunscreen in our In The News section of our website.
Enjoy your treatment and write in to tell us about your experience!
Sara's Perspective
The fall in Canada is always a great time of the year. You get to experience that first chill outside and pull out your favourite sweaters. If you are like me, you get a break from the intense heat of the summers in a big city. No matter how diligent you are in your sun care, the wears and tears that summer can bring are hard on your skin. I always manage to accumulate a couple more freckles and I get a slightly greater build-up of dead skin. All of that means that it is time to rev up exfoliating your skin and just perk up your skin cells that can become a bit sluggish.
I frequently get oxygenating masks, especially in the transition between the seasons. They involve layering a series of topical products that include natural enzymes found within the body that are analogous to an oil change for your cells. Sometimes when you need something more involved, chemical peels are actually a fairly gentle way of completely removing the dead cells and exposing the living ones in the epidermis.
Now I have never gotten a facial before so I can't fairly comment on their effectiveness but chemical peels are much more focused on delivering therapeutic results. This time around, Karina elected to use the PCA Sensi Peel on me since it had been a while since my last one. With peels, you layer the treatments over top of each other depending on what degree of actual exfoliation you are looking for and how much your skin can tolerate. I just wanted a gentle sloughing but I have seen some get what I call the 'sheet' effect where sheets of skin come delicately off. The actual peel itself should not really be all the uncomfortable. Typically, whoever is applying the peel will ask the wonderful question, "On a scale of 1-10 , what is your comfort level?" A ten would be an "Oh god, this hurts": I was a five by the end and just tried to fan away the stinging.
That evening I went home pretty normal looking but a little shiny from the post-peel products you are meant to apply. I actually looked pretty glowing for the first day afterwards and it was only on the night of the second day that I started to get that tight sensation and a little flaking. Flaky skin is a pet peeve of mine since it is really impossible to cover. I always suggest getting a peel on a Wednesday so that by Friday night, you are home and you can hide out for the weekend. If you have to go out, wear a ball cap and big sunglasses and then you look like a movie star in hiding. It also pays to apply the post-creams when you feel tight. Finally, avoid temptation and do not pull at your skin. I have a skin type III (i.e. I tend to tan quite easily and burn rarely) so I produce excess pigment with any kind of trauma which could happen if you rip the skin and create a scab. If you would like, you can use the pads of your fingertips in the shower to gently remove the dead skin.
I'm pretty happy with the results. My residual freckles have faded. My skin is noticeably smoother. I also noticed that when I apply my make-up the finish is even nicer than normal. Plus I got a 'you look nice' from my boyfriend, which is always bonus.