Chemical Peels
Customizable Skin Resurfacing in the Denver Area
Chemical peels at the Denver area’s AboutSkin Dermatology are used to exfoliate the outer layer of the skin by controlled application of salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or Jessner’s solution. With different combinations and strengths of ingredients, our aesthetic team providers can customize treatments. Depending on desired downtime, there are light, medium, and deep peels. Light and medium peels (just a few days of downtime, usually) can be beneficial for most skin types in people with acne and mild-moderate sun-damage. Deeper peels (more downtime) are used for wrinkles and scarring.
With chemical peels, studies show significant improvement of acne lesions, as well as help with skin texture and pigmentation. Peels do not replace topical or systemic medicines, but they are very effective in enhancing and speeding the resolution of acne breakouts. They can be used to improve hyperpigmentation associated with acne or other conditions, and can safely be used in people with darker skin types. Our own Dr. Joel Cohen has written extensively on chemical peels for several scientific/academic medical journals.
How Do Chemical Peels Work?
Since many signs of aging and damage are found in the surface of the skin, removing that layer can provide a “cleaner slate” for women and men seeking rejuvenation. A chemical peel does just that: helps to improve overall skin quality (texture, lines, brown spots, etc.).
After a chemical peel, you should expect some degree of redness, dryness, burning, and crusting—all of which are temporary and depend on the strength of your peel. Chemical peels can be used in combination with microdermabrasion, laser, and light treatments to enhance their results.
Chemical peels are recommended every four to six weeks to achieve and maintain maximal results, often with minimal downtime when lighter “frost” peels are performed—so only a little red or dry for a few days. The rejuvenated skin will have a radiant glow, with improved texture and tone as well.
What Types of Chemical Peels Are Available?
There are many types of chemical peels, differing in terms of strength and the amount of time they are left in contact with the skin. The typical chemical peel range is light, medium, and deep. Lighter peels require minimal downtime after, yielding results that “refine” the surface of the skin by smoothing out wrinkles, clearing acne, evening out tone, and providing a glow. Medium-depth peels work their way down to the dermis (underlying layer of skin), addressing more severe wrinkles and tone, as well as acne scars.
Deep chemical peels penetrate to the lowest dermis layer, improving the appearance of more dramatic scars and lesions. The deeper the peel, the more dramatic the results—and the more significant the recovery time needed for healing following the session. Healing from a light peel usually takes three to four days while healing from a medium peel can take about a week, though residual redness may take longer to fully resolve. It can often take two weeks for new skin to grow in and cover the treated areas after a deep peel. It is important to avoid sun exposure after any peel, as the skin will be especially sensitive and more prone to getting hyperpigmented or sun damaged.
What Other Resurfacing and Rejuvenation Options Are Available?
For some conditions, laser treatments can be an alternative to chemical peels. With lasers, the targets like brown spots are more specific, so treatment often involves less downtime than a peel (ex: Q-switched, Laser BBL, or IPL). Ablative fractional laser treatments remove skin from the surface while non-ablative options rejuvenate tissues from the inside.
Other rejuvenating treatments include MaxG intense pulsed light (IPL), Broad Band Light (Forever Young BBL), pulsed dye laser (PDL), Genius® RF, Ultherapy®, thulium laser, dermal-infusion microdermabrasion, and microneedling. Talk to the AboutSkin Dermatology team to determine which treatment is best for your specific needs.
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Greenwood Village Office
5340 South Quebec ST., STE. 300 (South Entrance)
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Sky Ridge Medical Center
10099 Ridgegate Parkway, Ste. 490 (Conifer Building)
Lone Tree, CO 80124