Things to know before getting chemical peel on your body

With time, cosmetic treatments are gaining prominence among individuals concerned about the feel and appearance of the body. One such astounding treatment is “Chemical Peel,” which is usually for the face, neck, hands, or entire body. With the advancement in techniques and science, the safety factor and healing procedures are far better with satisfactory results.

What is Chemical Peel treatment?

In this treatment, a chemical solution (usually containing weak acids such as lactic acid, glycolic acid, and carbolic acid) is applied on your skin in small patches, which form a peel and then removed. This procedure will remove the upper layer of skin, which is more damaged and rough, unveiling the inner smooth and glowing skin.

Now you know, the Chemical Peel procedure involves the removal of the outermost layer of skin. That is accustomed to harsh conditions of the environment, mainly scorching sunlight. Therefore, the new skin will be more sensitive and requires due care. Otherwise, you might face severe skin problems or even infections or patches. Hence, to eliminate any potential complications, we should be aware of some measures beforehand.

This article reads various aspects to keep in mind before getting a Chemical peel on your body. But, first, let’s dive into the details.

Things to keep in mind before the procedure:

1. Keep Skin Healthy
   It is the fundamental point to consider if you opt for Chemical Peel treatment. As we already discussed, the procedure is a bit sensitive. You should always keep your skin treatment-ready by following some skincare routines. Thus, you can follow some home remedies like massaging your skin daily with milk or preparing a face pack out of natural ingredients found in your kitchen and applying it every two or three days. Otherwise, there are several excellent pre-treatments for the Chemical Peel, making your skin healthier, and therefore in pertinent shape. It is wise to consult a medical practitioner around two weeks before your Chemical Peel and follow in accordance with advice.

2. Be cautious and prevent potential complications
   As the procedure nearly exfoliates, removing the upper layer of skin, including the several risks. So, using a safe and effective peeling gel can prove to be a savior as it will enrich your skin with several micro-nutrients that your skin might be lacking, causing potential post-treatment problems. Besides, it also speeds up the Chemical Peel process and curtails the time of severe sensations and burning that you face afterward.

3. Increased risk of Hyperpigmentation (usually observed in Dark-skinned individuals)
   Hyperpigmentation is one of the post-treatment side-effects that happen significantly less frequently. There is a higher risk of pigmentation for individuals with dark skin. As the skin is removed, unveiling the new skin, the dark spots rooted beside the old skin are more likely to pop up afterward. Hence, a medical practitioner advises applying Skin brighteners on the skin for over a week. This would readily suppress the production of Melanin, reducing its concentration in your skin.

Further, it considerably mitigates the risk of Hyperpigmentation, if any. Experts recommend applying bleaching agents such as hydroquinone. It evens out your skin tone and reduces the risk of pigmentation after the procedure. The procedure is followed for weeks before Chemical Peel treatment.

Before and After gallery.

1. What not to expect
   There are myriads of criticisms roaming around about Chemical Peel. The individuals opting for Chemical Peel treatment are generally with unrealistic expectations. They tend to envision that the results will effectively disappear the marks and other persisting complications in one go.

The persisting spots and marks have gradually pervaded the lower layers of skin over the years. However, the chemical peel usually removes the upper layer at a time. To be precise, the “Chemical Peel” treatment will eventually help smoothen, brighten, and tighten your skin.

1. You might need Multiple Sessions
   While rummaging through the internet and gleaning every possible aspect of this treatment, you can discover many patients grumbling about unsatisfactory results. A large percentage has undergone only one session of this treatment. This is because the upper layer of skin is flayed with one session allowing time for the skin to heal.

So, multiple sessions of Chemical peel are required to achieve desired results. You should consult your certified professional performing the treatment and medical practitioner separately. They would examine your skin health and consult you accordingly. The second and skin specialist opinion will be of great help and give you extra insight into the whole procedure.

1. Chemical peel solution that suits your skin
   The Chemical Peel includes the treatment with a solution containing several types of acids, including Lactic acid, Tretinoin dissolved in propylene glycol (Retinoids), glycolic acid, salicylic acid, trichloroacetic acid, and Carbolic acid.

While consulting your certified professional, ask them to check which type of solution will be used on the skin, and therefore better discern which composition of solutions will best suit the skin. They might perform the therapy on small areas of your skin.

When to Avoid Chemical Peel treatment

Surely, the treatment ensures an enhanced appearance for several skin types. It is considered a panacea by individuals dissatisfied with the roughness and texture of the skin. However, not everyone comes out as a suitable candidate for this cosmetic treatment. Below we have enumerated some conditions according to which some individuals might face adverse effects.

• Individuals with the personal or hereditary problem of scar tissue abnormalities, for example, Keloid Scars.
• Women who are actively trying to get pregnant, nursing, or breastfeeding
• People with the type of lifestyle and work propelling them to spend most of their day in direct sun exposure
• Persons who are actively taking isotretinoin treatment for their persisting acne problem of skin
• People with sore skin or any other chronic skin complication
• Persons with lesions on their skin or any other untreatable infections requiring daily skincare and medications
• Individuals having dark skin tone are also inapt for this cosmetic treatment, as they have an increased risk of Hyperpigmentation afterward.

Things to follow Post-Treatment

Just after the treatment for a few hours, you will notice a tingling and burning sensation. The after-effects of treatment like slight swelling, dryness, and irritation come to notice in around 4-5 days. Besides, your skin will peel out as flakes. It is the step where your old and undesired layer of skin is removed. You might notice discolorations and a changed skin tone. However, after a week, all these side effects will dwindle. It will take over a month to attain your normal yet smooth skin.

This phase is crucial and requires special care to obviate potential problems through some measures. Some of them are listed below.

1. Stay hydrated
   The most important thing is to drink as much water as possible, speeding up the healing process.

2. If there is a severe peeling on your skin, immediately consult your medical practitioner. They might apply some dressing and advise some medications for the same. Antivirals, Antibacterial, and painkillers are usual medications.

3. Clean your skin gently with some cool water and a cleanser. Then, after applying moisturizer at least twice a day to retain moisture and aid in the healing process.

4. When your skin is flaky, avoid picking at it. It might lead to severe scars or infections due to the transfer of pathogens. Besides, wear smooth and silky clothes that are not harsh on your sensitive skin.

5. Using Sunscreen is a vital measure to tackle direct exposure to sunlight. Avoid using chemical sunscreens. The UV (A and B rays) blockers available in the market. These form a non-toxic layer on the skin blocking the maximum amount of sunlight.

6. Lastly, you should spend most of your time at home resting. Avoid outdoors for at least two weeks. Plan your month beforehand while taking off from the office or other work.

7. Be Patient

Do not panic if your skin shows redness and other problems mentioned above. Instead, be happy and chill, as it will help you heal fast. Satisfying results takes time.

Final Words

In brief, the fundamental aspects of Chemical Peel mentioned above will have given you the detailed concept of Chemical Peel treatment. The process renews your skin giving it a juvenile and healthful appearance. Suppose you are considering opting for this cosmetic treatment to alleviate your long remaining skin problems. You need to be well-versed with the entire procedure. Go to only an experienced medical practitioner. At ShineMD, we have years of experience in treating the skin and understanding the requirements of every person.

Contact our team for consultation if you have concerns as skin is a significant part of our body.

Having an apt and precise understanding of the procedure and its effects will help you discern the situation and make prudent decisions. Our team for Chemical Peel in Houston location assures not only the best treatment but also an after consultation where you will be satisfied post-treatment in understanding your skin better.

Trust us to prove to you that life is not perfect, but your skin can be! 

Here at ShineMD Medspa & Liposuction Centre in Houston, TX, we give you chemical peel solutions. So, please book an appointment with us today and get a one-on-one consultation with the best board-certified chemical peel specialists in town. You can call us at 832.509.5099 to schedule an appointment also. Read ahead, and we’ll walk you through everything you need to know—one step at a time.