Peel Season is Here!!!

We are about 2 days away from fall! And we get a full moon along with the official day. :)
I love fall for so many reasons! The beautiful color changes in the leaves, the crisp air, pumpkins, fall fashion, and PEELS! Spring and fall are the perfect times to get peel treatments. Time to shed the summer and get ready for a radiant winter.
Have you had facial peels before? I would love to know your experiences with peel treatments.
With the proper at home care these treatments can be very productive for many types of skin concerns. My personal favorite skin to work with is acne. But, with any epidermal focus comes imperative communication between the technician and the client at hand.
Allergies MUST be covered. That means food allergies, medications, etc. The clients Fitzpatrick scale is another imperative piece of information necessary to create a proper client profile.

So, what is a peel? How do they work? These are very common questions I hear. I also notice a timidness clients have to receive a facial peel. Not all peels are created equal. There are many different solution strength levels and combinations.
But, lets start with the basics. Peels are designed to resurface the skin, by bringing new skin cells up to the surface at a more rapid rate. In doing so the old skin cells begin to shed, thus creating a "peeling". Some peels are mild enough to give results without the downtime of sloughing dead skin off. You would just have a tightness to your skin and possibly feel a bit dry, maybe including flaky patches. These types of mild treatments begin to show long term effects with a series, usually about 3-6 treatments.
Medical peel treatments typically offer downtime. The treatments can be pretty strong with some discomfort. The results can appear quicker, meaning less treatments. But you will most likely be peeling. Depending on the treatment had you could have what looks and feels like a bad sunburn/windburn. Chapped, dry, red, flaky skin.
Now, don't think I am not for medical treatments. I feel that at times the medical peels and/or laser treatments should be a last resort because of the downtime and how pricey they can be. I also believe that you don't have to be so invasive to get the results you want.
There are many types of peels available. Some of the most commonly used are:
Glycolic Acid - Great for targeting wrinkles, fine lines and firmness.
Lactic Acid - A more mild resurfacer perfect for the sensitive.
Salicylic Acid - Helps alleviate inflammation, bacteria and is great for acne prone.

Depending on the company that is manufacturing these products, sometimes they are blended. For example Image creates a Lactic/Kojic Acid blend. Kojic Acid is derived from several species of fungi. It is a melanocyte suppressant. (It helps with dark spots in the skin)

All in all, there is a peel treatment for everyone. Ask your skin care professional what their suggestions would be for you to achieve the desired skin!


Do you have any specific questions you would like answered about this topic? Pick my brain! :)


Fun Fact: Glycolic Acid, a commonly used ingredient for resurfacing, is found in some sugar crops. Including sugar cane!