Skin peels

Here’s everything you need to know about facial skin peels so you can choose correctly.

WHAT IS A PEEL?

This is a beauty technique specifically used to improve and refine the texture of the skin and tackle skin concerns such as acne scarring and pigmentation. Chemical peels are expected to do away with the outermost layers of the skin, encouraging newer and smoother skin to appear. It’s also used to treat fine lines, sun spots, freckles and scars.

WHAT INGREDIENTS ARE FOUND IN PEELS?

“A chemical peel is the application of an acidic compound onto the skin. This could be an alpha hydroxy acid such as glycolic acid or lactic acid, or a beta hydroxy acid such as salicylic acid. The most common and safest acid to use is glycolic acid. When it’s applied onto the skin, a tingling or stinging effect may be felt. The acid removes all the dead skin cells and boosts new cell turnover rates. Uneven skin tone will be experienced, with greater elasticity and durability of the skin barrier.

“Go for a chemical peel at least once a month as humans typically go through an approximately 2830-day skin cell cycle,” says Dr Judey Pretorius, a co-founder and product developer at Biomedical Emporium.

WHAT ARE THE POSTTREATMENT GUIDELINES?

Dr Judey continues: “Stay out of the sun and do not wash the serums off until the morning after your chemical peel. Refrain from using any retinoic acids for 48 hours after receiving a chemical peel. Avoid touching your skin for at least 6-8 hours (to allow for unhindered cellular rejuvenation to take place). Apply products rich in hyaluronic acid, peptides as well as vitamin E to boost cellular hydration and collagen contraction.”

PEELS AVAILABLE

You get superficial, medium-depth and deep peels. The latter should only be done by a very experienced aesthetic practitioner.