You’ve undoubtedly heard about the skincare procedure known as the chemical peel but may not know what it is. Or, perhaps you generally understand what a chemical peel might be but are wary about learning more about the treatment. Let’s face it, the procedure’s two-word name is not very inviting.

“Chemical?” Sure, chemicals are instrumental in creating many of modern life’s conveniences. However, so many chemicals are potentially dangerous that most people hesitate about applying them to their skin.

“Peel?” Peeling fruit is one thing, but the thought of peeling skin certainly seems unappetizing.

The skincare professionals at Naples-based Tru Glō Medspa help alleviate such concerns expressed by their southwest Florida clients by telling them to think of the treatment as “skin renewal.” Yes, our chemical peels in Naples use chemicals to exfoliate the skin. However, the procedure is safe, effectively rejuvenates and restores skin, and can address various skin concerns, including signs of aging, acne, sun damage, uneven pigmentation, and more. To help you better understand how a chemical peel works, we’ve answered six questions our Naples-area clients typically ask.

1. What is a Chemical Peel?

As the name implies, a chemical peel uses chemicals to peel off—exfoliate—the upper layer of old skin cells to reveal the newer skin cells below. The procedure’s removal of older skin cells helps remove the imperfections they displayed, and the deeper the peel, the more effective the process is at reducing the imperfections, no matter their cause. Along with removing older, damaged skin cells, the chemical peel spurs the development of new skin cells and boosts collagen production for further skin enhancement. Thus, we think of chemical peels in Naples as skin renewal.

The chemicals used in the treatment are generally not like the solvents and acids used for industrial purposes. Most chemical peels rely on alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), a group of water-soluble organic compounds derived from fruit plants. The concentration of AHAs is adjusted to determine the depth of exfoliation provided by an AHA chemical peel. Other peel solutions rely on the stronger exfoliating properties of beta hydroxy acid and trichloroacetic acid, which are also organic compounds.

2. What Should I Expect After a Chemical Peel?

While chemical peels are technically non-invasive, they require some downtime and diligent aftercare. Healing timeframes include:

• A light peel causes the least exfoliation and requires minimal downtime. Depending on the formulation used, it can take from one to seven days for sunburn-like redness and subsequent possible scaling to subside.
• Recovery from a medium peel usually takes one to two weeks, during which time the patient’s skin will experience redness, swelling, crusting, and peeling.
• Deep peels cause more significant swelling, redness, and skin trauma that may necessitate the use of dressings, daily soaking, and medical ointments. New skin typically develops within two weeks; full recovery can take up to three weeks.

To prepare for your downtime, your skincare professional will provide aftercare instructions to help with recovery and enhance skin renewal.

3. How Long Do Results Last?

The duration of skin renewing results depends in part on the type of peel, with deeper peels generally providing the longest-lasting skin renewal. Due to aging, most results are not permanent, though deeper peels can effectively reduce the appearance of wrinkles, lines, roughness, sun damage, and other issues for many years. The skin rejuvenating effects of lighter peels can be enhanced and extended by undergoing several peels within a few months.

4. Are There Any Potential Side Effects?

Skincare professionals have safely and effectively used chemical peels to rejuvenate skin for over 50 years. Side effects are typically rare with peels performed by experienced skincare professionals, though patients can inadvertently cause side effects by not diligently following all aftercare instructions. Reported side effects include post-recovery dryness, flaking, inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and acne breakout. Deep peels carry the risk of infection and scarring, though such incidents are especially rare when the peels are conducted by medical professionals, such as those at our medical spa.

5. Who Is a Good Candidate for a Chemical Peel?

Tru Glō Medspa has chemical peels in Naples suitable for just about all skin types. We recommend that patients with sensitive skin issues and darker skin tones refrain from deep peels but offer lighter peels that can successfully accommodate their skin types. Our skincare experts carefully assess each patient’s skin, medical history, and other factors to determine which chemical peel will prove most effective with the least discomfort.

6. What Kinds of Chemical Peels Does Tru Glō Medspa Offer?

Our medical spa carries several different chemical peel formulations to meet the varied needs and skin types of our patients, including:

• Skinmedica Illuminize Peel®—a light peel that is a great introduction to the procedure; it’s proven incredibly effective at treating acne, uneven skin tone, and fine lines.
• Skinmedica Vitalize Peel®—suitable for all Fitzpatrick skin types, this popular peel provides noticeable skin smoothing with just one application, though additional peels provide even more significant results.
• Vi Peels®—this collection of light and medium peel formulations targets a range of specific skin conditions.
• SkinCeutical Peels—this selection offers different formulations and concentrations to cover a range of skin types and address various skin issues.

Contact Tru Glō Medspa Today to Begin Your Chemical Peel Journey

To learn more about skin renewal with chemical peels in Naples and Southwest Florida, contact our medical spa today by calling 239-919-7009. Our medical staff and skincare experts are committed to safely delivering the most effective skin rejuvenation treatments to meet our client’s aesthetic goals.