The Appeal Of A Peel: Rapid Rejuvenation

If you’re a fan of the professional facial (and you should be), you may want to consider bumping it up a notch with a medium-depth professional peel for even more dramatic results. Not to be confused with a deep chemical peel that’s performed in a doctor’s office, the medium-depth peel is done by your esthetician and removes just the top two to three layers of skin to rapidly improve skin texture and reduce discoloration.

A typical peel uses alpha or beta hydroxy acids derived from things like sugar (glycolic acid), sour milk (lactic acid), or willow bark (salicylic acid), along with the more potent TCA (trichloroacetic acid), a modified synthetic chemical based on common vinegar. The solutions are applied to remove just the top few layers of skin including cellular buildup and impactions and encourage regeneration of new cells.

The effect is like a sunburn, but without the DNA damaging effects of UV exposure. Skin appears red and, within 24 hours, begins to lift and peel. Within a few days, fibroblast cells are activated and new collagen is produced. Properly performed, a medium depth chemical peel is a noninvasive route to dramatic rejuvenation.

Most skin care professionals agree that despite all the other procedures available, the right peel provides the best results in every area for every skin type and color. It takes no more time than a facial and costs a fraction of what you pay for a laser procedure. Skin recovers much more quickly from a peel than it does after laser treatment. And because a peel doesn’t involve the use of heat like laser procedures, it’s less likely to stimulate an unwanted melanin response.

As a bonus, the newly regenerated skin is more receptive to additional products so the benefits continue to multiply.

Before, during, and after a Vivant ProPeel:

Try a chemical peel if you want to:

Improve texture

Accelerate cell turnover

Improve your skin’s ability to hold moisture

Promote collagen production

Reduce fine lines

Reduce discoloration

Promote a more consistent tone

Unclog pores and help clear up acne

Make skin softer and smoother

Reduce acne scarring

What to Know:

Prep is key. At your initial consultation, your skin care specialist should explain the preconditioning steps and supply an at-home skin care kit, which you’ll need to use for a prescribed period prior to your peel. This ensures your skin prepared to get the maximum benefit from the peel.

When it’s time for the peel, your skin care specialist will explain the steps and tell you exactly what to expect. During the procedure, you’ll experience some heat on your skin. Imagine rubbing chili peppers on your face. Not the most comfortable feeling, but you’ll be holding a small handheld fan, which you’ll use to blow the fumes and cool your face as needed and the whole thing lasts only about a half an hour.

You’ll need to avoid direct UV exposure for about a week following the procedure.

Expect about four days of peeling, followed by moderate redness for about a week, so you’ll want to plan your social calendar accordingly.

To achieve your best results, a series of peels is recommended about six to eight weeks apart until desired result is achieved. The peel is excellent for improving the appearance of your décolletage as well.

It’s very important that the peel is performed by a qualified professional using properly formulated, resorcinol-free solutions. Ask your skin care professional for Vivant’s ProPeel®, a four-step, medium-depth chemical peel that combines lactic, salicylic and citric acids, plus trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and natural moisturizers to diminish lines, build collagen, and reduce discoloration in every skin type and color.

Find a skin care professional here.