A chemical peel is a treatment used to improve the appearance of the skin. A chemical peel can be used on the face, neck, chest or hands. The chemical solution is applied to skin causing an exfoliating process which will eventually peel off. The fresh new skin is smoother, less wrinkled, and has more even tones. There are three basic types of chemical peels we offer:
Superficial or lunchtime peel: This would be a mild acid used to penetrate only the outer layer of the skin for a gentle exfoliation. The treatment is used to improve the appearance of mild skin discolorations, texture, and fine lines and wrinkles.
Medium depth peel: Glycolic acid is applied to penetrate the outer and middle layers of the skin. This treatment will help improve dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles, and rough textures such as acne scarring.
Deep peel: A TCA peel is applied to the skin surface to deeply penetrate the middle layer of the skin to improve deep wrinkle lines, dark spots, and shallow scars.
You go to great lengths to keep your skin looking its best by using serums, creams and receiving skin treatments, all of which play an important part in managing healthy-looking skin. However, it’s also important to understand what’s happening underneath your skin to affect its pigmentation, or color. So, lets dive into what pigmentation is and how it can be treated.
What is pigmentation?
Pigmentation is the color of a person’s skin. There are also two types of pigmentation, hyperpigmentation (darker) and hypopigmentation (lighter).
What causes changes in pigmentation?
Most of what we perceive as aging is caused by factors that you can control, the main one being the amount of time your skin spends exposed to the sun. Excessive sun exposure may be responsible for structural changes in the skin that will not be seen for years and can also cause drastic changes to your skin’s pigmentation.
The sun’s rays speed up how active your skin cells, or melanocytes, are. Melanocytes produce melanin, the pigment that gives your skin its color, so more exposure to the sun means more pigment in your skin.
Pigmentation changes may also take place in those who have darker skin, as dark skin tends to have more melanin, which makes one more susceptible to a condition known as melasma. Also known as “pregnancy mask,” melasma is characterized by brown or tan patches on the face and is caused by a change in hormone levels.
Additionally, changes in pigmentation may also be attributed to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). PIH, which is caused by trauma to the skin such as acne, these are dark spots that remain long after the initial inflammation has healed.
Treatment and prevention
The good news is that you can manage pigmentation changes to your skin by limiting your exposure to the sun and avoiding unnecessary trauma to your skin. Some easy-to-follow recommendations include wearing an SPF 30 or higher every day, bringing a hat or umbrella for further protection from the sun, and always wearing sunglasses.
Hydroquinone is considered by many to be the gold standard for treating pigmentation issues and is a key ingredient in the Obagi Nu Derm System which is ideal for treating age spots, dark spots, and melasma.
We offer our clients a free Visia Skin Analysis to determine the best treatment option for maximum results.
