CHEMICAL PEELS IN RICHMOND, VA

What are Chemical Peels?

Chemical peels are a highly effective skin-resurfacing procedure where a specialized chemical solution is applied to the skin. We like to use blended acids and vitamins so you get multiple superstar change makers that each create great change in their own right, but are more powerful when leveraged together. Chemical peels remove the outermost layers of damaged skin, unveiling the fresh, healthier, and more youthful skin underneath. They also stimulate deeper layers of the skin within the dermal layer to align skin with its optimum expression to grow healthy, even-toned, smooth skin from the inside out. Peels vary in depth—light, medium, and deep—and the good news is that all the ones we use treat multiple concerns at once, from aging to acne.

How Do Chemical Peels Work?

The chemical solution applied during a peel creates a controlled exfoliation. This process stimulates your body’s natural healing response, encouraging new cell growth and increased collagen production to push off the old, damaged cells, revealing vibrant new ones. As the old, damaged skin layers peel away (old scarring, breakouts, pigmentation, lines), a new, smoother, and more refined complexion emerges. The depth of the peel determines how deeply the solution penetrates and, consequently, the intensity of the exfoliation and the results achieved. We offer a wide range of peels and ingredients, from micro-peels where you don’t visibly peel at all to the other side of the spectrum with medium-depth peels where you will be visibly shedding layers of skin.

Benefits of Chemical Peels

Chemical peels offer a multitude of benefits, helping you achieve a radiant and revitalized complexion:

• Reduces Fine Lines and Wrinkles: By shedding damaged outer layers, peels smooth away visible signs of aging.
• Improves Skin Tone and Texture: They effectively diminish uneven skin tone, rough patches, and enlarged pores, leading to a smoother and more refined surface.
• Fades Hyperpigmentation: Peels are excellent for reducing the appearance of sunspots, age spots, freckles, and melasma, promoting a more even complexion.
• Treats Acne and Scars: They unclog pores, reduce breakouts, and can significantly improve the appearance of acne scars.
• Stimulates Collagen Production: The controlled “trauma” to the skin encourages your body to produce more collagen and elastin, leading to firmer, more elastic, and youthful-looking skin.
• Enhances Product Absorption: By removing dead skin cells, chemical peels allow your skincare products to penetrate more deeply and work more effectively.
• Brightens delicate areas: Utilizing a blend of acids that are self-neutralizing allows them to effectively target brightening in the most delicate and intimate of areas, including the under-eye area, the bikini line, and more, with our body peels. 
• Balances Skin Making it Healthier: The peels we offer at our office address pre-cancerous skin cells by encouraging healthy skin cell expression, minimizing exposure to more aggressive treatment routes down the road. Glowing skin is healthy skin!

Are You a Good Candidate?

Many individuals looking to rejuvenate their skin and address common concerns are good candidates for chemical peels. If you experience issues such as fine lines, wrinkles, acne, acne scars, sun damage, uneven skin tone, or enlarged pores, a chemical peel could be an excellent non-invasive option for you. The peels we offer at our office serve clients as young as 12 ( usually suffering from acne), all the way to clients in their late 70s to address aging and sun damage, as well as all ages in between with a myriad of skin conditions. Even those with sensitive skin can benefit from the balancing that happens at the cellular level with the right chemical peel, since it strengthens the skin’s microbiome. A personalized consultation with our expert aestheticians will help determine the best type and strength of peel for your unique skin type and aesthetic goals.

Preparation Before Treatment

Proper preparation is key to maximizing your results and minimizing side effects. Generally, for about one week prior to your peel, you should:

• Avoid Exfoliants: Discontinue using any topical prescriptions or products containing retinoids, retinols, salicylic acid, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), or benzoyl peroxide. We want to see you experience the peel with your skin at it’s baseline to get the most out of it.
• Stay Hydrated: Ensure your skin is well-hydrated by drinking plenty of water and using hydrating products.This adds extra water in the tissue to provide resources that focus on rejuvenation and repair.
• Protect from Sun: Avoid direct sun exposure and tanning beds since this can comprise the skin and make it more reactive.
• No Hair Removal: Refrain from waxing, tweezing, shaving, electrolysis, or laser hair removal on the treatment area for at least 24-72 hours before your appointment and at least a week after your peel.
• Gentle Cleansing: Use a mild, gentle cleanser recommended by your aesthetician.
• Consultation: Discuss any medications you are taking or skin conditions you have with your provider to ensure it’s safe to proceed. Don’t worry, we ask SUPER in depth about this as part of our new client consultation.

Post-Treatment Care

Following your post-treatment care instructions diligently is crucial for optimal results and a smooth recovery:

• Gentle Cleansing: Use only cool or lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free cleanser with no acids or beads. Cleanse your skin in small, circular strokes. Gently pat your skin dry with a clean towel.
• Moisturize & Hydrate: Apply a soothing, gentle, non-comedogenic moisturizer frequently to alleviate dryness and support healing. Staying well-hydrated internally by drinking water is also important. Many of our peels come with post-care kits that provide this and SPF for you. We can always give you samples or recommend products that are ideal for your skin to support the moisturizing process.
• Sun Protection is Essential: Your new skin will be highly sensitive to the sun. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher religiously, even on cloudy days, and avoid direct sun exposure. Wear protective clothing and hats when outdoors. If you’ll be outside even incidentally, reapply sunscreen every 2 hours. 
• Avoid Picking or Peeling: Resist the urge to pick, scratch, or pull at any flaking skin, as this can lead to irritation, scarring, or infection. Let the skin peel naturally. We have lots of tips and tricks we can give you in the office to mitigate this!
• Limit Activities: For the first 24-72 hours (depending on the specific peel), avoid intense workouts, steam rooms, hot tubs, saunas, and any activities that cause excessive sweating or heat.
• No Harsh Products: Continue to avoid retinoids, exfoliating acids, alcohol-based toners, and scrubs until your skin has fully healed, typically for at least one week.
• Makeup: It’s best to avoid makeup for at least 24 hours post-procedure, allowing your skin to breathe and heal. If you must wear makeup, mineral makeup is often a gentler option. Clean makeup brushes or applicators before using on your freshly treated skin to avoid bacteria transfer.

What to Expect During and After Your Chemical Peel

During the Peel: Your skin will be thoroughly cleansed, then a peel prep solution will be applied to dissolve any microscopic oils, allowing the peel to penetrate evenly and optimally. Next, a barrier cream is applied in creases, folds, and any compromised areas along with over eyebrows if they’ve been microbladed or tattooed to prevent fading. The chemical solution will start to be carefully applied layer by layer. You may experience a warm, tingling, or stinging sensation that typically lasts 45 seconds to 1 minute. Your skin’s response to the peel is monitored continuously to determine application strategy and identify any clinical end points.  Depending on the peel, a neutralizing solution may be applied, or the peel may be self-neutralized. The peel may be removed or left on the skin as you leave the office, depending on what category it falls in and the level of skin it’s targeting.

After the Peel (Day-by-Day):

• Day 1: Your skin may appear pink to red and feel tight or warm. It may also look like you had a little spray tan on your face depending on which acid blend is used.
• Day 2: Skin will feel tight and look lifted!
• Days 3-5 (Peeling Phase): Your skin will likely begin to flake or peel on day 3 (2 days after the peel application). It starts around the mouth and works its way out and out across the face. Sun-damaged areas may initially appear darker before lightening. It’s crucial not to pick at the peeling skin during this phase. If you have any areas that feel raw, we have special products we give you to soothe this process.
• Day 5-7: Peeling should subside, revealing smoother, rejuvenated skin with reduced redness. Smooth, bright, and tight!

For optimal and long-lasting results, a series of chemical peels is often recommended, tailored to your specific skin concerns, the strength of the peel, and the area of the body being treated. Medium-Depth peels – our most popular and results-driven ones – tend to be recommended as soon as 3-4 weeks apart, with a series of 3-4 being ideal. Body peels tend to be in a series of 4 spaced 6-8 weeks apart. Superficial peels can be done as soon as a week apart. Our team will guide you through every step of your chemical peel journey, from initial consultation to post-treatment care, ensuring there are no surprises and you feel comfortable and confident in achieving your most radiant skin.

Which Chemical Peel is Right for Me?

Our Richmond chemical peels may be a good fit for you if you have a range of skin conditions you would like to target.

Light peels like the micro peels may be a good selection for newer skin concerns that are in the upper layers of the skin, while VI Peels and Perfect Derma Peels are better matched with deeper rejuvenation focused on collagen and elastin production or darker pigmentation.

Utilizing advanced techniques and our medical-grade products, our medical Aestheticians and nurses will work together with you to determine which chemical peel is best suited for your skin type and condition to obtain optimal results. We go in-depth into your skin history and goals and craft a chemical peel plan specific to you.

Don’t know what peel is right for you? Fear not! We will expertly guide youthe whole way. We recommend starting by booking a consultation + treatment. Call (804) 924-4569 to learn more today.

How Long Do Chemical Peels Take?

Peel treatments take, on average, 45-60 minutes. If you are new to peels, plan on closer to 60 minutes. 

What is the Average Number of Treatments Needed?

A series of 3+ peels is considered corrective. However, we do offer stand-alone treatments. Once we have achieved our goal, we transition our clients into maintenance. Everyone’s maintenance looks a little different as we strive to tailor it to each client’s specific needs and goals. You can generally think of maintenance as the seasons change and you change out your wardrobe. You want to change out your dead skin cells and support the healthy living cells under them for the season ahead. 

Contact Us for the Best Chemical Peels in Richmond, VA

At Rejuvenation Skin Lab, our experienced team of professionals can help you resolve your skin issues with a wide range of chemical peel options. Contact us online or call (804) 924-4569 today to schedule a consultation.