Chemical Peels Pasadena

Chemical peels are an important part of skin health. As we age, our skin becomes less youthful, and we tend to notice things like age spots, rough texture, and dullness in our face. One effective solution for these issues is a chemical peel. These can be used on most skin types and they can improve skin tone, texture, acne, hyperpigmentation, and aging caused by blemishes or sun-damage. These challenging skin concerns are improved with perfected formulas that increase skin cell turnover rate (bringing new skin cells to the surface), softening and smoothing skin texture, reducing fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots, while also clearing breakouts. For example, a solution that combines nourishing ingredients, lactic acid, salicylic acid, and resorcinol together can gently produce dramatic changes in your skin.

Benefits of a Chemical Peel include:

• Improve skin color, clarity, tone and texture
• Stimulate new collagen and healthy skin cell growth, resulting in a radiant complexion
• Reduce discoloration caused by sun damage
• Help to clear up breakouts
• Smooth away the look of fine lines and wrinkles
• Increase hydration of the skin
• Address visible skin imperfections, acne scars, and deeper scars
• Enable skincare products used at home to be more effective because a peel can remove several layers of skin build-up and congestion, allowing products to penetrate deeper into the skin

Contra-Indications of a Chemical Peel:

• If you are lactating, pregnant or think you might be pregnant, you can NOT receive a chemical peel.
• If you are taking a doctor prescribed acne medication, such as Isotretinoin or Accutane, you must discontinue use for at least 6 months prior to a chemical peel.
• If you are using a prescribed exfoliant such as Retin-A®, Renova®, Differin®, Tazorac®, Avage® or a high percentage Glycolic Acid product, discontinue use for approximately 10 days prior to your chemical peel. Please consult your physician before discontinuing the use of any prescription medication.
• If you have active herpes simplex (cold sores) on treatment area, you can NOT receive a chemical peel.
• If you have sun “allergies”, you can NOT receive a chemical peel unless cleared by Dr.Chow. You may need a prescription for HSV Prophylaxis.
• If you are allergic to aspirin, you can NOT receive a chemical peel.
• If you have had any prior adverse reaction to a skin peel, you can NOT receive a chemical peel.
• If you had recent radiation treatment for cancer, you can NOT receive a chemical peel.
• If you have had sunburn, significant sun exposure or wind-burn within the last 2 weeks, you can NOT receive a chemical peel.
• If you have had surgery within the last month in the area to be peeled, you can NOT receive a chemical peel.
• If you are currently using antibiotics (which may cause skin to be ultra-sensitive), you can NOT receive a chemical peel.
• If you have waxed your face, you must wait at least 72 hours prior to receiving a chemical peel.
• If you are using a chemical depilatory treatment, you must wait a week prior to receiving a chemical peel.
• If you have received a cosmetic or resurfacing skin procedure such as laser or a chemical treatment, you must wait 2 weeks prior to receiving a chemical peel.
• If you have received Botox® or other injectable procedure, you must wait 2 weeks prior to receiving a chemical peel.

Recovery Info

After a Chemical Peel

• Never pick or pull shedding skin, allow skin to naturally slough off.
• Do not apply any medications following treatment not recommended by your esthetician, including AHA products.
• Avoid direct sun exposure for at least 2 weeks to prevent hyperpigmentation.
• Always wear a sunscreen (minimum SPF 30) to minimize possible sun damage.
• Keep treated area moisturized for the duration of the peeling process by applying a slightly thicker moisturizer.
• It is ideal to let the skin stabilize and rest overnight, but mineral makeup can be applied following the treatment if absolutely necessary.
• Do NOT go to a tanning booth for a least three weeks before or after a treatment.
• Discontinue the use of Retin-A®/Renova® or Differin® for seven days after treatment.
• Do not have electrolysis, collagen injections, Botox, threading, facial waxing for approximately seven days after treatment.
• Do NOT apply ice or ice water to the treated areas.
• Do NOT participate in activities that would cause excessive perspiration.
• STAY COOL! Getting overheated internally can cause hyperpigmentation.
• Do NOT go swimming for a week.
• Do NOT have any electrolysis, collagen, Botox® or other dermal filler injections for a week.
• Do NOT have any facial waxing or use depilatories for a week after treatment

Frequently Asked Questions

• What Is a Chemical Peel?

  A chemical peel is a skin resurfacing treatment that stimulates your skin’s natural ability to regenerate itself resulting in an improvement in skin tone, texture, breakouts, line lines and wrinkles. A chemical peel will exfoliate and draw impurities out of the skin while introducing vitamins and nutrients into the skin. The treatment causes the dry, dead, outermost layer of the skin to peel, flake off and shed, revealing new, healthier skin.

• What Should you expect from a Chemical Peel?

  What you’ll get is better skin texture, brighter and firmer skin. With continued use, you can achieve the skin of your dreams. Results can be fast and fantastic. Moderate to aggressive exfoliation will be experienced, depending on the peel type. There are a number of factors that can affect the amount of peeling one will have, including skin type and resilience level, type of peel, and number of layers applied. Even if you don’t visibly peel, your skin is still exfoliating. Even one treatment can reveal a healthy, glowing complexion. It is normal to experience a little tingling, burning, or stinging sensation during the peel, but that will subside after a few minutes. As your skin goes through the renewal process, it is normal to experience slight redness, tightness, peeling, flaking and/or temporary dryness within a week. The recovery will be determined by the type of peel you are given and the number of layers applied. These light peels result in little to no downtime. You can have a chemical peel done every 4-6 weeks.