Are Chemical Peels Right for You?

You’re considering options for skin rejuvenation, not only for your face but maybe also for your neck, hands, and/or chest. Today’s modern medicine offers numerous choices. 

At A Beautiful You Medical Spa, our trained aestheticians, supervised by board-certified physician  Kenneth Thompson, MD, can walk you through alternatives based on your individual needs. If you want to tackle a number of issues at one time, a chemical peel might be right for you. 

What is a chemical peel? 

If your skin has a variety of imperfections, you may benefit greatly from a chemical peel. We apply a chemical solution that causes skin cells on your top layer of skin to peel off. 

The new skin is supported by the growth of fresh collagen and elastin, key proteins necessary to healthy skin, as well as the nutrients infused through the peel. Best of all, we can individualize chemical peels to your personal needs. 

What types of skin imperfections can a chemical peel treat? 

A chemical peel is a real multitasking solution for your skin. It can improve: 

• Skin texture 
• Skin tone 
• Melasma
• Acne
• Fine lines
• Large pores
• Dull, dried-out skin
• Scars, including acne scars
• Sun damage
• Hyperpigmentation

Types of chemical peels 

There are three main types of peels, each of which is customized to your specific skin problems.  

Superficial peel

This is a light peel that uses mild acid to slough off the outer layer of your skin for gentle exfoliation. The treatment improves the general appearance of the targeted area. 

Medium peel 

A slightly stronger acid treats both the outer layer of your skin, the epidermis, and the next layer of skin underneath it. 

Deep peel 

This is a strong peel. Although we can repeat a superficial or medium peel at an appropriate time, a deep peel can only be done once. It provides deep penetration to the underlayers of your skin. 

This peel can treat some precancerous skin growths as well as all of the other skin imperfections noted above. 

Are chemical peels right for me? 

We examine your medical history and your skin and ask about your treatment goals. Determining whether you’re a candidate for a chemical peel is based on your skin type and the problems you want to resolve. 

If you have any of the following conditions, a chemical peel isn’t right for you:  

• Active infection of any kind 
• Open wound
• History of drugs with photosensitizing potential
• Inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, or rosacea
• Facial cancers, e.g., facial melanoma
• Abnormal scarring, keloids, atrophic skin, or isotretinoin use for cystic acne in the last year

If you have keloid scars, we explain more appropriate treatments. If you have Inflammatory skin conditions, follow up with your dermatologist. We offer alternative treatments for your skin imperfections. 

To see if you’re a good candidate for a chemical peel, call our Memphis, Tennessee, medical spa or contact us online today. We’ll show you before and after photos of patients who have had peels, so you can see the dramatic improvement in their appearance.