Is Acne getting in the way of your plans this spring? Do you feel you need to hide your “backne” (back acne) in your new spring dress or bathing suit? Do you feel you just cannot get a jumpstart to clearing your troubled skin areas?
Have you ever considered an acne peel?
Peels for teen acne can be a great adjunct in treatment to reduce redness, inflammation, overall breakouts and to prevent further breakouts. Get ready for prom, graduation and summer! Peels begin working right away although you will continue to see result for the next 2 weeks.
We offer acne, anti-aging and brightening peels at Advanced Specialty Care’s Danbury, Norwalk, Ridgefield and Stamford offices, and it only take just a few minutes out of your busy day!
What are chemical peels?
Don’t be put off by the word “chemical”. These peels are safe and gentle for adolescents and adults and the chemicals simply refers to a more potent, special blend of ingredients that are not available over the counter.
Peels are highly customizable and can be used to treat fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone, blemishes, dark spots and cystic breakouts.
Depending on your needs different chemicals are used. Glycolic acid, Mandelic acid and Citric acid are the key ingredients. Gentle cleansers, neutralizers are used to wash area before and after treatment.
- Glycolic acid: Derived from cane sugar. Exfoliates, increases skin thickness, evens pigment, clears acne and unclogs pores.
- Citric acid: An antioxidant plus all benefits of Glycolic acid.
- Mandelic acid: Evens pigment, controls oil production and has antibacterial properties.
- Retinol: Increases skin thickness, enhances collagen and reduces acne and post inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
How does it work?
A trained clinician paints a special blend of ingredients, aka- the “chemical”, on your skin with a small brush and it remains on your skin for a short amount of time before neutralizing and removing it. The peel does not hurt or cause damage to the skin and your clinician will be with you during the entire treatment
During the treatment, the chemicals in the peels work to clear pores, exfoliate the upper layer of skin and increase cell turnover for improved skin texture and tone.
You may feel what we call, “stingly”, while the peel is on your skin. Most describe the feeling as a little warm and itchy with a touch of stinging. But don’t worry because the peel is only left on your skin for only a few short minutes before it is cleaned off and neutralized.
Though peels are safe for nearly all skin types, they cannot be done if you currently have a sunburn or if you’ve used a retinol with 5 days.
What should you expect after treatment?
Immediately after your peel, the treated area may be slightly pink and dry. In 24-48 hours you’ll likely experience slight to moderate peeling depending on the chemical used.
You can expect to see more noticeable results by having a series of peels though many patients see improvement after just one peel.
For treating areas of stubborn acne, patients often need additional peels every 4-6 weeks and then every 6 months for maintenance after skin has improved.
It’s important to not restart retinol until after peeling has stopped and equally important to keep out of sun and wear sunscreen to not reverse effects of the treatment.
Chemical peels offer a perfect compliment and adjunct to other acne and skincare treatments and are a great option for stubborn teen acne and bacne.
At Advanced Specialty Care, Dermatologists and Skincare and Laser Specialists offer chemical peels in conjunction with other medical and cosmetic treatments including IPL, Phototherapies, HydraFacials and more. Offices are located in Danbury, Norwalk, Ridgefield and Stamford, CT.