The solution is applied for a set time, then neutralized or allowed to self-neutralize. It causes a controlled injury to the skin, and the repair that follows is where the improvement comes from. Superficial peels reach only the epidermis, the surface layer. Medium peels reach into the papillary dermis underneath. Deep peels go further still and are used far less often. Your provider matches the strength and the acid to your skin, not the other way around.
A light peel works on the surface with acids like glycolic, lactic, mandelic or salicylic. Skin usually flakes for a few days. A medium peel most often uses trichloroacetic acid, sometimes layered over a lighter solution first, and the skin sheds in larger pieces over one to two weeks. A deep peel uses phenol with croton oil, is a much bigger commitment, and is performed far less often than it once was. Most treatment in a medical aesthetics practice sits in the first two categories.
Depth is a trade. More depth reaches more, and asks for more recovery, and carries more risk. Skin tone matters here too: deeper peels raise the chance of lasting pigment changes, and darker skin is more prone to that, so a lighter peel repeated over time is often the better plan. Your history counts as well, including cold sores, recent isotretinoin, pregnancy, eczema, rosacea and any tendency to scar. That conversation happens at your consultation, before anything is applied.
Your before and after photos appear here
Your before and after photos appear here
Your before and after photos appear here
That depends on the depth. Light peels are usually done as a series, often spaced a few weeks apart, because each one does a small amount and the change builds. A medium peel does more in a single visit and is repeated much less often. Your provider will set a schedule after looking at your skin.
Yes, with care. Deeper skin tones are more likely to respond to inflammation with dark patches, so depth and acid choice matter more. Lighter peels, gentler acids and preparation with a prescribed cream beforehand are common ways to lower that risk. Your provider will talk you through what suits your skin.
A light peel usually means a few days of dryness and light flaking, and most people carry on as normal. A medium peel is more visible, with peeling through the first week or so. Plan around it.
The right peel depends on what your skin is doing right now, how much recovery time you have, and what you have tried before. We look at your skin, ask about your history, and tell you plainly what a peel can and cannot do for you. If something else would serve you better, we will say so.
Lumen Skin & Aesthetics aesthetic center brings together injectables, lasers and dermal fillers, laser skin resurfacing, and skin treatments in a calm, unhurried setting built around consultation.
