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Demystifying the Chemical Peel

Chemical peels seem to have a bad reputation, and many people are unnecessarily afraid to of getting them. The truth is, when done by a properly trained professional, a chemical peel is a safe and effective treatment for skin care. To understand if a chemical peel is right for you, the first step is to separate fact from fiction.

Myth #1: Chemicals are bad for you

  • Truth: The word “chemical” can sound intimidating. The thought of putting a chemical on your face seems a little scary. But there’s no need to worry; chemical peels are safe. The active acids in most peels are natural, including glycolic acid which derives from sugar cane, lactic acid which comes from sour milk, or alpha hydroxyl acid which is found in fruit.

Myth #2: You have to have bad skin to get a chemical peel

  • Truth: Actually, most skin types can benefit from a chemical peel, regardless of if you have problem skin or not. It’s true that chemical peels are an effective way to treat blemished skin, but they can also prevent skin from becoming problematic in the future. Chemical peels stimulate healthy cell growth while exfoliating dead cells at a faster rate than they would on their own, dramatically change the look and feel of your skin.

Myth #3: A chemical peel can be done at home

  • Truth: Do-it-yourself chemical peels can be found in local drug stores, but they can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. To perform a safe, effective chemical peel, you need to have an in-depth understanding of the skin. Acids can cause injury and scarring, even in low doses. And the results are not as successful when a chemical peel is done at home because manufacturers can’t give the appropriate strength ingredients necessary to exfoliate effectively.

Myth #4: Chemical peels require a lot of downtime

  • Truth: Unless you have a very deep chemical peel performed by a physician (which is becoming increasingly rare), you can usually resume your daily activities right away with a superficial peel. If you have a medium peel, you may need to take two or three days of work to recover.

Are you interested in learning how a chemical peel can benefit your skin? Give our West Orange office a call at 973-324-9455 to schedule a consultation. We hope to hear from you soon!

Please click here to view before and after images of Chemical peels.

For more information about Chemical peels, contact Dr. Lalla today at 973-324-9455

Chemical peels seem to have a bad reputation, and many people are unnecessarily afraid to of getting them. The truth is, when done by a properly trained professional, a chemical peel is a safe and effective treatment for skin care. To understand if a chemical peel is right for you, the first step is to separate fact from fiction.

Myth #1: Chemicals are bad for you

Truth: The word “chemical” can sound intimidating. The thought of putting a chemical on your face seems a little scary. But there’s no need to worry; chemical peels are safe. The active acids in most peels are natural, including glycolic acid which derives from sugar cane, lactic acid which comes from sour milk, or alpha hydroxyl acid which is found in fruit.

Myth #2: You have to have bad skin to get a chemical peel

Truth: Actually, most skin types can benefit from a chemical peel, regardless of if you have problem skin or not. It’s true that chemical peels are an effective way to treat blemished skin, but they can also prevent skin from becoming problematic in the future. Chemical peels stimulate healthy cell growth while exfoliating dead cells at a faster rate than they would on their own, dramatically change the look and feel of your skin.

Myth #3: A chemical peel can be done at home

Truth: Do-it-yourself chemical peels can be found in local drug stores, but they can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. To perform a safe, effective chemical peel, you need to have an in-depth understanding of the skin. Acids can cause injury and scarring, even in low doses. And the results are not as successful when a chemical peel is done at home because manufacturers can’t give the appropriate strength ingredients necessary to exfoliate effectively.

Myth #4: Chemical peels require a lot of downtime

Truth: Unless you have a very deep chemical peel performed by a physician (which is becoming increasingly rare), you can usually resume your daily activities right away with a superficial peel. If you have a medium peel, you may need to take two or three days of work to recover.

Are you interested in learning how a chemical peel can benefit your skin? Give our West Orange office a call at 973-324-9455 to schedule a consultation. We hope to hear from you soon!