Finding the Right Peel

If you are concerned about superficial skin problems such as fine lines and wrinkles, mild to moderate sun damage, uneven tone and texture, acne and superficial acne scarring, I recommend the Obagi Radiance Peel. It is composed primarily of 20% salicylic acid, which exfoliates the skin. It is less intense than other peels and can be used on all Fitzpatrick skin types one through six. Even the darkest skin can be treated safely.

After a radiance peel, you should use heavy moisturizer and sunscreen. Generally, there is minimal peeling. It is a nice refresher peel and great for a quick lunch- time treatment. Bonus, your skin will be glowing afterwards!

If, however, you are looking for a more traditional peel to get rid of age spots and hyperpigmentation, I suggest the Perfect 10 Peel or a Deep Laser Peel, depending on what your skin concerns and goals are.

The Perfect 10 Peel is done in five easy steps. It targets dull and uneven skin tone, texture, fine lines and wrinkles, dark spots and sun damage, discoloration, large pores and skin roughness. This peel has a layered technology integrated with “All-trans-Retinol Complex,” which is a proprietary acid blend combined with antioxidants.

The peel is safe and effective. Patients are able to tolerate the treatment with less surface trauma and minimal discomfort. There is also little down time with peeling as an exception. You may feel more comfortable requesting time off work, but it isn’t necessary. We are all wearing masks right now anyway, so I say it is the perfect time!

I do recommended against having a peel right before going to the beach or directly after having a lot of sun exposure. Likewise, you should not go to the tanning bed or be exposed to excessive amounts of sun for one week before the peel and one-week minimum after the peel. This is because the skin is more susceptible to sun damage as the peel removes your top layers of dead skin.

After a Perfect 10 Peel, you can expect visible peeling within 2-3 days after the procedure and possibly additional peeling between 7-10 days. Some patients do not peel at all or as much including patients with more mature skin. If that happens, we would then suggest the patient try a more aggressive treatment such as Microneedling, a Weekender laser peel, or ablative laser procedures by one of our experienced plastic surgeons. They will still have results from the chemical peel but for something more dramatic we may need to do more aggressive treatments for that individual.

Immediately after a Perfect 10 peel, you should avoid direct sunlight and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher.

Cleanse with Obagi gentle cleanser or something comparable to ensure tolerance beginning the evening of the peel and continuing for a minimum of 10 days.

Moisturize as necessary. It is not uncommon for your skin to be very dry following a chemical peel, especially during winter months.

You can wear makeup 24 hours after the peel. However, due to the peeling, facial makeup can make the peeling appear more noticeable.

It is advised that patients avoid exercise for one day after the peel procedure.

I offer FREE in-office consultations to discuss these options. Call Marshall Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at 304-691-8910 to schedule an appointment.