Chemical Peel: Stories

The entire process lasted for about an hour. The first step is pleasant a full face cleansing with the Clairsonic brush. The next steps are not pleasant but certainly not painful. It feels very hot like you would like it to stop and then within a minute or two it does. Layer after layer of different chemicals such as TCA, salicylic, glycolic and resorcinol acids are applied to your skin. Some of these chemicals are warm and a bit tingly, some downright hot and uncomfortable. The more layers that are applied the deeper the peel. In between each of the layers, my aesthetician uses a little hand fan to cool down the skin- this pretty much does nothing- but I appreciate the break. Then they put on some moisturizers and sun block and send you on your way.

My experience has been positive. I have had 2. They recommend that you come in for a series of 4 with a month between each procedure. The first one was ok, very little peeling- which started about 5 days after the chemical peel and lasted for about 2 days. For an additional day or two there was so sloughing skin around my hairline. The second was much deeper. Perhaps, because I said how little peeling actually occurred with the first peel.

With the second peel, my skin cracked started to peel within 2 days. By day 8, my skin was back to normal. I did get a massive cold sore on my chin from the peeling and the stress, kind of like having massive sunburn to the skin, which would make me get a cold sore also. So, I felt in a way, that my trouble area and the reason that I was getting the peel- which is my chin due to some acne discoloration- was actually in the exact same spot now that I had to deal with the cold sore redness for the next few months. I was told that if I do more they will phone a prescription for the cold sores in to the pharmacy and I would take it preventatively before the procedure. My aesthetician focuses on the fine line areas, so I end up with more peeling in the area between my eyes- where the lines would not be if I actually would repeat my Botox, along the nasal-labial folds and then my chin.

I would say that it is worth it- I find the down time a hassle and would rather do a serious peel and then hide for a week than the little peels that I have done and then just be embarrassed to leave the house.