Chemical Peels
Ever wanted to wipe your face clean of damage from the sun, scarring, or simply getting older and just start over? You can with a Facial Innovations chemical peel. Light, medium, and deep peels are among our most popular skin treatments and will leave your face and other areas of your body soft, smooth, and glowing.

Treatment Areas
- Face
- Eyes
- Hands
- Chest/décolleté
LIGHT CHEMICAL PEELS
Light peel solutions are an exclusive blend of potent exfoliates – salicylic acid, trichloracetic acid, and lactic acid – that remove just the outermost layers of the skin to renew and revive it. A light chemical peel can help you:
- Lighten freckles and age spots
- Reverse UV damage
- Repair fine lines and wrinkles
- Brighten a dull, drab complexion
The Procedure
A light peel – also called a “Red Carpet” peel, because many clients opt to get one before a big event – begins with a thorough cleansing of the face. Then the chemical solution is applied. During this time, you may feel a warm sensation followed by mild stinging. A hand-held fan quickly alleviates any discomfort.
Once the peeling product is on the skin for several minutes, a white film, referred to as “frost,” will develop, indicating that the exfoliates are penetrating. The solution is then removed.
Results
Immediately following treatment, a petrolatum-based gel is applied to the face to promote healing, and will need to be reapplied as necessary over the next 3-4 days as the damaged layers of skin deepen in color and flake or peel off. What’s revealed by the process is new, smooth skin.
Post-Treatment
Avoid wearing makeup for 24 hours and limit your exposure to extreme heat, the sun or exercise until the redness goes away. Cleanse your skin gently and wash your hands before applying post-care serums. And, above all, don’t pick at flaking skin as this could result in scarring or hyperpigmentation.
MEDIUM CHEMICAL PEELS
Our medium peel makes use of higher concentrations of exfoliate solutions, and can correct moderate skin conditions experienced by individuals in their late thirties and forties.
This could be the best peel for you if you want to:
- Lighten freckles and age spots
- Reverse UV damage
- Repair fine lines and wrinkles
- Brighten a dull, drab complexion
PLUS
- Help to prevent acne
- Improve the appearance of acne scarring
- Minimize discoloration related to melasma
The Procedure
A medium peel usually takes between 15-30 minutes to perform. If deep lines and wrinkles are addressed, the process can last up 45 minutes. During treatment, you may feel a warm or slight burning sensation; a cool fan provides quick relief.
Results
During the two-week recovery period, varying degrees of swelling can occur. The damaged skin will dry and peel off in layers within 3-4 days. After about a week, exercise may be resumed. Your new skin will be very pink before fading back to your normal color; the timing for this is dependent on ethnicity. Results should last about six weeks.
Post-Treatment
It’s important to avoid sun exposure for several months after a medium peel to protect the newly formed layers of your skin. Daily use of a sun block with both UVA and UVB protection is essential. The use of special skincare products by ZO or Skin Medica is also recommended.
DEEP CHEMICAL PEELS
A deep peel uses a special three-step process that penetrates the skin to produce dramatic, long-lasting results. This may be the treatment for you if you want to:
- Lighten freckles and age spots
- Reverse UV damage
- Repair fine lines and wrinkles
- Brighten a dull, drab complexion
- Help to prevent acne
- Improve the appearance of acne scarring
- Diminish discoloration related to melasma
PLUS
- Address severe pigment conditions
- Minimize the visual effects of deep scarring
- Reduce the size of precancerous growths
The Procedure
Prior to this treatment, you’ll be required to pre-condition your skin with special serums that will accelerate healing and enhance your results.
On the day of the procedure, we follow a three-step regimen. In the first, we apply a peeling solution that reaches deep down into the skin, balanced by special ingredients that soothe and hydrate. The second step is an application of a retinol cream to maximize collagen stimulation and cellular renewal. The third step – a calming cream – relieves skin irritation and redness.
Typically, a comprehensive deep peel takes about 30-60 minutes, while a peel on a small area, such as the upper lip, may take only 20 minutes. Your skin may feel hot, tingling sensations depending on your skin type and how aggressive the peel is.
NOTE: Some types of deep chemical peel treatments may permanently lighten dark skin tones.
Results
The initial recovery period, as the affected layers of skin dry and peel off, is approximately 10-14 days. As the new skin emerges, the face will be very red at first, gradually fading to a pinkish color over the next few weeks. It may take a couple of months for the pinkness to completely subside, but it can be covered with special makeup.
Post-Treatment
After two weeks, your skin will be healed enough so that normal exercise can be resumed and makeup worn. To protect your delicate new skin, use a UVA and UVB sunblock 30-50 SPF at all times. Ask your specialist about her recommendations for skincare products by ZO or Skin Medica.
A deep peel is typically performed only once.