What is a chemical peel?
Chemical exfoliants, found in chemical peels, lower the PH of the skin towards an increased acidic range. This acidic environment dissolves specific skin components, and this is what drives the changes that leads to luminosity, hydration and a general skin renewal. As we age, skin cell renewal slows down substantially and chemical peels are key to speeding up this process.
Superficial peels mainly dissolve the desmosomes, the glue-like tissue that keeps the dead skin cells attached to the face and body. When this happens, the old, worn out cells will fall off the skin, allowing fresh skin cells to come to the surface.
Other peeling agents, like alpha hydroxy acids (AHA’s) can also help by stimulating skin cell renewal. Over the days following the peel treatment the older skin cells will die, allowing fresh new cells to rejuvenate the skin.
Key benefits of chemical peels:
- When peels are performed regularly, the skin gets used to the act of exfoliation and it will start to exfoliate itself more, just like younger skin does.
- A skin peel will thicken the epidermis (top layer of the skin) and the result is a smoother and radiant complexion.
- Once the top layer of the skin is sloughed off, the skin is more receptive to absorbing skincare ingredients. Our Peel treatments will also provide brightening and hydrating ingredients, post peel, to improve the skin’s health and appearance.
- All of the peels we offer are act of the epidermis. They are superficial to medium depth.
Healthy, radiant skin doesn’t happen overnight and some treatments will take time to show results. A single chemical peel can provide the immediate effect of bright, smooth and radiant skin; however, more significant results in treating textural issues, discolouration, fine lines and inflamed acne could take longer. Therefore, usually a series of scheduled treatments is recommended.
ProFacials is based at Cheltenham Reflexology and Massage, 1 St Margaret’s Terrace, St Margaret’s Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 4DT
