We all want radiant and glowing skin no matter what our age. Unfortunately, the passage of time, years spent in the sun, and our genetics can all work against us and that flawless complexion we long for. If you’re ready to do something about the signs of aging and other imperfections you see in the mirror, call Texas Laser and Aesthetics in Austin, TX and find out how chemical peels can help reverse time on your skin.
What Causes Our Skin to Lose Radiance?
When we’re young, we all start out with beautifully radiant skin. We have a large supply of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid: the three major components of young, healthy, and flawless skin.
Collagen
The protein collagen is essentially the building block of skin. It’s strong and fibrous and is packed tightly together in the middle layer of our skin when we’re young, forming a smooth and solid platform. This layer of skin acts as a scaffold for our surface layer of skin to lie on top of. It’s also the perfect place for healthy cell regeneration.
When our collagen is strong and abundant, there are no areas of weakness, so there’s no place for our skin to sag, droop or form wrinkles. When we have plenty of collagen, our skin is:
- Evenly textured
- Smooth and wrinkle-free
- Evenly toned
- Strong and thick
- Bright
Elastin
This is another protein that, when plentiful, keeps our skin in place, smooth, and young-looking. As you can guess by the name, elastin keeps our skin elastic and flexible. When we’re young and we make expressions like smiling, our skin immediately snaps back to place when our face returns to a resting position.
Young skin can be pulled, pinched, and manipulated but will still return to its original position. This means gravity can’t even pull it out of place when we have enough elastin.
Hyaluronic Acid
This is a naturally produced sugar that keeps our skin, eyes, and connective tissues hydrated. Each sugar molecule holds 1000 times its weight in water, so when we have plenty of this substance, our skin looks plump, dewy, and supple.
As We Age
As we age, we lose production of all three of our powerhouses of youthful skin. Around the time we turn 20, we lose 1% of collagen production per year. When collagen drops, so do elastin and hyaluronic acid. This causes major structural changes in our skin and it’s not as resilient as it once was.
Though time will deplete us of collagen, there are things we do that increase the loss of this protein even more. The biggest culprit, by far, is the sun. 90% of the damage to our skin is done by the sun. Dermatologists and estheticians agree that the single best investment you can make it your skin is a bottle of sunscreen. Other things to avoid to keep your skin looking young and healthy include:
- Smoking
- A diet high in sugar and processed food
- Long-term unmanaged stress levels
- Lack of sleep
- Not drinking enough water
- Excessive alcohol consumption
What Losing Collagen Does
As we get older, that really strong layer of skin weakens. The fibers that were once so tightly packed together become more spread out, so when we smile or make other repeated expressions, those fibers get pushed around. Eventually, they’ll be moved around enough that they form permanent areas of weakness. We no longer have as much elastin holding our skin in place, so wrinkles form.
Places where the foundation of our skin was strong are now riddled with crevices. The older we get, the deeper and longer those crevices become, and so do the wrinkles on the skin on top of them. Underneath we’re also not regenerating cells as quickly as we used to, so sun-damaged cells and uneven skin tone and texture become prevalent.
Solutions
Don’t worry: all hope is not lost. If you’ve been to a medspa or dermatologist’s office recently, you know each offers a menu of solutions for just about any area of concern you might have. Some of our favorite treatments are chemical peels. We like these because they’re one of the most versatile treatments we offer.
What Are Chemical Peels?
Chemical peels are a skin resurfacing treatment. They’re designed to remove layers of skin cells to reveal brighter, smoother, and younger-looking skin. We love them because they come in different strengths, so whether you’re looking for a light boost or a deeper rejuvenation, one of our three peels can meet your needs.
There are a lot of questions about chemical peels because there are so many on the market. There are even peels that require general anesthesia and weeks of downtime. We don’t offer the most extreme peels, but we offer treatments that will get you real results and address multiple concerns in one appointment.
How Are Chemical Peels Performed? 7 Things to Know
If you’re considering a chemical peel, just know we’ll work closely with you to decide with is the right peel for your skin and your concerns. There are a few things to know upfront so you can get the most out of your treatment.
#1 Chemical Peels Address Multiple Concerns
What makes these treatments so popular is how effective they are in multiple areas of concern. We’ll walk you through how a chemical peel can address the issues you’re struggling with. Most peels can address varying degrees of:
- Acne
- Mild scarring
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Age spots
- Sun damage
- Uneven skin texture
- Dull complexion
#2 There Are Three Different Levels
You’ll choose the level of peel based on your areas of concern and the severity of what you’d like addressed. Our peels feature one or a combination of:
- Glycolic acid
- Salicylic acid
- Lactic acid
- Trichloroacetic acid
- Carbolic acid
Glo and Go
This is our mildest peel and will cause little to no peeling. It takes about 30 minutes, and when you’re done, you’ll have glowing skin. This removes the top layer of dead and dull skin cells, revealing the complexion that was hiding just below.
The Weekend Peel
We can target deeper concerns with this medium strength peel. If you want to tackle fine lines, uneven skin texture, and a dull and drab complexion, this is the peel for you. We call it the weekender because it takes two days or so to see the final results.
The Deep Peel
Our strongest level, this chemical peel is ideal for targeting deeper issues like stubborn pigmentation, acne scarring, and uneven tone and texture. You will see big results from this 45-minute peel. You’ll experience a significant amount of peeling that results in a transformative new complexion.
#3 You Need to Avoid a Few Things Before Treatment
So you get the most out of your treatment, we’ll talk about the things you should avoid before coming in for treatment. Because a chemical peel is a solution applied directly to the skin, you’ll want to have as clear and clean a surface as possible so you get even penetration. Each patient may have different pre-treatment instructions, but in general, we’ll ask that you:
- Avoid sun exposure or tanning beds for two weeks before treatment
- Avoid using any products containing retinoids for two weeks
- Apply any topical products we suggest before treatment
If you develop a cold sore, skin infection, or lesion of any kind, you must call us to reschedule. The skin’s surface must be free of any kind of injury to receive a peel.
#4 We’ll Keep You Comfortable
While the term “chemical peel” doesn’t sound all that comfortable, they are. Depending on the strength you receive, we have different measures to keep you comfortable. Mostly, our clients are kept totally comfortable just from the use of our fan. We will sometimes use cool compresses to just calm the skin down.
When you arrive, we’ll make sure your skin is clean. Once it is, we’ll apply the chemical solution that corresponds to the depth you’ve selected. We may apply a numbing cream, but most of our clients are very comfortable without it. We’ll apply the chemical solution to your face using cotton pads. We’ll allow the peel to work for the designated amount of time, and then we’ll wash it off.
#5 Post Care Is Important
Once we’ve washed the peel off, we’ll apply a soothing serum and protective balm or lotion to your face. The single most important thing you can do is wear sunscreen every single day for two weeks no matter what the weather is. Your skin will be very sensitive to the sun, so this is our number one instruction.
Next, while your skin is peeling, you’ll need to use a gentle cleanser and moisturizer every day. Keeping things gentle will allow your skin to heal the way it should while promoting healthy cell regeneration.
#6 Results Are Immediate and Delayed
Chemical peels are designed to take layers of skin cells off your complexion. You will immediately see some results. A lot of our clients report their skin is brighter and more vibrant right away. The real results come as your body naturally sheds the dull and dead cells over the following week.
The depth of peel you received will determine the kinds of results you’ll see. Because your body will see this as an injury, though it won’t look or feel like it, it will begin producing more collagen.
Collagen
You already know what this means to the skin and how much younger it can make your skin look. Over the next few weeks, as collagen builds up, you’ll see fine lines fill in, dark spots fade, and color and tone even out. The deeper the peel you’ve gotten, the more collagen produced. In this way, results are delayed but will keep improving over the four weeks after a medium to deep peel.
#7 Other Treatments Can Make Chemical Peels More Effective
We love pairing a chemical peel with microblading. If you get microblading done first, it removes a very superficial layer of dead skin cells along with all the peach fuzz on your face. This makes everything you put on your skin absorb more easily, including the solution of a chemical peel. Ask us about this and other options that might be a good pre-treatment for a chemical peel.
Maintenance
Once you’ve seen what a chemical peel can do for your skin, we’ll work with you to determine how often you should get them and if you could supplement your results with other treatments. We offer an extensive menu of treatments to solve any skin issues or signs of aging you’re dealing with.
Call for an Appointment
We love helping our clients look and feel their best. If you’re tired of seeing signs of aging and a dulling complexion, call Texas Laser and Aesthetics in Austin, TX for a consultation. We’re committed to helping all our clients meet all their aesthetic goals. We look forward to helping you too!
