Skin Peels in Cheltenham

You'll find a wide range of chemical peels in Cheltenham, but how do you choose the right

peel for your skin?

Firstly, chemical peels are a treatment to rejuvenate the skin and come in a variety of different acids and strengths. A chemical peel can help to reduce wrinkles, fade hyperpigmentation and treat acne and rosacea. The more superficial peels are great at giving you an instant glow, perfect before a special event or big night out. As your skin constantly replaces itself (known as cell turnover), the results won't last forever. You'll need a course of treatments every 3 to 4 weeks to address deeper textural or pigmentation concerns. Your practitioner will advise on the recommended course for your individual skin concern.

How do chemical peels work?

A chemical peel is a 'chemical exfoliation' and it works by encouraging faster exfoliation of the top layer of skin, mainly the stratum corneum which consists of layers of dead skin cells tightly held together. Salicylic acid will also exfoliate inside the pores, great for acne prone skin or blackhead sufferers .

As a result of this increased cell turnover, you will produce new skin at a faster rate and the softer fresher skin underneath is more visible giving you a lovely glow. You'll also produce more collagen and elastin and the quality of any new skin cells will be improved. Even sensitive skin and rosacea can be improved with superficial, gentle chemical peels.

Are chemical peels painful?

Superficial to medium depth peels tend to produce a nice comforting warm feeling. The deeper the peel, the 'spicier' the feeling will be. It's best described as temporary mild to moderate discomfort. The sensation will reduce as the peel is neutralised or soothing layers are added. You may feel some tightness and a little soreness as the days progress and your skin starts to exfoliate. Deep peels will be more uncomfortable during and after, speak to your doctor for more advice specific to the peel your are going to have.

What are the most common acids used in chemical peels?

The most common acids used in skin rejuvenation are:

Lactic Acid

Glycolic Acid

Mandelic Acid (not for nut allergy sufferers)

Salicylic Acid

Resourcinol

Phenol

TCA (Trichloroaceticacid) Any peel above 10% should only be performed by a medical professional

Jessners peel

Are chemical peels safe in the summer?

Yes, they are safe to have all year round, including the peak of the summer, providing you follow the aftercare instructions. Having a chemical peel will make your skin more sensitive to the sun and at increased risk of sun burn and hyperpigmentation. It's therefore important that you protect your face from the sun in the first two weeks at least after a peel, this means:

Avoiding sun exposure, seek shade when outside

Wearing a wide brimmed hat

Wearing a high factor good quality sunscreen and reapply throughout the day as advised.

Will I need to take time off work to have a peel?

Most peels available now require little to no downtime, you can even have one in your lunchbreak. Only mild flaking is expected in the first week or so, with a little redness immediately after the procedure for some . If you have very resilient skin, you may not even see any visible peeling, but you'll still see the fantastic results.

The deeper the peel, the more flaking and side effects you are likely to experience. Most chemical peels offered are superficial to medium depth and can give similar results to a deeper peel with repeated treatments without the need for all the nasty side effects and associated time off work and social activities.

So how do I choose which peel is right for me?

I would recommend starting by finding a clinic that you trust, either through a recommendation or from doing research online and book yourself in for a consultation. You can search 'chemical peels near me' and check out the qualifications of the practitioners and reviews before you book in. Your practitioner will do the hard work and decide which acids will be best for your skin type and will come up with an appropriate treatment plan to improve your skin.