An Introduction to At-Home Facial Peels
What is an At-Home-Facial Peel?
Skin exfoliation has many benefits. The removal of the outermost layer allows younger and fresher skin to come up. It also removes dirt, impurities and excess oil which reduces the occurrence of acne. If you are looking for a treatment to reduce dark spots and marks, exfoliation is a great option.
At-home facial peels are one of the methods to exfoliate your skin. They are usually stronger than your facial scrub but not as concentrated as the chemical peels used at the dermatologist’s clinic. An important point to remember is that your facial peel must have a pH value of 2. If the pH value is higher than this, the peel will be less effective in doing its job.
Types of Facial Peels
To help you learn more about chemical peels, here are three major types of peels categorised according to their strength.
Weak – Superficial Peels
If you are not looking for an intensive treatment, a superficial peel is more than enough. The concentration of these peels is low, so you do not have to wait for recovery after a peeling session. Superficial peels target problems like rough skin and minor discoloration. Some good superficial peels are lactic acid and less concentrated salicylic acid.
Average – Medium Peels
For a stronger treatment that penetrates deeper into the skin, you can try medium peels. These peels are much stronger and may require a day or two of precautions and post-care after the session. Medium peels treat skin problems like mild scarring, wrinkles, fine lines, age spots and melasma. They are also used to kill precancerous cell growth in the skin. Good options for medium peels include – TCA peels and strong Glycolic Acid.
Strong – Deep Peels
These are the strongest peels out there. They penetrate deep into the skin to treat damaged skin cells, severe scarring, discoloration and wrinkles. Remember, you should never do a deep peel at home. It should only be done by a professional in a clinic. A lot can go wrong here as the peels are very strong. If not done properly, the deep peels can do more harm than good.
Application
First, run a patch test to ensure that you are not allergic to the peel. Apply a small amount of the peel on your arm and wash it off after the recommended time. Wait for 48 hours to see if you have developed any allergic reaction to it. Check again after 96 hours for any delayed onset response. If everything is good, go ahead with your facial peel.
- Gently apply the chemical peel on your face. Avoid the sensitive areas under your eyes and around the nose.
- For starters, keep the peel on for 30 seconds only. You can increase the duration by 5 seconds with every new session, till you can wear the peel for 5 minutes. But make that increase gradually.
- Now wash off the peel. Congratulations! You have finished your first peel at home.
Aftercare
For at least 24 hours, stay away from products with retinoids, vitamin C and other chemical peels. Apply a gentle moisturizer after the peel and allow your skin to heal. Also, stay away from the sun.
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The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website and its articles are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or skincare treatment. Always seek the advice of your dermatologist, doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new skin care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
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