A chemical skin peel may sound as though it’ll be scary. However, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s neither harmful nor painful. At The Sun Lounge, we use trichloroacetic acid (TCA) to perform safe and effective skin peels. They can improve the appearance of fine lines and shallow wrinkles, and also give the skin a boost of collagen. This also results in a reduction of superficial pigmentation. There’s a complex science behind these treatments, which can make them appear a bit mysterious. We’ve put together this informative guide so you can learn exactly how this treatment works, and whether it’s right for you.
What Is A TCA Chemical Skin Peel?
TCA comes in a variety of strengths. Your beauty therapist will decide which strength will be most appropriate for your skin. Although you can buy this acid yourself, you won’t find anything in a strength above 10% for home use. Anything above this is considered as medical grade. The chemical skin peels that we do involve acid strengths of between 15% and 50%, so you’ll see far more noticeable results with professional treatments.
The acid is applied to your skin. It’s then able to penetrate the surface of your skin. The strength of the acid will dictate how deep it can go. Stronger acids result in more discomfort and longer downtime after treatment. Therefore, most therapists choose to use a medium strength TCA peel of around 15% – 20%.
What Do Chemical Skin Peels Do?
As the acid penetrates the skin, it also exfoliates the outer layer. Because it penetrates the epidermis, it stimulates the production of collagen, elastic and hyaluronic acid. These all contribute to younger and brighter looking skin.
If you get regular skin peels (we recommend around twice per year), then over time your skin will see additional benefits. The regular stimulation of collagen will result in your skin becoming tighter and smoother with a noticeable glow. To ensure that you’re getting chemical skin peels at intervals that will give you the best results, be sure to listen to your practitioner’s recommendations.
Are There Side Effects?
Yes, there are some side effects to be aware of. The severity of these effects will increase with the strength of the acid used. Therefore, if you’d like to reduce the likelihood of these, you should ask your therapist to use the weakest effective acid they can. It’s common to experience redness, inflammation and irritation after treatment. This usually goes away quickly, but it’s important to take the correct aftercare to minimise these effects.
To reduce the likelihood of side effects, avoid tanning before and after the peel. You should also avoid any skincare products with acids or active ingredients, including retinol around this time. A simple moisturiser should be all that your skin needs for at least 2 weeks after treatment.
For Chemical Skin Peels, Choose The Sun Lounge
If you’d like to experience the benefits of a chemical skin peel, get in touch with the team at The Sun Lounge today. People of all ages and skin types can improve the appearance of their complexion with periodic peels. Use our online booking system today or get in touch for further details.