What to Expect When Getting A Light Chemical Peel


You’ve just made your first light chemical peel appointment, and you’re pumped to see the results. But what should you expect during the treatment? You’ve come to the right place! Today we’re going to walk through what a light chemical peel appointment looks like, starting with a quick refresher into what a light chemical peel actually does. Because light chemical peels are highly customizable (no two services are the same!), we’ll be basing this blog off of THIS patient’s service
What is a light chemical peel?
A light chemical peel is an aesthetic treatment that improves the appearance of the skin by gently stripping away dead skin cells on the surface of the skin. A light chemical peel can also utilize different medical-grade components to correct specific issues such as sun damage or age spots. A series can help lighten pigmentation and treat acne as well.
Let’s walk through what you can expect from a light chemical peel treatment, starting with skin preparation\
Skin Preparation
We recommend arriving to your appointment makeup-free, but if that’s not possible, no worries! Your Dermacare of Hampton Roads Expert will prep the skin by using a gentle cleanser to remove any makeup, moisturizer, oil, or debris before the chemical peel. We use a cream-based cleanser to dissolve makeup, and we may complete an extra cleanse with a glycolic facial cleanser that is gentle, hydrating, anti-aging, and mildly exfoliating.
It’s important to note that chemical peels are the most effective when the least amount of oils are present on the skin, so we take our time to ensure that all makeup, moisturizers, and debris are removed.
Layers of Light Chemical Peels
Our Experts will design a customized treatment plan for you. The plan depends on many things including the season, level of sun damage, presence of melasma, how often you work out, how hydrated you are, etc. We also ask what your skin goals and concerns are so that we can match you with the right treatment plan.
After your skin is fully cleansed and prepped, the first layer of the chemical peel is applied. In the video above, we used a 15% TCA peel, which is great for anti-aging, hyperpigmentation, scarring, and texture.
If applicable to you, we will add a second or third layer of the peel. Along the way, we’ll ask where the sensation is on a scale of 1-10 (from mild to active to super spicy). This ensures that you’re comfortable. By applying a chemical peel, we’re creating a “controlled injury” to force the skin to create new cells. We’ll never go beyond a 7 on our active scale, which could cause damage that leads to hyperpigmentation and scarring.
For many patients, we may recommend closing the chemical peel appointment with a retinol enhancer cream that travels deep into the skin to encourage cellular turnover. We also like to end the service by offering patients a nice hydrating peptide serum (helps stimulate collagen) for the lips.
What To Expect After Treatment
The light chemical peel will work on your skin for up to 8 hours after the appointment. That means you’ll want to keep it on your skin for the remainder of the day. You can apply makeup over it, but not water because that would reduce the effectiveness. You’ll also want to avoid direct sunlight and any cardiovascular activity for 24-48 hours after treatment.
Expect a little redness after treatment or a bit of skin frosting (whitish discoloration). It’s important to note that “peeling” isn’t a sign that your chemical peel is working and that reactions to light chemical peels can vary from person to person. If you do visibly slough skin, normally that begins about 48 hours after the treatment and continues for a few days. During the sloughing, it is of utmost importance that you do not scrub, pick, or peel the flaking skin, as the premature removal of it can cause hyperpigmentation.
To learn more about the facial aesthetic treatments we offer here at Dermacare of Hampton Roads call us at 757-547-7546 or make a consultation appointment HERE.
What Our
Clients Say
From skin restoration to stubborn fat removal, we’ve helped thousands of men and women feel more beautiful and confident.
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I love going to Dermacare! I live an hour from the office but I make time to go. I used to have no idea what was best for my skin care. It was pretty intimidating with how many options and ads I wo…– Lucia G.
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I only went by to get products that I usually have to get online. But when I got there, they had the aesthetician speak with me and give me samples of what she recommended and to compare that to se…– Kimberly J.
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Love my time at Dermacare. I’ve been a client for 5+ years. Go once a month and always get great treatments from Tina. The staff is very professional and always greet me with warmth and enthusiasm….– Linda H.
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The staff at Dermacare is amazing! Thank you ladies for being so friendly and professional. Your skills are amazing! You keep me looking good.– Doretha H.
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Very clean, very professional, and super friendly. Not pretentious at all. I just think some aesthetics practices can come off cold or arrogant, but not these folks. The staff is very knowledgeable…– Angela S.
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I absolutely love Dermacare of Hampton Roads. The staff is always friendly and they are all very knowledgeable. I never feel as though I’m trying to be “sold” something I don’t need or want. The environment is…– Amber M.
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After being a client for more than 8 years, I have nothing but accolades for Dermacare of Hampton Roads.. What initially drew me to Dermacare was the fact that it was medically supervised by a doctor, extremel…– Kathryn C.
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If you’re looking for the right medspa for you, don’t look any further. My experience with Dermacare has been nothing short of exceptional. From the very first day of my consultation, the customer …– Natalie O.
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I had a great experience with Lauren with microneedling with the Vivace machine today. It was a great experience and my first time with the machine. She was very professional and full of knowledge …– Dea W.
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I came across this place on Instagram. I decided to schedule a consultation with them which was done over video chat and was very convenient. The consultation was also free. I met with a nurse who …– Vi R.
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With cellular turnover approximately every 28 days, a Dermacare Membership is the best way to keep your skin vibrant and healthy.
Our members enjoy monthly aesthetic services and laser treatments, in addition to discounts on injectables, packages, and our medical-grade skincare products.