As an esthetician, your clients’ skin goals are your number one priority—that means you’ll stop at nothing to help them achieve that smooth, healthy glow they’re after. One of the best ways to help your clients level up their overall skin health is by introducing them to something that sounds just a little bit scary, but in reality, a chemical peel can help to reveal younger, smoother skin.
That’s right—we’re talking about chemical peels.
Admittedly, a chemical peel doesn’t sound super appealing (no pun intended), but it’s actually a vital part of any skincare regimen. Chemical peels can help reduce skin discoloration, fade scars, treat wrinkles, and so much more!
At this point, you’re probably intrigued. If you’re wondering “what exactly is a chemical peel, anyway?” then you’re in the right place. We’ve created this go-to guide as in introduction to everything you need to know about chemical peels, implanting them in your clients’ skincare routines, and why chemical peels are beneficial.
Keep reading for more information!
What Exactly is a Chemical Peel?
For simplicity’s sake, we’re going to break down the definition of a chemical peel into super basic terminology (don’t worry, you won’t find any confusing jargon here).
A chemical peel is a skin-resurfacing procedure where a qualified esthetician (hey, that’s you) applies a chemical solution to someone’s skin—typically their face—to remove the top layers. The skin that grows back to replace those chemically removed skin layers is smoother, younger, and overall, healthier.
There are several types of chemical peels available, all intending to accomplish different things. The three most common types are based on depths—light, medium, and dark—all use different chemical solutions for different outcomes.
- Light Chemical Peel—A light chemical peel is often called a superficial chemical peel. This depth removes the outermost layer of skin (your epidermis) and is often used as a solution to treat fine lines, wrinkles, acne, uneven skin tones, and even dryness. Typically, these can safely take place every two-to-five weeks (all depending on the results you’re looking for).
- Medium Chemical Peel—This type of peel goes just a little bit deeper than a light chemical peel. This peel removes skin cells from the epidermis (like the light chemical peel) but takes it a step further by peeling from portions of the upper part of your middle layer of skin—the dermis. These types of peels can’t happen as frequently—the recommendation for repeat procedures is every 3-9 months.
- Deep Chemical Peel—This is the most intense type of chemical peel. A deep peel will remove skin cells from your epidermis, your upper dermis layer, and your mid-to-lower layer of your dermis, too. A doctor will only recommend a deep chemical peel if you have precancerous growths, scars, or deep-set wrinkles. This type of peel can only be performed once.
Who Should Receive a Chemical Peel?
It’s important to point out before we dive into the benefits of a chemical peel that this type of skincare procedure isn’t for everyone. If your clients are curious about chemical peels, the best way to determine if they’re a candidate is to assess their skin type, their history, and their bill of health to get a better idea.
Though every case is different, typically, ideal candidates for chemical peels have lighter hair and fairer skin. Unfortunately, darker skin tones don’t always respond as well to chemical peels and can heal unevenly. Additionally, clients with skin bulges, sags, or very severe wrinkles likely aren’t ideal candidates for a chemical peel as they won’t receive the results they’re looking for.
Further, clients who have taken acne medication with isotretinoin in it, have a personal history of ridged areas caused by an overgrowth of scar tissue, or have frequent or severe outbreaks of cold sores are not ideal chemical peel clients.
The Appealing Perks of Chemical Peels
Once you’ve determined who is and who isn’t an ideal candidate for chemical peels, you can dive in headfirst to the wonderful world of chemical peel procedures. It’s an exciting addition to any esthetician’s services because the procedure can be so beneficial for the right people.
Chemical peels have a multitude of perks, including (but certainly not limited to):
- Improved skin texture and tone
- A decrease in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- An overall smoother and younger appearance
- Treat certain types of acne
- Can reduce age spots, dark patches, freckles, and more
- Improve the appearance of mild scars
Are you ready to implement your chemical peel knowledge into your clients’ routines (or maybe even add it to your own)? Check out our one-stop skincare shop for healthy, safe, and effective chemical peel products that are easy to order and implement into your everyday routine.