Skin peels – your questions answered

The idea of lifting away years of skin damage in a comfortable and non-invasive way is very appealing to many people and skin peels can combat a wide range of skin conditions including pigmentation, dullness, dryness, aging, breakouts and acne.

At Sensoria we use Dermalogica peels for their ‘progressive’ rather than ‘aggressive’ action on the skin. Depending on the type of peel chosen, it is rare for skin to be sensitive to these peels and yet they deliver outstanding results.

Our skin care clinic at Sensoria places your skin care as our priority so a patch test, a full consultation and aftercare advice, is always included so you can achieve maximum benefits from your skin peel.

Peels utilise hydroxy acids which work by dissolving the intercellular “glue” that holds skin cells together, allowing them to shed more easily. It’s a sort of ‘super-exfoliator’ and professional, in-salon peels can do this far more effectively than at-home peels.
It is the ‘next step’ in your skin care routine, elevating your facial programme to the next level.

What are the different types of acid used in a skin peel

Here at Sensoria we have chosen three different types of acid to carry out skin peels – lactic acid, glycolic acid and salicylic acid.

They have been selected for their safety and efficacy to deliver the results that our clients demand, which can include:

Reduce wrinkle depth
Decrease pigmentation (brown spots)
Increase skin firmness
Brighten up dull skin
Improvement in skin texture
Combat blackheads and whiteheads
Reduce breakouts
Combat skin dryness and flakiness

Generally our clients have one or two of the skin challenges above, but in some instances it can be all of the above so we have products to treat all of these concerns.

As treatments progress the acids can be ‘layered’ to treat more than one skin concern at a time.

Are peels effective?

A peels effectiveness depends very much on the type of peel chosen, the strength of the peel and its pH too.

Peels are a ‘results’ driven treatment, but do not expect results immediately. It often takes between 3 – 6 peels to enjoy the full benefit of this type of treatment.

Effectiveness can also depend on the practitioner carrying out the treatment. At Sensoria all our practitioners are thoroughly trained and fully qualified. They are Dermalogica Experts who have to renew and update their skills on an annual basis to maintain their Expert status.

How often do I need a skin peel?

This will depend on your skin type and the improvement you are looking for.

To and minimise downtime, and deliver the best and safest results, a series of peels are usually performed over a six to twelve week period, followed by maintenance twice a year.

What is the difference between a Pro Power Peel 30 and a Pro Power Peel 60 skin treatment?

A Pro Power Peel 30 is for people who are looking for an express treatment. Taking just thirty minutes it is a customised peel to instantly rejuvenate and refresh your skin.

A Pro Power Peel 60 has all the benefits of a Pro Power Peel 30 but includes additional deep treatment using advanced techniques and technologies to enhance the results of the peel.

What are the benefits of the glycolic peel?

The Advanced Renewal peel is our 30% glycolic acid.

Glycolic Acid facilitates deep exfoliation and cell renewal. This peel also includes Phytic Acid and opuntia (prickly pear) flower extract which aids in cell turnover, brightens the skin and provides antioxidant benefits as well as improving skin luminosity.

It helps to resurface the skin to help fight the visible effects of AGEs (Advanced Glycation End-products) to minimise the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation, minimises the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and evens skin tone.

What are the benefits of the salycylic acid peel?

The Power Clear Peel is our 30% Salicylic Acid-Mandelic Acid clearing peel with a patented Terpineol-Thymol Complex. This powerful peel targets blemishes and visibly diminishes post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. It also helps to prevent breakouts and diminishes excess oil.

The acid penetrates comedones to help remove impaction plugs, that is to say, blackheads. It patented terpineol-Thymol Complex helps diminish excess oil and works with skin’s natural microbiome to kill breakout-causing bacteria in minutes. Very impressive!

What are the benefits of lactic acid peel??

The Ultrabirght peel is our 30% lactic acid peel.?

We use it to target pigmentation challenges and to generally brighten the skin. It’s excellent for hyperpigmentation such as dark spots, sun damage and acne scars.?It also has a fairly large molecule size making it the most tolerable of all the peels and is suitable for more sensitive skins.

Will my skin actually peel off?

It is extremely rare, but not impossible, for your skin to peel. Most people don’t experience any visible peeling but a few experience a light ‘flaking’.

Flaking is not an indication that the peel has or hasn’t worked. Even clients who don’t flake get excellent results.

Generally, the treated skin looks brighter and fresher following a peel and if aftercare measures are adhered to properly then the skin will settle well.

How do I prepare for a skin peel

There is very little you need to do other than discontinue products such as retinol and retinoids about 72 hours prior to treatment. These types of products can make your skin overly sensitive to the peels causing redness.

If you are new to peels then it’s a good idea to start increasing your at-home exfoliation during the months and weeks approaching your peel date, but do not use any deep exfoliating treatments within 72 hours of the peel itself.

Does it hurt?

Most people find Dermalogica skin peels very comfortable with little more than a light skin tingling or skin prickling. Massage movements are used to alleviate any sensation during the application to make it even more comfortable.

Throughout the treatment your feedback allows us to monitor the sensation and adjust the process accordingly.

A neutralising solution is used at the end of the application so that there is no skin sensation by the time that you leave the salon.

Can I combine peels with other skin treatments?

Peels can be easily be combined with other treatments in your skin care programme.

They are ideal before a light-based therapy such as IPL or laser as the removal of dead skin cells allows the light to penetrate more easily.

They are also very good complement to anti-wrinkle injections and to skin needling to deliver in better skin care results.

Where is the patch test done?

The patch test is carried out in the salon behind your ear.

You will need to monitor the patch test for 48 hours and notify us if there is any redness, itching or other discomfort prior to treatment.

Patch tests are re-done if you have had any changes to your health or medication. This includes covid vaccines and covid infections.

Skin peel Tarporley

For more practical advice on self-care, wellbeing and any of our holistic health, beauty & wellbeing treatments get in touch today.

Originally published February 1, 2022