Advantages of Getting a Chemical Peel in Winter

Winter has arrived, and our skin is feeling the change in the season.  It’s the time of the year when our skin starts drying up, feeling tight, flaky, red, and irritated. Though getting a chemical peel can be effective any time of the year, a little extra loving skin care in winter goes a long way toward keeping our skin healthy no matter the weather conditions.

Why does our skin seem to dislike the winter weather? 

During the fall and winter months, the humidity in the air drops as the weather gets colder. This makes it harder for our skin to keep hydrated. To top it off, the colder temperatures and chilling winds cause our lips and skin to feel “chapped.” All this causes our complexions to become drier, less even, rough, and scaly, sometimes losing their natural luminosity. 

Other factors can play a role in your skin feeling out of sorts. For example, we tend to take longer, hotter showers in the winter, and indoor heating also lowers the humidity inside. All of which can cause your skin to become drier and irritated.

Chemical Peels 101

Mayo Clinic defines a chemical peel as a procedure in which a chemical solution is applied to the skin to remove the top layers. This causes the outermost layers of dead skin to flake or “peel” off, revealing healthier, smoother, more glowing skin. The benefits of chemical peels are that it speeds up our skin’s self-renewal and rejuvenation process. They help with aging by minimizing wrinkles and fine lines, assisting with evening skin tone, and improving texture like acne scars and rough, scaly skin.

There is a wide variety of chemical peel options suited for every skin type and condition. Fortunately, they are not a one size fits all. At Vitalogy Skincare, we offer the following chemical peels:

Light Exfoliating Chemical Peels – these chemical peels revitalize the skin’s surface by creating a controlled shedding of the outermost layer of the skin. Depending on your skin type and needs, various types of exfoliators can be used. These include lactic acid, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid. These lighter chemical peels are particularly great for patients new to chemical peels. We typically include these peels in our advanced facials.

Retinol Chemical Peel – retinol peels use vitamin A as the exfoliating agent. It is often combined with other peeling agents to further personalize the peel to your skin type and desired results. You are most likely to benefit from a retinol peel if you are trying to address pigment problems, visible signs of aging, clogged pores, acne, skin texture, and tone.

Jessner’s Chemical Peel – this type of peel is a light to medium-depth peel. It uses a blend of salicylic acid, lactic acid, and resorcinol. It dissolves the skin cells of the outermost layer of the skin and creates an inflammatory response from the skin just beneath that layer. This process can help remove sun damage, improve fine lines and wrinkles, scarring, skin elasticity, and minor hyperpigmentation. This is also a great peel for those suffering with acne as it assists with decreasing oil production.

TCA Chemical Peel – TCA or trichloroacetic acid peel is a deeper chemical peel, and it is the most aggressive option we offer at Vitalogy Skincare. Not only is this a great option for resurfacing, TCA can fade acne scars, smooth fine lines, and remove superficial blemishes. It is commonly used on the face and is also great for the hands, forearms, and chest area.

Why is winter a good time to get a chemical peel?

The perfect time for a chemical peel is when you can fit it into your busy schedule. The second-best time is when it is cold outside because we usually spend more time indoors, making it easier for your recovery. Here are some great benefits of getting a chemical peel in the winter:

• Less sun exposure – one of the things you need to do after getting a chemical peel is to avoid any unnecessary sun exposure to help your skin recover. Since we normally spend more time indoors during the winter months, this is helpful.
• Helps your skin with the winter weather blues – when your skin starts to get drier in the winter, it can cause flaky skin, clogged pores, and dull-looking skin. Removing the outermost layer of skin will reveal healthier skin, along with other benefits that will give your skin a renewed boost.
• Getting your skin ready for the next season – besides the great results of a chemical peel, you can also add other treatments that will benefit your skin in different ways. For example, a laser therapy treatment such as BroadBand Light (BBL)™ Phototherapy by Sciton® or SkinTyte™ is an excellent way to improve the health and condition of your skin comprehensively.

What to Expect When You Get a Chemical Peel

The first step towards getting a chemical peel is a consultation with an Aesthetician. They will examine your skin and discuss your options, goals, and expectations. This allows the Provider to create a plan specific to you. Your skin will be prepared for the peel on the day of your treatment. Application procedures vary on the type of chemical peel. Most people will feel some tingling or a burning sensation immediately following the application, and you may experience some redness. The next day, tightness can be expected and will last until the peeling process begins, typically within a couple of days of the treatment. 

Recovery

We have a wide range of customizable chemical peels that provide a tailored, condition-specific chemical peel experience. A chemical peel can be superficial, resulting in little to no social downtime. A more advanced peel can result in up to two weeks of social downtime.

To aid in your recovery and maximize the benefits of the chemical peel, we suggest our patients avoid sun exposure and use a gentle cleanser and moisturizer. In addition, apply a mineral sunscreen when stepping outside. When an advanced chemical peel is applied, we suggest using an occlusive agent like Aquaphor® or Vaseline®. Book an appointment with one of our highly qualified Aestheticians at our Bastrop, Burnet, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Harker Heights, Marble Falls, San Marcos, or Southwest Austin location. Our Board-Certified Dermatologists, Certified Physician Assistants, and Aestheticians are available to answer your questions about our Cosmetic Dermatology services.