There are three categories of chemical peels: light, medium and deep. Light peels penetrate the upper most layer of the skin (epidermis), targeting fine lines and wrinkles. Medium peels goes a little deeper and are more effective on moderate skin damage including age spots, heavy sun damage and moderate wrinkles. Deep chemical peels are more aggressive and affect the dermal layer of skin.

The type and depth of a chemical peel depends on your skin health, your goals and your current skin care habits. Discussing these concerns with your Maffi Skin Clinic aesthetician will determine the most effective peel for you.

Your face is thoroughly cleansed prior to the acid application. Depending on the peel it may also be dermaplaned. Dermaplaning allows for better absorption of the chemical solution. The chemical solution is lightly applied to your skin using a cotton pad or gauze. The solution is left on the face for a few minutes. Your aesthetician will carefully observe the changes in your skin. Certain chemical peels may need to be “neutralized” with a buffering solution or water after an appropriate length of time.

A light chemical peel has little to no downtime. At most it may feel like a light sunburn, your face may have some redness and skin flaking for 3 – 5 days. A medium to deep peel will have increased redness with peeling for 7 – 10 days.

We recommend using Skinceuticals Chemical Peel Essentials to complement your chemical peel treatment. Following a peel your skin is much more sensitive to the sun, a broad spectrum sunscreen should be applied daily. If a dermaplane was not done with the initial peel, it can be scheduled one week after the treatment to remove any remaining dry, flaky skin.

Light chemical peels such as our Maffi’s Micropeel can be done once a month as part of your ongoing skin maintenance program. Medium to deep peels can be performed 2 – 3 times a year. Discussing your skin health goals with a Maffi Skin Clinic aesthetician can help determine the best regimen for you.