Skin Care

Everything You Need to Know About Chemical Peels

Just about everyone can benefit from a chemical peel -- and the experience is easier than you'd ever imagine.

by Dawn Davis | COMMENT

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If you've never had a chemical peel, you might imagine it would make your skin look like beef carpaccio a la Samantha in "Sex and the City." But the truth is, chemical peels have come a long way in the last 15 years. "You used to have redness for three to four weeks," says Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon Taylor Pollei, MD, of Lasky Skin Center. Now, thanks to buffering ingredients and customizable treatments, there's minimal downtime. "Even though you're peeling, exfoliating, and flaking... you can still get out and about and do your thing. That's different from the peels I used in the past," he says.

And chemical peels can be used to treat just about anything. "All skin concerns can benefit from regular peels," says Dr. Pollei. "Fine lines, crepiness, discoloration -- those are the main issues. You'll see an improvement in skin texture and smoothness." He says he likes to recommend peels to patients because they can simultaneously treat so many things with little downtime.

So we challenged Dr. Pollei to create peel regimens for four women -- each with different skin concerns ranging from acne to aging. He accepted our challenge and gave them each a series of three or four treatments using various PCA Skin peels he offers in his office. "After one peel, you'll see some improvement, but then it's exponential," he explains.

SEE NEXT PAGE: Chemical Peels Can Treat Acne

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