It only seems like a moment ago that we were writing about protecting your skin in the summer months and now the colder months are here. Fall is a fantastic time to repair and rejuvenate the skin after summer, and it is the perfect season for peels.

“Peel” is probably the most intimidating word in the beauty dictionary. But honestly, it isn’t as scary as it sounds.  Chemical peels have been used since ancient times. It is said that Cleopatra applied sour milk containing lactic acid to her skin making her among the first to appreciate the benefits of chemical peels. There are many different options when it comes to peels, many different actives that treat certain conditions better than others.

Peel solutions most typically contain either alpha hydroxy acids (an AHA such as glycolic acid), beta hydroxy acid (salicylic acid, also known as BHA), tricholoracetic acid (TCA), or phenol as the exfoliating agent. At Novo we use a wide range of AHA’s, BHA’s and Enzyme peels to treat varying conditions and concerns.

When applied to the skin these acids interact with proteins causing exfoliation and peeling of the skin.  Different acids cause peeling at different depths. Chemical peels can be used to improve acne, pigmentation, wrinkles, skin tone and texture.  They are an excellent way to freshen up the skin and to maintain skin’s health.

Bottom line: The purpose of a chemical peel is to erase imperfections and improve skin tone and texture by removing layers of damaged skin.

Keep in mind that each of these treatment benefits will depend on your skin, the strength of the peel, and the number of peels you get. You will usually need more than one peel to achieve your desired skin results.

Peels are great for everyone but there are some contra-indications so we always do a thorough consultation to make sure it is the right treatment for you and will give you the results you are looking for.

On a side note there are some great at home care peel products and treatments to do in between your spa treatments. At Novo all the estheticians are in love with the results from the Arctic Berry Peel & Peptide Illuminating System from Eminence this is a 10% at home care peel treatment which contains 6 different types of acids (mandelic, lactic, azelaic, glycolic, citric and pyruvic acid)  It is great for this time of year and will last through to Christmas to keep your skin glowing and looking it’s best!

You too can and should think about chemical peels!

Best wishes