Our esthetician is trained in SkinMedica and Epionce Chemical Peels.  Our most aggressive peel is the TCA Blue Peel, and this is performed by Dr. Abbott.

Select the peel based on (1) your goals (2) skin condition that you have (3) timing with work and special events.  Let me guide you to select the peel that is right for you, using a few examples:

Joanne, age 38 is going to her sister’s wedding in 1 week, and wants her skin to look it’s best.  Her goals are increased skin glow and radiance, tightening of the skin to ease lines and fine wrinkles, and to have an overall more youthful appearnce.   Her skin health is normal, although she has a history of cold sores on the upper lip.  She works in advertising, and does not want to miss any work.  She also does not want her clients to know that she has had a peel.  Finally, she has a special event, her sister’s wedding, and she doesn’t want to risk looking worse!

The best choice for Joanne is the SkinMedica Illuminize Peel.  This peel is superficial, and very gentle.  It combines new generation alpha hydroxy acids with phytic acid.  There is little to no visible peeling.  If peeling occurs, it will be gone in 3 days.  Her skin will glow, be smoother and achieve the more youthful look that she is after.  This service takes about 20 minutes, and there is minimal discomfort.  She can apply mineral makeup right away to cover up any redness, and therefore she will not miss any work, and no one will know that she had this service.  Because Joanne has a history of cold sores, she will get a prescription from Dr. Abbott for Valtrex, a tablet that she will take twice a day starting 2 days before the peel, and continuing for 5 days total.  That will prevent her from getting a flareup of cold sores.  The Illuminize Peel costs $95.

Mary, age 41 wants a peel that combines the benefits of betahydroxy acids with natural plant based acids.  Her goal is to improve skin clarity, even out color and to have a smoother texture.   Her skin health is that she has the occasional breakout of acne that she describes as small red bumps around the mouth and chin area.  She also has early rosacea, with mild increased redness over the nose and upper cheeks.  She works for a dentist Mon to Thursday, and does not want to take time off work.  Her special event  is a trip to Cancun in 2 months.

An excellent choice for Mary is the Epionce Signature Peel.  This peel can be customized to be superficial or deeper.  Because she has rosacea, her first peel should be more superficial, and we would stop at the Equalizer Peel.  This combines the benefits of salicylic acid, with willow bark extract and onion bulb extract.  The peel causes mild tingling, followed by redness for 1-2 days, and may include slight peeling on Day 2-3.  The redness is easily concealed with mineral makeup, and the peeling is managed with the Skin Barrier Repair Kit (contains a mild cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen – all that you will need for the first week).  If she has the peel on a Friday, she will be back to work on Monday.  The salicylic acid is particularly good for managing acne.  After 2-3 weeks, Mary might want to repeat the peel, but talk to the Dr. or esthetician about going a bit “deeper” (by deeper, we mean to penetrate to a deeper layer of skin, resulting in more peeling, but also more benefit).  This means that we would add the Peel Booster that contains an enriched apple extract.  The result is more skin tightening and peeling.  She might want to use the Clarisonic Pro every morning in the shower to help remove any dead skin that is peeling away.  After all chemical peels, it is important to wear sun screen every day and avoid unnecessary sun exposure for 1-2 weeks.  She has a trip to Cancun, and will be all healed up if she has her has peel 1 month before the trip.  While in Cancun I want her to wear a broad brimmed hat, SPF 30 sunscreen (reapplying it every 2 hours), and a mineral foundation when she is out walking or touring around.  A superficial Epionce Peel starts at $80 and with the Peel Booster costs $120.

Betty Anne, is age 58 and is retired.  She and her husband enjoy golf, and for 2 months in the winter go to Palm Springs.  She has had considerable sun exposure over her lifetime.  She is pleased with how Botox has eased her wrinkles to her forehead and crow’s feet.  Juvederm filler has enhanced her lips, and Radiesse has filled out her upper cheeks.  Her goals for a chemical peel are to reduce the brown spots caused by age and photodamage (sun exposure), tighten her skin and further reduce fine lines on her cheeks, and the lines on her upper lips.  Her skin health is that she has had a basal cell carcinoma removed from her nose by a dermatologist, and actinic keratoses burned off her face in the past with Dr. Abbott.  Her special event is that she wants to look her best when she goes back to the desert and sees her golf friends at the country club.

A great choice for Betty Anne is to have the Skin Medica Vitalize Peel.  She should plan on having 3 peels performed 3 weeks apart.  The first peel will consist of one pass with the peeling agent.  Based on her response (amount of peeling), she may be able to increase to 2 passes on her 2nd and 3rd Vitalize Peel.  Vitalize contains lactic acid, resorcinol, and salicylic acid.  The final step includes the application of retinoic acid.  She will leave the med spa with mild redness, and with a light yellowish glow to her skin.  We always apply a sun screen after each peel, and recommend the application of mineral foundation right away.  For the first 1-3 days, she may feel like she had a mild windburn with tightness, redness and perhaps itching.  After 1-3 days, peeling will begin.  Peeling usually starts around the mouth and proceeds to the cheeks and forehead.  Using the Clarisonic Pro every morning in the shower, she can exfoliate the dead skin, and stimulate new skin to form.  The Skin Barrier Repair Kit is an absolute must for the first week.  And she knows to stay out of the sun for the next week.  Sunscreen is worn every day, even if she only takes short trips out in the car to run errands.  After 5-7 days, she will have smoother, more youthful skin.  Fine lines may appear less evident.  Redness from sun damaged skin lessens, and brown spots are greatly improved.  She will continue to fight the recurrence of the brown spots by using Obagi 4% hydroquinone, and a high quality sun screen.  She will see her dermatologist every 6 months for a skin cancer check.  The Vitalize Peel is very affordable at a cost of $130.

Regardless of the Chemical Peel that you have, I advise you to use the Skin Barrier Repair Kit for one week afterwards.  This easy to use kit contains enough cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen to last for one week.  It is fragrance free, paraben free and non comedogenic.  The Milky Lotion Cleanser works well with the Clarisonic Pro.  Next you apply the Medical Barrier Cream that moisturizers the skin, and helps ease any burning or stinging sensations.  Finally, apply the Active Shield Lotion SPF 30.  Reapply the Barrier Cream and Sunscreen as often as needed.  The Skin Barrier Kit costs only $30.

After one week, you may then resume your previous skin care routine.

We are located at 14450 Eagle Run Drive, one block south of Maple.  Phone us at 402 614 5556.