Concerns

Daily-Use

These are sometimes referred to as a micro peel or mini peel. These are recommended for those with very sensitive skin types and those looking more for a maintenance peel to keep your skin looking clean, healthy and blemish free.

Our micro peels have a maximum concentration of 10% acids and a pH of 3.5 or higher. They follow CIR panel safety recommendations published by the FDA.

Level 1

Also known as light peels or lunchtime peels, these are very superficial peels which act on the outermost epidermal skin layers. They are fast, easy, and can be performed at home or in the physician's office without the aid of an anesthetic. They generally do not cause any visible peeling and have a much lower risk of irritation or possible side effects. level 1 peels have increased in popularity over the last few years, since you can typically return to work immediately following the treatment without the longer recovery periods of a deeper peel. They are great for those with sensitive skin types, skin maintenance, and those who are new to skin peels.

Level 2

This level is referred to as superficial peels. They are almost twice as strong compared to level 1 peels and visible peeling is sometimes possible depending on skin type, skin thickness, the length of application, and the number of layers applied. They are great for those with non-sensitive skin, dull skin or those who need more correction than maintenance.

Level 2 peels will be more aggressive on the skin compared to level 1, so it is important to remove the peel according to the recommended time frames, especially when using it for the first time.

Level 3

This level is referred to as medium depth peels. They are stronger and more aggressive than level 2 peels. Visible peeling is more likely to occur depending on several factors. A level 2 peel should first be used successfully without irritation or complication before attempting a level 3 peel. These are great for experienced peelers and those with resistant skin to other treatments. Level 3 peels may require some downtime depending on how well your skin tolerates it. It is very important you follow correct times for application when using it for the first time. There is a higher risk of irritation and side effects associated with level 3 peels. Currently we only sell level 3 to licensed professionals.

Level 4

These are known as deep peels or strong peels. Phenol acid or high strength TCA peels 50% + is used for this type of procedure. These peels are not recommended for home use, and should only be performed by a licensed professional. The process may take up to 1-2 hours for a full facial peel, or 20-25 minutes for spot treatment. Deep peels are normally performed in a surgery center or doctor's office using the aid of an anesthetic for pain. These peels will typically provide the most benefit. However, they have a higher risk level, longer downtimes, and a much higher premium. Perfect Image does not currently sell level 4 peels.

Age

In the age category, these are products which are focused and address anti-aging concerns such as age spots, wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots, dry skin, loss of moisture, loss of elasticity.

Clear

Skin clarifying products are products that focus on controlling or improving concerns of oiliness, acne prone, breakouts, and redness. It can be extended to help improve the appearance of enlarged pores and maintaining a healthy and clear complexion.

Tone

These are products that focus on refining or improving the tone of your skin such as uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation, sun spots, light scarring, mild discoloration. These products focus on incorporating more skin brightening ingredients which work synergistically with the actives.

Most peels will not remove deep lines or wrinkles. They can visibly improve the tone, texture, smoothness, and appearance of lines and wrinkles with consistent use, but not completely remove them. If used consistently for longer periods of time, it may improve the deeper lines and wrinkles over time.

If you have sensitive skin and little to no wrinkles, the lactic, glycolic, and salicylic acids will work best for you. We recommend starting with a daily-use peel or a level 1 peel. These are more mild for sensitive skin types. Also, avoid using an alcohol prep pad or toner prior to the peel as this can increase your sensitivity to the peel. It's important to test before using because each person's skin is different. Some people can leave the peel on for 5 minutes, while other people can only handle 30 seconds.

Salicylic daily-use would be our first choice for sensitive skin or the daily use Tri-clarity peel pad. Salicylic acid has several properties that make it a very effective treatment for sensitive skin. It acts as an anti-inflammatory to help immediately reduce the inflammation of the acne. Salicylic is relatively gentle and a great exfoliator. There is little risk of complication because of the nature of the molecule, it will not penetrate past a certain level compared to other acids.

Peel results will vary based off of skin type and severity of the skin concern. Those with mild acne and blemishes may see results within a few days of a peel while it may take weeks for others to begin to see the desired results. It is typical to have a few initial breakouts when using the salicylic acid. If you have acne, as the peel works to degongest your pores some of the underlying dirt and oil will purge and cause a breakout. We recommend waiting 4-6 weeks to begin to see visible results. Since the peels are admistered weekly or bi-weely, we suggest also using a clarifying cleanser in between peels.

Both the glycolic and the lactic have anti-aging effects, but in different ways. Glycolic acid works mainly underneath the skin, while the lactic acid works on the surface of the skin. Glycolic acid is the smallest Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA), while lactic acid is slightly larger. Glycolic, because of its small size is able to penetrate deeper into the dermis. It has received the most attention from the medical community, and is generally considered the best AHA to treat fine lines and wrinkles. Lactic acid, because of its slightly larger molecular size, is slightly less harsh on the skin. It acts as a natural humectant to pull moisture into the skin. It is generally considered best for treating pigmentation and skin spots. TCA is also a good peel for anti-aging as it is a more powerful exfoliator than the other acids and has the ability to penetrate slightly deeper into the surface levels, however that is accompanied with more risk.

While some customers with rosacea have experienced great results with our products, the peel is intended to clear mild to moderate breakouts. There are many potentially irritating ingredients for rosacea, so the best approach is to test a small area for a short period of time (1-2 minutes) before applying to the entire face. Additionally, it is best to start with a lower strength salicylic or a salicylic cleanser as the stronger concentrations could irritate the skin. Our salicylic peels also contain some alcohol in the formula which can also be an irritant.

Keratosis Pilaris is a follicular plugging of the skin of the upper arms and thighs (rarely the face). The salicylic peels may help to smooth the skin of these areas, but will not cure the problem.

Scars are very difficult to remove and take consistency and time to notice results. Because they are formed below the outermost layer of skin, which makes them deeper and harder to resolve than problems such as acne. You have to be careful that when treating the scar to reduce its appearance, you do not use an overly aggressive treatment regimen.

The best peel for scar treatment is the TCA peel (like the Revitaboost) or a Lactic 50 Gel Peel or Glycolic 50 Gel Peel. The TCA acts in two ways which helps to reduce the scar appearance. It helps remove the outer layers of the skin forming the scar and it works beneath the surface of the skin to stimulate collagen production which thickens the skin and reduces the appearance of the scar. It may not completely remove a scar, but its appearance can be greatly improved and its size diminished.

For superficial scars, glycolic or lactic acid are good choices. Glycolic acid stimulates collagen growth slightly better, while lactic acid has the edge at treating hyperpigmentation and tone. Most scars are noticeable because of the pigmentation differences, and this is most treatable through chemical peels. Large scars will require more invasive procedures from a doctor for the desired result.

The best treatment for melasma consists of a combination of bleaching and exfoliation or light peels. Bleaching is not a fast process. Depending upon how dark the area is compared to the normal skin tone, it can take as along as one year or sometimes longer, but normally you will notice results within several weeks. By adding exfoliation, like regular chemical peels, in combination with hydroquinone, you can hasten the resolution of melasma.

Glycolic acid works to remove superficial pigmented skin cells and also eases penetration of the hydroquinone. We would recommend using a 2%-4% hydroquinone twice daily and combine that with weekly glycolic peels. It is important to avoid sun exposure and use a SPF 30 sunblock when you will be exposed to the sun. Sun exposure will cause the brown pigment to reappear. The 4% hydroquinone is only available with a doctor's prescription. You can also use a mild lactic or salicylic peel in combination with hydroquinone as an alternative.

Eczema symptoms include itchy, red, and dry skin caused by inflammation. It's most commonly found in children, although adults can get it as well. It is also known as atopic dermatitis and is generally treated with oral medications, steroid creams and light therapy. Salicylic acid can help to reduce the appearance of eczema because it is a strong keratolytic agent. It is able to remove plaques and rough spots very effectively without being overly irritating to the underlying skin layer, but it may be drying to the outer skin layer. For this reason many customers alternate between salicylic and lactic peels weekly and find this gives them the best results. By alternating the peels you get good results without excessive dryness.

Reducing the appearance of freckles is a gradual process. With consistent chemical peel use, you should start to notice some changes within a couple weeks, but the progress is incremental. For pigmentation problems, we would recommend the Lactic 50% Gel Peel, Hydro-Glo Peel Pads, or any of the Glycolic Acid Gel Peel. These products are safe for use on dark skin, and are effective against hyperpigmentation.

Prevention is the best cure, and remember that pigmentation can only be effectively treated if you use a sunscreen. Sun exposure combined with other factors is the primary cause of sun spots, and no treatment will help without good sun protection and avoidance. Any sunscreen with SPF 30+ will be sufficient to protect your skin from over-exposure to the sun.

The best product for dry skin contain lactic acid. Lactic acid works as a humectant, pulling moisture from the air and dermis and holding it in the outer layers of skin. This allows for gentle exfoliation without over-drying. The lactic acid is also gentler than the glycolic, which makes it great for people with drier skin. We have a range of concentrations for the lactic acid and recommend starting with the lowest concentration to prevent drying. We would suggest adding some purified water or distilled water to dilute the peel if our higher concentrations are too strong for you or opt for the Hydro-Glo peel which is a lower strength lactic base.

All of our acids will work to solve this. Razor bumps are caused when a surplus of skin cells build up around the individual hair follicles. Any of the acids will work, but the salicylic or glycolic is the most popular to correct this.

Each person responds a little differently, but many have reported that salicylic acid has been more effective for this. Do not apply a peel on the area right after shaving since your skin could be irritated and it could be more painful.

If you have oily skin salicylic acid alone is very effective for oily skin. It is the best at clearing out pores and because it is oil-soluble it is the best at decongesting oily skin. Using a salicylic cleanser in between peel treatments is also a good way to reduce oiliness between peels.