The only thing we dread more than the acne itself is the acne scar. Sooner or later, acne will eventually go away, but what can remain behind are the scars from your acne days. The good news is that acne scars are one of those skin imperfections that can be eliminated with appropriate treatments, one of which is via chemical peels.
What is a Chemical Peel?
Chemical peels are a hydroxy solution that is applied to the skin to peel away the damaged outer layers. This helps to reveal the unblemished, healthier skin layers that lie underneath. Using skin peels for acne scars can result in a smoother skin texture, brighter skin complexion, stimulation of new skin cells and improved collagen production.
Best Strength Chemical Peel for Acne Scars
Chemical peels generally come in 3 strengths that vary by intensity: Mild, Medium and Deep. Mild skin peels for acne is ideal for subtle scars. Both Medium and Deep skin peels are considered helpful for reducing acne scars that are obvious and cover larger areas. The strength of the peel depends on the percentage (amount) of the acid. The 10% Salicylic Acid Peel would be Mild, a 20% Salicylic Acid Peel would be Medium, and the 30% Salicylic Acid Peel would be considered a Deep Skin Peel. You should select the strength peel depending on your experience level and the severity of your acne scarring.
Best Chemical Peels for Acne
The best chemical peel for acne are Salicylic Acid peels and Mandelic Acid peels. There are many different types of chemical peels but these 2 offer the most antibacterial benefits as they penetrate below the surface of the skin to purge oil, dirt and acne bacteria. Just a single chemical peel can reduce acne by up to 70%. Depending on the severity of your acne scars it may be necessary to conduct multiple peel procedures to see optimum results.
How to Apply an At-Home Chemical Peel
Chemical peels for acne have become very popular and it is not as scary as it sounds! You can even do chemical peeling at home using an at-home chemical peel kit. These kits usually come with a bottle of chemical peel, an After-Peel Neutralizer and an instruction booklet.
The procedure for an at-home chemical peel is very simple.
- First you cleanse the skin with a gel or foaming cleaners. The Azarvi Salicylic & Glycolic Pre-Peel Cleanser is an excellent choice. Do not use a creamy or pearlescent cleanser as this may leave a residue on the skin.
- Next you apply the Pre-Peel Solution to start the de-fattening process and remove any excess oils and dirt.
- The third step is applying the chemical peel. Always obey the recommended contact time for the peel. Leaving on the chemical peel for too long can result in burns.
- After the allotted contact time for the chemical peel has elapsed, you should apply the After-Peel Neutralizer and leave it on for about 1 minute. The Neutralizer stops the action of the acid and prevents it from penetrating further. It also calms and soothes the skin.
- Next rinse with cool water then apply a non-comedogenic (ie. Non-pore clogging) After-Peel Moisturizer. Do not use a greasy moisturizer that can clog pores. We recommend the Azarvi Hydrating Recovery Moisturizer. You should apply the After-Peel moisturizer for at least 10 days following the chemical peel. If going outdoors you should use sunscreen as alpha-hydroxy acids (chemical peels) can make the skin sensitive to the sun.
Chemical Peels Treat and Prevent Acne
When you look in the mirror, your skin may be covered with acne scars and it looks unsightly. However, underneath there are basal skin layers made up of healthier cells. You want these cells to migrate to the surface. The at-home skin peel products remove the unsightly, acne-scarred dead skin cells and makes room for the fresh, new skin cells to move up to the skin surface. Additionally, acne skin peels also help to purge dirt, sebum and bacteria so that you don’t suffer from further skin problems due to clogged pores.
Get Rid of Pitted or Indented Acne Scars
The skin peels for acne also enhance collagen production under your skin. The produced collagen fills in the pitted acne scars and makes your skin velvety smooth and clear.
You don’t have to live with indented acne marks or acne scars. Chemical peels such as Salicylic Acid and Mandelic Acid can greatly reduce acne scars. Just make sure that you select the best skin peel for acne scars. Using the right brand At-Home chemical peel kitis very important to ensure that you’re applying quality ingredients to your skin.
Say goodbye to the old and troublesome acne scars and welcome your clean, smooth, unblemished new skin!