Your face is your calling card to the world! Men and women of all ages spend time, energy, and money caring for their skin. That’s because proper skincare routines can help protect your body’s largest organ from free radicals and other damage. Daily exposure to toxins, ultraviolet light, and other pollutants combined with aging can cause fine lines, wrinkles, scars, sagging skin, and an uneven tone.
If you’re looking to take your skincare routine up a notch, consider a laser peel or chemical peel to target issues safely and effectively beneath your skin surface. Not only will you have firmer and glowing skin, but it can also even out your skin texture and tone.
Understanding Chemical Peels
A chemical peel targets dead skin cells and improves your skin tone and texture while reducing fine lines and wrinkles. It is designed to enhance cell regeneration to minimize scars, acne scars, and sun damage. Some common chemical peels include Alpha Hydroxy Acid peels (AHA), Beta Hydroxy Acid peels (BHA), Trichloroacetic Acid peels (TCA), and Phenols. By adjusting the strength of the chemical acid solution, the peel can be adapted to remove damaged cells on one or all three layers of the skin. A “light” peel exfoliates the superficial layer or epidermis, a “medium” peel penetrates the epidermis and dermis layers, and a “deep” peel can reach skin cells down to the hypodermis layer.Understanding Hollywood Peels
Named for the special skincare treatments made famous by celebrities, the Hollywood Spectra Peel or Hollywood Laser Peel uses the Lutronic Spectra laser technology to target specific areas of the face. As a three-step therapy, it uses a specialized carbon lotion that is heated with light energy. As the skin’s pores are cleansed and exfoliated, the heat is absorbed by the carbon components to remove the lotion and debris. This allows the peel to penetrate the pores and stimulate collagen production, leading to tighter, firmer skin. This non-invasive treatment is painless and is suitable even for the most sensitive skin. Each session takes 30 minutes and has immediate results. It is often referred to as the “lunchtime peel” as there is no downtime required for recovery. Most people only need a monthly session to achieve long-lasting results.The Hollywood Peel vs. Chemical Peel: A Side-by-Side Comparison
| FEATURES | HOLLYWOOD PEEL | CHEMICAL PEEL |
| Technology/Machines | Lutronic Spectra laser | None |
| Target Depth | Epidermis | Epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis |
| Benefits | Evens skin tone, treats acne-prone skin, clears pores, treats sun damage, stimulates collagen production, rejuvenates skin, gives a glowing complexion, exfoliates | Diminishes fine lines/wrinkles, reverses sun damage, fights acne, improves the appearance of scars, corrects pigmentation, produces glowing skin, enhances the effectiveness of skin products |
| Procedure | Non-invasive | Minimally Invasive |
| Components | Thermal laser energy and carbon lotion | Glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, or carbolic acid solution |
| Downtime | None | One day for light peels; up to 3 weeks for medium and deep peels |
| Suitability | Safe for fair to medium-dark skin types | Adaptable to most skin types |
| Cost (CAD) | Single treatments range from $150 to $350 | Single treatments range from $100 to $700 |
| Efficiency | Notable improvement with one treatment; long-lasting results with monthly treatments | Notable improvement with first treatment; several treatments needed with light peel results lasting for two months, medium peels for six months, and deep peels for a lifetime |
| Side Effects | Potential for redness, itchiness, swelling, and/or a burning sensation | Potential for yellow tinging of the skin, darkened or lightened patches, and redness |