Chemical Peel

San Antonio Texas Medical Grade Chemical Peel with Dr. Jose Barrera

Underneath that dull, dead skin is your best complexion. Chemical peels remove the outer layers of skin cells to reveal fresh, beautiful skin. At Texas Center for Facial Plastic and Laser Surgery and RejuveMD MedSpa, we offer a variety of medical-grade chemical peels. With so many options available, we have treatments for every skin type and tone. Come in for a peel and let your skin shine bright.

Schedule your chemical peel in San Antonio, TX with Dr. Jose Barrera by calling (210) 468-5426.

How Chemical Peels Improve the Skin

A gentle chemical solution is applied to the skin to remove the outer layers of skin revealing fresh new skin underneath. A mild solution provides gentle exfoliation with minimal downtime, while a stronger formulation offers deep rejuvenation after a recovery period.

How does it all work? Chemical peels remove dry, dull, and damaged skin. They also stimulate the cell regeneration process, helping your body to heal quickly and produce new, healthy skin cells.

We can treat many skin concerns with a peel, including:

  • Fine lines and wrinkles
  • Hyperpigmentation, age spots, and brown spots
  • Mild scars
  • Some types of acne
  • Rough or dull skin

After a peel, the skin looks brighter and feels supple and smooth.

Watch Dr. Barrera Receive a Chemical Peel

Light, Medium, or Deep Peel?

There are many different chemical solutions that can be used during your peel. Typical peeling agents include salicylic acid, alpha-hydroxy acid, glycolic acid, and trichloroacetic acid. Each solution has unique benefits and comes in varying strengths.

Chemical peels are rated according to their depth of penetration. For example, a superficial peel will act on the epidermis while a medium depth chemical peel will treat the epidermis and part of the dermis. Deep chemical peels can treat both papillary and reticular dermis. . Chemical peels are performed in a series to treat fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes and mouth. Light peels are designed to provide subtle improvement to the skin. They remove the outermost layers, also called superficial layers. A light peel is ideal for a quick skin refresh before a big event. No downtime is required, and side effects are very minimal. Light peels can be performed often and can be scheduled monthly to keep the skin bright and beautiful throughout the year.

Medium peels provide a more dramatic result, but a brief recovery period is needed. After a medium peel, you may have some redness or swelling. Some patients miss a day or two of work due to redness. These chemical peels are usually scheduled every three to six months.

A medium-depth peel is more effective for patients with dyscrhomias, sunspots, and actinic keratoses. 

Chemical peels can be combined with laser treatments such as the ResurFX Erbium Glass laser or a CO2 fractional laser like the Syneron Candela CO2RE laser to maximize effectiveness.

Deep chemical peels offer dramatic results but require an extended recovery. Many deep peels must be performed in an operating room with anesthesia and careful monitoring. The dramatic effects of a deep chemical peel are comparable with those achieved through laser rejuvenation. This treatment is intended to be performed once, and results are often maintained with regular superficial chemical peels after recovery.

Deep chemical peels like a phenol peel are seldom used today due to pain and possible side effects associated with the peel.

There are two types of chemical peels: water-soluble acids including alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and trichloroacetic acid (TCAs), and oil-soluble acids such beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs). Some acids are both water and oil soluble, such as mandelic acid and resorcinol. Alpha hydroxy acid peels or AHAs have a less drying effect than BHAs on the skin. Resorcinol, first popularized in the Jessner peel (a blend of salicylic, lactic and resorcinol) can break down rough, scaly and hardened skin, making it a popular addition to medium and deep peels.

The type and depth of chemical peel administered will depend on your skin type, concern, Fitzpatrick type, and skincare requirements.  

Dr. Barrera will help you select an effective chemical peel option, one that works with your goals and lifestyle.

This patient underwent Laser Resurfacing, a Skin Care Regiment, and Facial Fillers with Dr. Barrera.

Your First Chemical Peel in San Antonio: What to Expect

Chemical peels are typically performed in our office. The treatment is quick, about an hour. A chemical solution is applied to clean skin. It remains on the skin for a few minutes and then is neutralized and removed. The skin may be treated with serums or moisturizers to enhance the results. Chemical peels are often paired with facials and other cosmetic treatments like Botox®.

Combination skin resurfacing with Botox to improve forehead wrinkles, brown spots, and dyschromias of the face by Dr. Barrera

As the chemical peel is applied to the skin, you may feel itching, tingling, or mild burning. Our aestheticians use specialized techniques and products that help minimize discomfort during your peel.

Recovery: Caring for Your Skin After a Chemical Peel

For a superficial chemical peel, downtime is minimal. Our patients get their peel and get right back to life. You may have mild redness, but overall, side effects are minimal. Deeper peels may require a little more downtime. Your surgeon can help you decide how many days you’ll need for recovery.

Caring for the skin after a chemical peel is easy. You’ll need to keep the skin hydrated and avoid spending too much time in the sun. Sensitivity to sunlight after your treatment is normal. We recommend using sunscreen every day to protect the skin and maintain the results of your procedure.

Maintaining Your Results After a San Antonio Chemical Peel

Get the most from your chemical peel in San Antonio by giving your skin lots of TLC after treatment.

  • Most patients benefit from a series of initial treatments. You’ll receive several treatments, spaced a few weeks apart until we reach your aesthetic goals. For lighter peels, more treatments may be needed, while deeper peels may only require one to two treatments.
  • To main your results, schedule a chemical peel one to two times per year.
  • Sunscreen should be used daily to prevent pre-mature aging and to protect the skin.
  • Incorporating your at-home skin care routine will prolong results. Adding home regiments such as the glycolic renewal cleanser with a glycolic renewal overnight can improve results while conveniently applying treatment at home.
  • Combining laser resurfacing with a chemical peel is an effective way to improve the skin.
  • Dr. Barrera always recommends using a physical defense sun blocker for SPF protection when outdoors and indoors. Consult with Dr. Barrera for individual at-home advice. Other essentials include a daily Retinol.

Anti-oxidant treatment has become a mainstay of daily at home care. Antioxidants like CE Ferrulic and Resveratrol can be used to treat fine wrinkles and oxidative injury to the skin. C E Ferulic features a synergistic antioxidant combination of 15% pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), 1% vitamin E (alpha tocopherol), and 0.5% ferulic acid to enhance protection against free radicals that can contribute to aging from environmental stress. Resveratrol B E is a first-of-its kind night treatment that combines a maximized concentration of 1% pure, stable resveratrol, with 0.5% baicalin and 1% pure vitamin E (alpha tocopherol) for optimized anti-aging antioxidant performance. 

Other antioxidants like Phloretin CF can minimize oxidative damage to minimize fine lines and wrinkles. Phloretin CF features a patented synergistic combination of 2% phloretin, 10% pure vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid), and 0.5% ferulic acid for enhanced protection against atmospheric skin aging.

Retinols have come along way since tretinoin was first introduced. While today’s retinols minimize skin irritation and dryness, a retinol like Skinceuticals Retinol 1.0 or Sente Bioserum can improve fine lines and wrinkles. Retinols also improve pigment in the skin and should be applied daily.

A daily moisturizer like Skinceuticals Epidermal repair, Sente Dermal Repair, or Skinceuticals

Triple lipid restore will help your skin maintain hydration and volume.

Glycolic Acid Nighttime regiment.

Glycolic Renewal Cleanser.

Glycolic 10 Renew Overnight.

Triple Lipid Restore.

Antioxidants

Stubborn pigment is common in San Antonio and South Texas. A daily pigment corrector like Skinceutical Discoloration Defense is a recommended at home regiment to help minimize pigment and improve sunspots.

Other pigment regiments include combining Intense Pulse Light with bleaching agents such as 2% or 4% Hydroquinone as well as Cyspera, a new pigment correcting formula by Sente. Cysteamine can improve brown spots and pigmentary dyschromia for all Fitzpatrick Skin types, and without the need for Hydroquinone or Retinol.

Collagen support is important for skin health. A Heparin Sulfate Analog like Sente Dermal Repair, is often prescribed to improve skin texture, smoothness, and hydration in a daily at home regiment.

Contact us if you have any questions about maintaining your results after a chemical peel.

Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Chemical Peels

Do you want to improve your skin? You may be a good candidate for a chemical peel. Patients that receive this treatment want to look and feel their best. Chemical peels aren’t right for every skin concern or skin tone, but they are a good fit for many patients. Contact us to find out if this treatment is effective for you. If a chemical peel isn’t the best option for you, Dr. Barrera can recommend one of our other facial rejuvenation treatments.

You may feel tingling or mild burning during treatment, but overall, the treatment is well tolerated. Let us know if you experience any discomfort.

The number of peels needed to achieve your full results depends on the type of chemical peel you’re receiving. Many patients start with an initial set of peels to begin with less frequent treatment after ideal results are achieved. You’ll see results after your very first treatment.

The longevity of your results will depend on the depth and intensity of your chemical peel. Light peels help the skin to look smoother and brighter for several weeks. Deeper peels provide longer-lasting rejuvenation. To help maintain the results of your chemical peel or laser, Dr. Barrera recommends a daily skin regiment.

A consultation with Dr. Barrera can help you determine which chemical peel best meets your goals and lifestyle. We have many options available.

Contact Texas Center for Facial Plastic and Laser Surgery and Rejuve MD MedSpa Aestheticians at (210) 468-5426 to schedule your skin brightening chemical peel treatment today.