Cosmetic Dermatology

Reveal Your Radiance: The Ultimate Guide to Chemical Peels

Who doesn’t want more radiant, smoother skin with fewer wrinkles, acne scars, hyperpigmentation, and uneven spots? The solution is simple and fantastic: chemical peels. Though they often get a bad rap due to misrepresentations in movies and the media, chemical peels are actually a straightforward and excellent starting point for achieving clearer skin. They’ve become one of the most popular, non-invasive procedures for a reason—clients heal quickly, with minimal downtime, and there’s a peel to suit every skin type!

The numbers speak for themselves: 1.4 million chemical peel procedures were performed in the U.S. in 2019—and that number has continued to increase over the last few years.

The key to having an excellent experience and superb results from a chemical peel procedure is working directly with your dermatology provider, so you get the right type of procedure for your skin type and situation. So, if you’ve been searching for “where to get a chemical peel near me” in Northeast Ohio, check in with us here at Apex Skin first. Our experienced team of expert dermatology providers has a deep, scientific understanding of skin health, so we can help you get the chemical peel before and after results you’re hoping for.

Today, we have the pleasure of talking with one of our chemical peel experts, Cleveland area native Isabell Panichi, PA-C. Aesthetic medicine and skin health are her passions, and she helps patients with a holistic approach that brings out their inner radiance and natural beauty.

What is a Chemical Peel?

“Chemical peels use a chemical solution to exfoliate the skin and provide a refreshed look with very little downtime,” explains Panichi.

It’s simple: Your dermatology provider applies one of several different chemical peel solutions to the face, neck, or hands. This solution removes the upper, damaged layers of skin in an even, uniform layer, revealing fresher, smoother skin underneath. It’s a great, non-invasive, and easy skin treatment for those looking for clearer skin.

“This reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, acne, mild acne scarring, age spots, freckles, and hyperpigmented spots,” says Panichi. “We offer several medical peels of varying intensities to suit a patient’s specific needs.”

The technical term for chemical peels is “chemexfoliation”. There are light, medium, and deep chemical peels, all of which stimulate the underlying skin to produce more collagen and elastin—the scaffolding of fresh, regenerated, smooth skin. As a result, the chemical peel before and after pictures should show younger, fresher, smoother skin after fully recovering from the procedure.

The Benefits of Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are a non-invasive, outpatient treatment to experience significant skin improvement with minimal downtime. This is especially true when you work with your dermatology provider to choose the right one for your skin tone, concerns, and health situation. A successful chemical peel can:

Reduce fine lines and wrinkles to erase years from your complexion.
Smooth and soften skin texture.
Decrease the appearance of scars, including acne scars.
Improve the effectiveness of acne treatments.
Minimize age spots, liver spots, dark patches, and freckles.
Shrink the appearance of large pores.
Remove surface-level sun damage and precancerous keratosis.

“Each of my chemical peel patients has a unique story and reason why they peel,” she says. “My favorite stories include those patients who have struggled to lift the pigment from scarring, acne, melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and other disorders that cause patients to not feel comfortable in their own skin. It is very rewarding as a provider to see the look on each patient’s face as they see their skin tone even out and imperfections dissipate.”

Alleviating Chemical Peel Misconceptions

Panichi says that the most common misconception about chemical peels that she hears is that people will experience a lot of downtime and uncomfortable peeling.

“Although some medium-depth peels will cause slight skin peeling, we have skin care techniques and formulations in the chemicals that significantly cut down time,” she explains. “Visible peeling does not determine the efficacy of the peel. Peeling is just a potential side effect of the chemical solution and the flaking of the skin is just the exfoliation of the top layer of dead skin. The amount of peeling and downtime depends on the patient’s current condition and sensitivity level of the skin. Both factors help us as providers determine what peel is appropriate for you.”

Types of Chemical Peels

There are three general levels of chemical peel, and it’s important to work with your dermatology provider to pick the right one for your skin tone and desired outcomes:

1. Superficial, Light Chemical Peels

Light chemical peels remove the thin, top layer of the skin using milder chemicals. “Superficial peels, such as salicylic acid peels, gently exfoliate and only affect the outermost layer of the skin,” says Panichi. “These peels even out tone and brighten the skin with less risk of hyperpigmentation due to their gentler properties.”

Light peels can effectively address fine wrinkles, acne, rough skin texture, mild hyperpigmentation, and enlarged pores. “To get optimal results, patients will need more than one of these superficial peels. Usually a series of 4-6,” adds Panichi. But as stated before, these are non-invasive, mild, and require very little recovery time. You’ll be back out there in no time!

At Apex Skin, we offer the following options for light chemical peels at our Northeast Ohio dermatology locations:

Mandelic—Our most gentle peel of all our options, this rosacea-safe peel helps to exfoliate sensitive skin for a smoother complexion.
Salicylic—A 30% salicylic acid solution helps to reduce blemishes, blackheads, and whiteheads. This peel helps regulate excess sebum production and calm down inflammation due to acne.
Glycolic—Available in 30% and 50% strength, the glycolic acid peel helps to address pigment concerns and brighten the complexion. It helps to even out the skin tone and bring a luminous glow to the complexion
Illuminize—Perfect for first-time peel users or anyone seeking an introduction to chemical peels, this gentle peel helps to brighten the complexion with minimal downtime. Safe for all skin types and tones.
Vitalize—Skin Medica’s most popular peel blends salicylic acid, lactic acid, and retinol to address pigmentation concerns, fine lines, and wrinkles. Perfect for mild to moderate skin concerns.
Rejuvenize—Slightly stronger, but still a light peel, this helps to diminish acne scarring, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, texture, and other pigmentary issues after just 3 treatments. Best suited for moderate to severe skin imperfections.

2. Medium Chemical Peels

A deeper, medium peel can reduce the appearance of stronger hyperpigmentation, sun damage, and scarring. A medium TCA chemical peel with Trichloroacetic acid usually includes additional agents including retinoic acid, salicylic acid, kojic acid, phenol, glutathione, and vitamin C. Though that may sound overwhelming, it’s not.

For a medium-depth peel, Apex Skin offers the Perfect Derma Peel. “The Perfect Derma Peel is a medical-grade, medium peel that is effective and safe for all skin types. It provides noticeable results for aging skin, hyperpigmentation, sun damage, melasma, acne scars, pore size, and overall skin clarity. The application process is pretty painless and visible peeling downtime typically lasts two to four days. This is the only medical grade chemical peel containing Glutathione, which is an anti-aging antioxidant that helps reduce free radical damage, brightens the skin, and slows down the aging process.”

“Medium-depth peels such as the Perfect Derma Peel reach the outer and middle layer of the skin, therefore the recovery is a couple of days longer,” says Panichi. “But getting this peel regularly will help prevent fine lines and wrinkles, inhibit melanin production, and enhance overall skin health.” This peel also comes with a take-home kit that includes a post-peel moisturizer, towelettes, and sunscreen.

3. Deep Chemical Peels

Deep peels penetrate and remove deeper layers of skin than the light or medium versions. These often start with a stronger potency of TCA chemical peel. Deeper peels help lessen deeper scarring, wrinkles, and other skin texture problems.

Important to Note
Even within these light, medium, and deep peel categories, different levels and types of acids and elements are used. But that’s what’s so great—there is a peel that suits everyone! Some ingredients and peeling depths work better for different skin types, tones, and concerns than others. Working with your dermatologist is essential so you can select a chemical peel type and level that will be the most appropriate and successful for your skin goals.

Preparing for a Chemical Peel

As always, here at Apex Skin, your dermatology provider will start with a consultation first. During the consultation, we will examine your skin and medical history, and then we’ll discuss your goals for a chemical peel. During the consultation, we will decide which level and type of procedure would best achieve your goals, and then we will discuss how you should prepare for your chemical peel appointment.

“Optimizing your preparation for a chemical peel is crucial in maximizing the benefits,” explains Panichi, as she introduces three critical steps for getting ready:

Adjusting your skincare routine: “We will discuss specific products to use or avoid before and during your treatment period,” says Panichi.
Heightening sun protection and awareness: “Patients must minimize sun exposure for one week before the peel with high SPF sunscreens and protection against direct exposure.”
Enhancing hydration: “We recommend staying adequately hydrated to ensure your skin’s best reactivity to the chemical,” she says.

What to Expect During the Chemical Peel Process

During the consultation and preparation phase, we will then schedule a chemical peel appointment with you at one of our Northeast Ohio locations. Although most chemical peel processes are similar, Panichi explains how the Perfect Derma Peel appointment proceeds:

“We de-grease the skin first,” she says.
“Once the skin is clean, we apply Aquaphor or Vaseline to the skin’s sensitive areas to prevent irritation,” explains Panichi. “These areas include the corners of the eyes, nose, and mouth. Once the skin is prepped, we can begin.”
“The patient can expect three passes of the chemical on their skin with sterile gauze. After the chemical has been applied, the patient is given instructions on how to care for their skin as the exfoliation starts to occur.”

Chemical Peel Aftercare

Taking good care of yourself and your skin after your chemical peel is just as important as proper preparation. The depth and type of chemical peel will also dictate how long recovery takes, but following your dermatology provider’s aftercare instructions precisely can help you get the most ideal results from your procedure.

“For the first hour post-peel, your skin may feel a bit itchy and tight,” explains Panichi. “This feeling will gradually subside. Peeling will generally start 48-72 hours after treatment and can last 2-5 days.” Your dermatology provider will provide you with an individual aftercare plan that includes important dos and don’ts that will accelerate your post-peel recovery time:

Use a gentle cleanser to wash the skin and pat dry gently.
Use the recommended oil-free moisturizer to keep the skin moist during the healing process
Avoid direct sun exposure for at least 7 days or more, and use a recommended sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
Do not pick at your skin or try to peel it yourself, or infections and complications can occur.

“Allow it to heal naturally at its own pace,” stresses Panichi. “Picking can cause hyperpigmentation, scarring, or introduce infection. During this time, we also instruct patients to avoid products with retinol, AHA, BHA, microdermabrasion, Botox, and dermal fillers until the peeling has completely resolved.”

The length of time between the chemical peel appointment and seeing the final result varies with the depth of the peel. Your dermatology provider will be able to help you prepare so you can get the freshest, smoothest results for your situation and then advise you through the aftercare regime.

Where to Chemical Peel Near Me: Apex Skin in Northeast Ohio

If you have struggled to feel confident in your skin because of acne scars, fine lines, hyperpigmentation or other concerns, a professionally-administered chemical peel with Isabelle Panichi (or with another provider in one of our other locations near you) may just be the ticket to younger-looking, more radiant, clearer skin. Our dermatology providers will work with you on the best skincare options for you, whether it’s a series of chemical peels or other dermatological treatments. To discuss chemical peels with a dermatologist near you, contact us today!

Come in for a FREE consultation and get a FREE Peel on us!

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Isabelle Panichi is a licensed Physician Assistant in the state of Ohio certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Born and raised near Cleveland, Ohio, she has always hoped to provide care in her local community.

Isabelle received her Bachelor of Science in Health Services from Kent State University in 2022. Following her undergraduate education, she went on to earn her Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Baldwin Wallace University in 2024.

Isabelle has always been passionate about aesthetic medicine, skincare, and educating on the importance of healthy skin.

Learn more about Isabelle Panichi here.

Ajay Anturkar