Chemical Peel in Kansas City

The Ingredients in Your Chemical Peel

A chemical peel is customized to each patient’s needs and downtime. For our chemical peels, we offer glycolic acid, mandelic acid, and salicylic acid. These aren’t always easily recognizable ingredients, and anything with the word acid in the name hardly sounds like something that should go on your skin.

But trust the experts; these powerful skin-rejuvenating ingredients are safe and effective, especially when administered by trained professionals.

Glycolic Acid

Glycolic acid is among the most popular chemical peel ingredients, because its small molecular size means it can penetrate skin deeply. Also known as a “fruit peel,” this acid is derived from sugarcane, grapes, and pineapple.

A glycolic acid chemical peel in Kansas City has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and keratolytic benefits, meaning it softens the skin and breaks down dead areas.

This ingredient helps reduce the following:

• Acne and acne scars
• Melasma
• Hyperpigmentation
• Sun damage

Glycolic acid is water-soluble, meaning it dissolves in water rather than oil and works best on the surface of your skin.

Mandelic Acid

For those with sensitive skin, we often recommend mandelic acid peels for achieving a clear, radiant complexion. Derived from bitter almonds, mandelic acid is among the gentlest ingredients for a chemical peel in Kansas City offered at Regain.

This is thanks to its large molecular structure, which causes mandelic acid to penetrate the skin at a slower rate than glycolic or salicylic acid.

Thanks to its gentle nature, mandelic acid causes less irritation than the other chemical peels that we offer, and it also makes a great option for those starting their chemical peel journey.

But even if you don’t have sensitive skin, you can still use mandelic acid to combat the following concerns:

• Acne
• Rough skin texture
• Hyperpigmentation
• Wrinkles and fine lines

Mandelic acid is oil-soluble, meaning it dissolves in oil rather than water and works both on the surface of your skin and within your pores.

Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid peels have been used for more than 2,000 years, and they are so effective that we may use them for another 2,000+ years. Derived from willow bark, this popular chemical peel ingredient has a small molecular structure that can penetrate deep into pores.

Best for oil-prone skin, a salicylic acid peel can improve the following concerns:

• Acne and blackheads
• Melasma
• Sun damage
• Freckles
• Fine lines and wrinkles

Salicylic acid is another oil-soluble ingredient, meaning it can penetrate deep layers of skin.

The Types of Chemical Peels

Now that you know some leading ingredients for a chemical peel in Kansas City, let’s go over the types of peels you can choose from.

Chemical peels range from light to medium to deep, and we choose an intensity depending on the following factors:

• Skin concern severity
• Downtime
• Skin health
• Skin type
• Skin sensitivity

During your consultation, we determine which of the following types of chemical peels will fit your skin.

Light Chemical Peel

A light chemical peel is also known as a superficial peel, because it gently penetrates the outermost layer of skin only. For patients with sensitive skin, or for patients getting a chemical peel for the first time, this may be our recommended choice.

A light chemical peel can address the following concerns:

• Fine lines
• Acne
• Uneven skin tone
• Sun damage

We recommend a light chemical peel every 4 to 6 weeks for the best sustained results. A light chemical peel requires minimal-to-no downtime, so you can return to your normal activities after each session.

Medium Chemical Peel

A medium chemical peel targets both the outermost layer of skin and ‌portions of the middle layer of skin (the dermis—where collagen and elastin are stored).

This chemical peel works best for patients with the following concerns:

• Age spots
• Fine-to-moderate wrinkles
• Acne scarring
• Uneven skin tone

For best results, you should plan to undergo a medium chemical peel every 3 to 6 months.

Because a medium chemical peel reaches deeper layers of skin than a light peel, it requires more downtime. Typically, we recommend patients prepare for at least 3 to 5 days of recovery.

Deep Chemical Peel

A deep chemical peel renews skin from even deeper within the dermis to produce the most dramatic results.

Patients with the following concerns can benefit the most from a deep chemical peel in Kansas City:

• Moderate fine lines and wrinkles
• Extensive sun damage
• Deep acne scars
• Blotchy skin

A deep chemical peel only needs to be performed once a year. However, it requires an 8-week pretreatment preparation and at least 1 to 2 weeks of downtime. Your provider will give you all of the necessary information and instructions for a deep chemical peel during your visit.

Vl Peel

We also offer the VI peel, a deeper chemical peel that includes a numbing agent.

The VI peel contains the following ingredients:

• Trichloroacetic acid (TCA)
• Salicylic acid
• Phenol
• Retinoic acid
• Vitamin C

Together, these ingredients exfoliate the skin, stimulate collagen production, and promote a more radiant complexion.

A VI peel can address the following concerns:

• Acne
• Hyperpigmentation
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Uneven skin texture

For a VI Peel, we recommend a series of 3 to 4 treatments spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart with 3 to 7 days of downtime after each application.

Pre-Care Instructions for a Chemical Peel

Before your chemical peel in Kansas City, please follow these instructions:

• Discontinue exfoliating products like retinoids, AHAs, and BHAs for 48 to 72 hours before your session.
• Avoid direct sun exposure for at least 1 week before your treatment.
• Avoid self-tanners or harsh products on the skin for at least 1 week before your treatment.

Note: Deep chemical peels may include more preparation instructions provided by a member of our team.

What to Expect From Your Recovery

After your treatment, your provider gives you a home care kit or a recommended regimen that includes a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. Depending on the type of peel, we may provide you with additional personalized instructions to support your skin’s healing journey.

Some of the best practices while your skin heals include:

• Avoid picking at flaking skin.
• Continue to avoid direct sun exposure and tanning for at least 2 weeks.
• Refrain from using exfoliants or active ingredients (like retinoids) for 2 weeks.

What to Expect From Regain

We personalize every chemical peel to help your treatment address your concerns as effectively as possible.

In order to track your progress, we document your chemical peel journey with before and after photos using our cutting-edge facial skin analysis system, Visia. This allows us to look beyond the surface of your skin and analyze deeper layers to determine your skin’s health.

The Visia Photo Imaging gives us a clear path to understanding which ingredients and type of chemical peel will best suit your skin. As time passes and your skin health improves, we can adjust your treatment and our product recommendations to suit your new skincare needs.