Salicylic Acid Peel

Get instant, glowing results with the Obagi® Radiance Peel. This unique salicylic peel is gentle and effective, providing tighter, smoother, and brighter-looking skin in as little as one treatment. Through the exfoliating powers of salicylic acid, this chemical peel is used to improve the appearance of numerous skin conditions, including acne, acne scars, sun damage (photodamage), and melasma, among other skin conditions. Gainesville Dermatology Aesthetic Center offers a wide range of skin care treatments, each designed to improve the appearance and boost the overall health of your skin.

Contact us today to learn more about our available chemical peels, including TCA peels, VI Peel®, glycolic acid peels, and lactic acid peels, and to schedule a dermatology appointment with a Gainesville dermatologist at our clinic.

What Is A Salicylic Acid Peel?

Salicylic acid peels are professional treatments used to deeply exfoliate the skin's surface layers. Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA). This highly effective superficial peeling agent breaks apart the bonds that hold the skin's cells together, which causes them to peel or shed away from the face or body. As the skin begins to regenerate naturally, it is rejuvenated. Compared with other types of chemical peels, such as those using alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), salicylic acid offers gentle exfoliating action, making it suitable for a wide range of skin types and sensitivities. While superficial salicylic acid peels performed at home can help you maintain the effects in between dermatology treatments, stronger salicylic acid peels performed at your dermatologist's office penetrate the skin more deeply and use clinical-grade concentrations for professional results. Contact us to find out how an Obagi® Radiance Peel can benefit your skin!

Salicylic Acid Benefits

Our patients enjoy numerous salicylic acid peel benefits following their Obagi® Radiance Peel. One of the main benefits of this type of peel is that many skin types can benefit from them. And because they are fairly gentle chemical peels, patients who are not good candidates for other types of peels may be candidates for peels using salicylic acid. Immediately following a salicylic acid peel, patients notice their skin feels softer and smoother. This peel can brighten your complexion and improve skin texture while also making pores appear smaller. Salicylic acid peels are beneficial for treating acne, including blackheads and whiteheads, as salicylic acid is a strong comedolytic (it helps unclog pores).

Additionally, salicylic acid peels help decrease oil on the skin and improve both inflammatory and comedonal acne. These peels are also prized for their anti-aging abilities. While salicylic acid peels can't erase deep wrinkles and lines, they can soften fine lines and give skin a boost. A series of salicylic acid peel treatments can treat sun damage, fade dark spots, and abnormal skin pigmentations, such as melasma, freckles, and discoloration left behind on the skin after a pimple heals (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation). In addition, salicylic acid offers the following benefits.

  • Provides brighter, smoother skin
  • Can be used on a variety of skin types
  • Fairly gentle peel with instant results
  • Treats acne, blackheads, and whiteheads
  • Reduces sun damage, fine lines, and wrinkles
  • Fades dark spots and hyperpigmentation
  • Helps remove the appearance of photodamage
  • Requires no downtime following treatment

How Do Salicylic Acid Peels Work?

While alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) products likewise offer exfoliating benefits to the skin, the main difference between AHAs and BHAs are the number of carbon atoms separating the hydroxy part of the molecules; With BHAs, the hydroxy part of the molecule is separated by two carbon atoms, while AHAs are separated by only one carbon atom. The structure of the BHA exfoliant is important to note and makes salicylic acid more oil-soluble and better able to penetrate the pores than other types of exfoliants. In most cases, oil-soluble ingredients, such as salicylic acid, penetrate the layers between the skin cells more readily and more deeply than their water-soluble counterparts (AHAs like glycolic acid and lactic acid). During an Obagi® Radiance Peel, the salicylic acid formula dissolves skin debris that clogs pores, acts as a natural anti-inflammatory, and helps treat and heal inflamed pustules and pimples.

Salicylic Acid Peel Before & After

Our radiance peel can help you transform the look, tone, and texture of your skin. Salicylic acid peels offer patients renewed skin with a healthy, visible glow and clear improvements to skin lines, sun damage, acne, acne scarring, and discoloration, among other skin problems. Following their treatment, our patients often report a boost in the tone and texture of their skin, among a host of additional benefits. In determining what type of chemical peel best accommodates your skincare needs, our skin care professionals will consider several factors. These factors include the condition of your skin, any skin issues or conditions you may have, your skin sensitivity, and your goals for treatment, among other factors unique to each patient. Contact our office today to find the ideal skin care treatment for your aesthetic goals!

How Often Can You Do A Salicylic Acid Peel?

In contrast with over-the-counter at-home chemical peel products, the Radiance Salicylic Acid Peel is a deep chemical peel offering a progressive treatment that offers full benefits after a series of peel sessions. Though your skin will look noticeably brighter and more even following your first chemical peel, multiple sessions may be required to reap all the benefits of your treatments. Depending on many different factors, such as the condition of your skin and any skin issues you may have, a series of 4–6 or more salicylic acid peels may be performed every 2–4 weeks. Contact us today to learn more about our available BHA products and to schedule your peel.

What To Expect After A Salicylic Peel

Immediately following your peel, your skin may be slightly red and may appear tight and shiny. Patients may experience a hot or stinging sensation that can last for a few hours after the peel, but it is mild and can be compared to the feeling of a mild sunburn. Depending on the strength of your peel, you may experience slight skin flaking anywhere from 2–4 days following treatment. Any peeling/flaking is minor and resolves itself in about a week. During the first few days following your peel, treat your skin gently by cleansing and moisturizing with mild skin care products, as recommended by your skin care professional. One of the most important aspects of caring for your skin post-treatment is protecting it from the sun. You must avoid direct sun exposure for approximately two weeks after the treatment and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 35 daily. Avoid the use of saunas, steam rooms, swimming pools, and the gym for about 72 hours after treatment. Do not use acid-based products (including both AHAs and BHAs) for one week or more after treatment, or as directed by your skin care professional. Contact us for more information about aftercare following a peel.

Are Chemical Peels Safe?

Yes! Chemical peels, in general, are extremely safe procedures. It's important to note that the deeper the peel, the more likely you will experience side effects. In most cases, however, even strong salicylic acid peels generally do not cause side effects that keep you from pursuing daily activities. In some cases, patients may experience stinging or mildly tender skin; dryness, peeling; flaking; crusting; and abnormal, temporary lightening or darkening of the skin. Salicylic acid peels are ideal for most patients. However, they may not be right for you if you are allergic to topical salicylates, you are pregnant, or if you have a rash, broken skin, sunburn, or irritation in the treatment area. The best way to determine your candidacy for this peel is to schedule a consultation with our skin care team.