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The holidays are fast approaching! With the world opening up again to social gatherings, you may be wondering how to give your skin a beautiful glow without undergoing a drastic procedure. Who wants to be red and swollen during the holiday season, right?

That’s where a gentle skin peel might be a great option for you. It does wonders for the skin with little downtime, pain or suffering. That’s because most professional peels these days contain a sophisticated blend of acids, peptides and antioxidants that have a protective effect while effectively resurfacing the top layers of the epidermis.

What is a Peel and How Does it Work?

During the procedure, the skin is cleansed and a special chemical solution is applied to your skin. This delivers a controlled, medical exfoliation to the stratum corneum, the skin’s outer layer. Some stronger peels such as the TCA can go even deeper; however, this article will focus on medium peels which are much gentler and have a faster recovery.

The main purpose of administering the chemical solution is to encourage surface dead skin cells to peel off, revealing a smoother, healthier complexion. The peel is so effective that most people notice an improvement in skin quality after just one session. For this reason we recommend having a peel one week before a special event or trip. This will allow the skin to heal and look its most radiant.

For more targeted complexion issues such as acne scars, hyperpigmentation, winkles and texture concerns, we recommend a series of four sessions or more for best results. Skin peels can address a multitude of skin conditions on any part of the body, with the most popular areas being the face, hands and chest:

• Acne and acne scars
• Sun damage
• Lines and wrinkles
• Uneven skin tone
• Pigmentation (age spots, sun spots)
• Enlarged pores
• Dull, blotchy skin

Why We Love the Vivier Jessner Peel

The Jessner peel solution has been around for decades and is often referred to as the “Hollywood Peel.” Vivier’s proven formulation contains 14% Salicylic Acid, 14% Lactic Acid and 14% Resorcinol. This is considered to be medium peel which is quite concentrated. Even still, it’s quite gentle when compared to more aggressive peels such as the TCA, and the biggest advantage of the Jessner is that is safe for all skin types and complexions.

We’ve been using the Vivier system here at Brockville Medispa for many years. We trust the brand and here’s why you should too. It’s all about the solid science and Vivier’s patented delivery system. Called the IntraDermal System, it guarantees that all the active ingredients are not only the highest pharmaceutical-grade quality, but that they penetrate the skin as intended.

Learn more about skin peels here on our website.

Why Choose a Peel Over Laser Treatments?

There’s nothing wrong with laser. In fact, we love lasers too. They definitely have their place in dermatology and help to address many of the same conditions as skin peels. The advantage that peels have over laser is the cost and downtime. Whether you’re looking at a ‘one and done’ laser session or a series of fractional treatments, they can be pricier when compared to a peel.

Then there’s the recovery. A typical fractional laser resurfacing treatment such as a Venus Viva requires approximately 3-7 days of downtime. You may experience considerable redness and swelling for at least 1-2 days which makes going out in public more difficult. So if you’re someone who can’t afford the downtime due to a busy schedule, then a peel might be a better option for you.

What to Expect After a Jessner Peel

The entire process from start to finish takes approximately 15-20 minutes. No anesthetic is required and the peel application feels quite comfortable and even relaxing. There’s virtually no downtime and you can return to work or your regular activities immediately. We do ask that you avoid heavy perspiration or strenuous exercise for 24 hours following your peel.

In the coming days, you can expect light to moderate peeling and flaking to occur. This may last up to a week. In fact, you might not even experience visible peeling at all while still enjoying the benefits of exfoliation. You can use a gentle moisturizer to minimize the flaking but we recommended that you avoid makeup until a day after your skin peel treatment.

Give us a call at 613-342-0220 to find out more about the Jessner skin peel and any special offers here at BrockvilleMediSpa. We invite you to book a personalized consultation with Dr. Steyn or Nurse Vicki. Look better without looking different!