Peel Away Sun-Damaged Skin

Whether you spent too much time in the sun this summer or had a habit of not using sunscreen in your youth, you may already be showing signs of sun damage. Even one bad sunburn can damage your skin.

Sun damage makes you look older than your age. While you can’t completely undo sun damage — and should always use sunscreen, even on cloudy days — you can reverse some of the signs of sun damage. 

A chemical peel can help turn back the clock on your face. Our providers at eleven19 Medical + Weight Loss want you to learn more about the benefits of facial peels. So here are the basics, starting with some background about sun damage.

What are some signs of sun damage?

Nobody is born with sun damage. When you’re young, your skin is smooth and clear. But as you age and get more exposure to the sun, you gradually accumulate sun damage. 

Children often play outside without paying attention to sun exposure or sunscreen. And tanning as a teen or young adult can add to the sun damage.

Because of this accumulated sun damage, you may look older than your age. Some signs of sun damage include:

• Excess wrinkles
• Skin discoloration, which may be brown or red, such as freckles or dark spots
• Changes in skin texture, such as thin, crepey skin
• Uneven skin tone
• Dry skin

All of these can be signs that you’ve had some sun damage. But it’s possible to reverse some of the damage that’s already been done.

How chemical peels work on sun-damaged skin

If your skin looks dry or dull, a chemical peel can help reveal fresher and more youthful skin. We offer both surface peels and deeper chemical peels. For sun-damage, we often recommend chemical peels.

The term “chemical peel” may sound scary, but it isn’t. The chemicals we use are either glycolic acid or salicylic acid. We apply the appropriate chemical to your skin for a few minutes, then wipe it off your skin. 

These same chemicals are also available in over-the-counter products, but they are much stronger in a medical setting.

After the chemical peel, your skin should look refreshed and healthier. Although the results of the peel should be evident immediately, the full results continue to reveal themselves over the course of about a week as your skin heals.

You may experience a little bit of temporary redness, irritation, or even swelling. Although you may return to normal activities right away, you may wish to wait until the redness and swelling go away.

Your skin is also more likely to be sensitive after a chemical peel, so minimize sun exposure and to wear sunscreen.

What to expect after a peel

You can expect your skin to look clearer and brighter after a chemical peel. Areas of discoloration should be lighter or even gone. Wrinkles should also look significantly improved. You can look forward to your skin being more even and toned.

You can generally expect the results of a peel to last for a couple of months. We recommend having the process repeated again, as needed.

If you have more questions about chemical peels or what they can do for you, we would love to discuss the treatment with you. Schedule a consultation by calling one of our offices, or request an appointment online. Our offices are in Santa Ana, Fullerton, and Ontario, California.