Chemical Peel Vs Laser Treatment: Which Is Best for You?

Chemical Peel and Laser Treatment

Chemical peel and laser treatment are both skin-resurfacing treatments that help achieve clear skin and a flawless complexion. No prizes for guessing why they are both also popular pre-wedding skincare treatments! However, when it comes to laser resurfacing vs chemical peel, both come with their distinct pros and cons. While considering chemical peel vs laser, here’s a brief look at both treatments…

A chemical peel involves a chemical solution being applied to the skin to remove the top layers. It causes the skin to ‘blister’ and eventually peel off. The new skin is usually smoother and less wrinkled than the old skin. With a light or medium peel, the procedure may need to be repeated more than once to get the desired results. Chemical peels are effective in treating wrinkles, discoloured skin and facial scars. Chemical peels can be standalone treatments or can be combined with other cosmetic procedures. They can also be done at different depths, going from light to deep.
Laser treatment is known by other names as well, including lasabrasion, laser peel or laser vaporisation. Short, concentrated pulsating beams of light are targeted at irregular skin. Laser removes the outer layer of the skin called the epidermis, while heating up the underlying layer, called the dermis. As a result of this, the growth of new collagen fibres is stimulated. This results in new skin that is smoother and firmer. The treatment uses lasers to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and scars, even out skin colouring (pigmentation), tighten skin and also to remove lesions.

Pros of Chemical Peels:

Chemical peels come in different levels—mild, medium, and deep—allowing you to tailor your peel to your skin type. Chemical peels can be done on the face, neck, or hands. Peels are great for superficial irregularities; all skin types are able to benefit from mild to medium-strength peels. They reduce fine lines under the eyes and around the mouth. They also treat wrinkles caused by sun damage and aging. The appearance of mild scars can be improved by chemical peels. They also treat certain types of acne. There is a reduction in age spots, freckles, and dark patches (melasma) due to pregnancy or birth control pills. Overall, they improve the look and feel of skin. Another important factor—peels are more wallet-friendly. They offer results with ease and affordability.

Cons of Chemical Peels:

There are varieties of chemical peels. Recovery can range from instant to a week, depending on the intensity of the treatment. It can also cause side effects such as redness, scabbing and swelling. Stronger chemical peels should be used with caution on darker complexions, which tend to be prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. A superficial chemical peel can cause treated skin to become darker than normal (hyperpigmentation), while a deep peel could result in skin becoming lighter than normal (hypopigmentation). These problems are more common in brown or black skin.
post-treatment, for a week you need to avoid scrubs, cleansing brushes, washcloths, retinoids, topical acne medication, and alpha/beta hydroxy acids so as not to interfere with the healing process for about a week. Strenuous exercise and heavy sweating should also be avoided for 72 hours.

Pros of Laser Treatment:

The laser beam gently vaporises skin tissues to treat various skin issues including pigmentation, wrinkles, fine lines, age spots, freckles, unwanted tattoos, acne scars, birthmarks, and blemishes. Laser treatment can also seal blood vessels, treat spider veins, and droopy, dry, sagging eyelid skin and dark circles. It can improve crow’s feet around the eyes, as well as pucker marks, frown lines, brown spots, uneven skin colour, skin tone and texture, as well as cause skin-tightening. Laser treatment targets deep skin issues such as stubborn pigmentation, and vascular issues. Laser treatment is also better for collagen remodelling and is superior in terms of precision. When using a laser to target acne scars or a few brown spots, it’s possible to focus on them individually. Laser also delivers faster results than peels. Colour-blind laser models can safely treat darker skin.

Cons of Laser Treatment:

Laser treatment is a comparatively more expensive treatment. Small, white bumps called milia may appear in the laser-treated areas during the healing period after laser treatment. These can be gently cleansed with a washcloth.
Hyperpigmentation, and more rarely, hypopigmentation, may occur in the laser-treated areas. Hyper pigmented areas may be treated with bleaching cream in order to fade the pigment. A broad-spectrum sunscreen also needs to be used for weeks before and after the treatment to prevent pigmentary changes.

After laser skin resurfacing around the mouth, reactivation of a herpes simplex cold sore may occur. This can be avoided by taking antiviral medication on the recommendation of your doctor.
Skin swelling is expected after laser skin resurfacing. Though very rare, scarring can occur in some cases after laser skin resurfacing

How to Pick the Best Option for Your Skin?

Chemical peel and laser treatment are both popular and effective. In considering the benefits of chemical peel vs laser, it’s important to note that the goal of both treatments – laser peel vs chemical peel, is to improve the overall appearance of the skin and erase imperfections. Both procedures are used to solve many similar skin issues such as discoloration, fine lines, and rough texture. However, both are very distinct treatments and they are not interchangeable. Your skin expert will be able to guide you about the treatment to choose– chemical peel vs laser treatment—depending on the issues being treated, how fast you want results, and your budget.
For hyperpigmentation, a chemical peel is generally recommended. For textural changes, such as atrophic or indented scars, laser skin treatments more beneficial. Often, a combination of treatments are recommended.

While considering laser resurfacing vs chemical peel, it’s important to know that people with a darker skin tone generally benefit most from chemical peels, as peels are an effective treatment against hyperpigmentation. Chemical peels use acid solutions to stimulate collagen production. They contain antioxidants which penetrate darker skin better and treat pigmentation.
For certain complexion conditions, a laser will deliver stronger results. For other concerns, a chemical peel works well. Your licensed dermatologist or aesthetician will be able to best guide you, depending on your needs, when making your decision regarding chemical peel vs laser treatment. Do make an informed decision regarding laser peel vs chemical peel.
If you want to book your appointment for chemical/skin peel treatment in Mississauga then you can connect on +905-278-5550 or visit our salon.