Chemical Peels Baltimore | Dr. Ciro Martins, MD

Reveal a Fresh Complexion

Why Choose Belcara Health Plastic Surgery for Chemical Peels?

At Belcara Health, we believe in refining your natural beauty using today’s most beneficial aesthetic solutions. With a personalized and precision-based approach, our skin care specialists offer a wide variety of advanced, medical-grade, chemical peels to treat a wide range of concerns. Prioritizing patient safety and comfort, we strive to provide every patient with the most enjoyable and satisfying treatment experience.

Chemical Peels at a Glance

Purpose: To improve skin texture, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and treat acne.
Benefits: Smoother, more radiant skin, reduced appearance of acne scars and hyperpigmentation.
Downtime: Minimal downtime, with varying degrees of peeling and redness depending on the peel depth.
Procedure Duration: Typically 30-60 minutes.
Results: Gradual improvement in skin tone and texture, with results lasting for several months.

Anything But Dull…

Chemical peels are a non-invasive skin resurfacing treatment that uses a chemical solution to exfoliate the top layers of skin.

What are chemical peels?

This process removes damaged skin cells, revealing smoother, more radiant skin underneath. We offer a variety of chemical peel solutions at Belcara Health, each with varying strengths and depths of penetration:

Light peels: These peels gently exfoliate the outermost layer of skin, improving skin tone and texture.

Medium peels: These peels penetrate deeper into the skin, addressing fine lines, wrinkles, and mild acne scarring.

Deep peels: These peels penetrate more deeply into the skin, offering more dramatic results for deeper wrinkles, acne scarring, and hyperpigmentation.

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Superficial (Light) Chemical Peels

Superficial chemical peels are designed to promote cell turnover by removing the superficial layer of skin cells (known as the epidermis) as well as stimulate the production of healthy new ones. These advanced skincare treatments assist in minimizing fine lines, evening out skin tone, and smoothing the surface of the skin for an overall more youthful, refreshed appearance. In addition, they make your current skincare regimen more effective by allowing serums and moisturizers to penetrate the skin more readily.

Obagi Blue Peel Radiance

Could your skin use a pick-me-up? Obagi’s gentle yet powerful Blue Peel Radiance is a quick and easy treatment, designed to exfoliate the skin and improve the overall complexion. Using a blend of select acids, the Obagi Blue Peel Radiance will reduce brown spots, sun damage, acne scarring, blemishes, and fine lines – all while improving the texture of the skin. Appropriate for all skin types, the Obagi Blue Peel Radiance consistently provides patients with a brighter, healthier appearance.

VI Skin Peel

The VI Peel is designed to reverse the effects of aging and sun damage on the skin. It contains a synergistic blend of gentle yet effective ingredients suitable for all skin types. The VI Peel will improve the tone, texture, and clarity of your skin; reduce or clear up age spots, freckles, and hyperpigmentation; soften lines and wrinkles; stimulate the production of collagen and elastin for firmer skin; and clear acne conditions – with less irritation than most other peels. Results can be seen in approximately one week.

Illuminize Peel

An extremely gentle peel with mandelic, malic, and salicylic acids blended with resorcinol to help exfoliate and brighten the skin with little to no irritation. Skin will be radiant and tighter with improved color, clarity, and texture. This peel is excellent for reducing fine lines, sun-damage, and uneven pigmentation.

Vitalize Peel

This treatment combines retinoic acid, alpha hydroxy acid, salicylic acid, and resorcinol to help shed the top layers of the epidermis that may be showing signs of aging and sun-damaged skin cells, revealing a healthier, tighter skin surface. Following this treatment, you’ll have a clearer, brighter and more youthful glow to your skin.

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Rejuvenize Peel

This non-invasive chemical peel is the deepest of the Skin Medica Peels, penetrating into the skin to produce significant results with minimal irritation. It offers a built-in anti-irritant and penetration enhancer that provides controlled exfoliation of the uppermost damaged layers of the skin to reveal fresher and healthier skin. It is indicated for moderate to severe skin conditions including sun damage, lines and wrinkles, acne, acne scarring, and melasma. Darker skin type patients may be cleared for the Rejuvenize Peel once they have established tolerability to the Vitalize Peel.

Glycolic Peel

This light peel is used to restore a more youthful appearance by gently dissolving the outer layers of skin. Glycolic acid which is found in sugar cane and sugar beets is believed to be the most effective Alpha Hydroxy Acid because it has the smallest molecular size, enabling it to better penetrate the skin. The number of treatments recommended for maximum results can range between 5 and 12, spaced from 2 to 3 weeks apart. Maintenance of results requires periodic repeat treatments after the initial regimen is completed. Microdermabrasion may be combined with this treatment to increase the effect.

Medium & Deep Chemical Peels

Medium Chemical Peels are perfect for patients who have signs of moderate sun damage. These peels are ideal for treating brown spots, uneven pigmentation, mild-moderate wrinkles, and mild acne scars. Medium chemical peels can be applied to focal areas of concern or over the entire face. Healing is completed in about 7 days and patients may experience mild redness for 4-6 weeks, which can be easily covered with makeup.

Deep Chemical Peels target both the superficial (epidermis) and the deep skin layers (dermis) to correct coarse facial wrinkles, severe sun damage, and pre-cancerous growths. By stimulating collagen production in the dermis, a deep chemical peel helps to improve color, tone, texture, and elasticity of the skin, resulting in significantly reduced signs of aging and sun damage. Deep chemical peels vary in strength and are customized to each patient’s needs and goals.

Expert Precision

Superficial Chemical Peels are performed by a nurse or aesthetician and do not require anesthesia.

What is involved with a chemical peel?

Medium and Deep Chemical Peels are performed by an experienced surgeon with extensive training in chemical peeling techniques. Full-face rejuvenation using a medium or deep chemical peel is done under moderate sedation or general anesthesia. The surgeon applies different concentrations of the peeling solution in different areas of the face based on the differences in skin thickness throughout the face.

Each chemical peel is tailored to the individual patient’s needs, concerns and goals. Following the procedure, barrier cream is applied to the face.

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Smooth & Luminous

What conditions do chemical peels address?

Chemical peels can address a variety of skin concerns, including:

Fine lines and wrinkles
Acne scars
Hyperpigmentation (age spots, sun spots)
Uneven skin tone
Dullness and lack of radiance

Bright, Vibrant Skin

What are the benefits of chemical peels?

Improved Skin Texture: Smoother, more even skin tone and texture.
Reduced Appearance of Wrinkles: Diminished fine lines and wrinkles.
Faded Hyperpigmentation: Reduced appearance of age spots, sun spots, and other forms of hyperpigmentation.
Enhanced Radiance: A brighter, more youthful complexion.
Improved Skin Health: Stimulates collagen production for healthier, more vibrant skin.

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Who is a good candidate for chemical peels?

Good candidates for chemical peel treatments are people who have:

Good physical health
Realistic goals and expectations
Lighter skin types
Lines and wrinkles
Rough skin texture
Loose skin

Who is not a candidate for chemical peels?

Poor candidates for chemical peels are people who have:

Sensitivity to light from oral or topical medications
Active cold sores or healing wounds on the face
History of poor wound healing, poor scarring, or keloids
Use of Isotretinoin (Accutane) within the last 12 months
Severe underlying medical conditions
Deep chemical peels may not be performed on darker skin types

Your Belcara aesthetic specialist will carefully assess your skin type, concerns, and any relevant medical history to ensure you are matched with the safest and most effective treatment for your needs.

Plan for Success

What should I expect during recovery?

Every patient’s recovery is different and depends upon the extent of their personal treatment plan. The duration of healing depends on the depth of the treatment. Following a superficial chemical peel, there is no pain or downtime and patients can return to work immediately.

Following a medium or deep chemical peel, you will be able to rest in the comfort of your own home. Because you will have been under anesthesia, you must have someone to drive you home after treatment. It may take several hours for the anesthesia medication to wear off, so expect to be groggy for a while. You may experience swelling in the first few days following surgery, but these typically resolve in 1-2 weeks.

Your surgeon will give you thorough instructions that are tailored to your individual case, but in general, patients can expect the following:

Rest in bed the day of surgery and limit activity for the next 2 days.
Avoid strenuous activities for 1-2 weeks
Skin will continue to peel following the procedure for 7-10 days
Temporary post-procedural redness is common, but can easily be covered with makeup after the skin has completed peeling (around 7-10 days)
Typically, you can return to work within 7-10 days.
Significant sun exposure must be avoided during the recovery period.

Embrace the beauty within.

What results can I expect from a chemical peel?

The depth of the chemical peel will determine the results of the peel. In general, light or superficial chemical peels help to smooth and tighten the skin, minimize the appearance of fine lines, and even out skin tone. They are used more as a preventative or maintenance technique to keep the skin looking youthful and refreshed.

Medium and Deep Chemical peels provide dramatic improvements in deep, coarse wrinkles, brown spots, uneven pigmentation, and overall skin tone and texture. They can also help minimize the appearance of mild acne scarring.

Schedule your consultation by calling (410) 296-0414 or contact us online.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a chemical peel painful?

You may experience some tingling or stinging during the peel application. However, most patients tolerate the procedure well. Anesthesia or sedation may be administered for medium or deep peels to provide a comfortable experience.

How long does a chemical peel take?

The procedure typically takes 30-60 minutes.

Are there any side effects?

Redness, peeling, and mild discomfort, are common. Your aesthetic specialist will provide you with detailed aftercare instructions to ensure proper healing and minimize discomfort.

How many chemical peel treatments are needed?

The number of treatments will vary depending on your individual goals and the severity of your skin concerns. Many patients benefit from a series of treatments scheduled at intervals. Our team will customize a treatment plan to your needs and goals.

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