Chemical Peels in Canberra

Chemical peels are one of the most versatile tools in clinical skin care. At our Canberra clinic, our dermal clinicians choose the peel to match your skin and your goals, from gentle, hydrating peels to deeper resurfacing for pigmentation and texture.

What is a chemical peel?

A chemical peel applies carefully selected acids or enzymes to exfoliate the skin, encourage renewal and target specific concerns. We offer several levels:

• Light chemical peels use professional exfoliating acids or enzymes to refresh glow, refine texture and support clearer, more even skin. They suit dullness, mild congestion, early pigmentation and ongoing maintenance. Options include:
  • The Enzyme HydroPeel, with papaya enzyme and lactic acid, for gentle exfoliation and hydration.
  • A salicylic peel for acne and congestion.
  • A lactic peel for hydration and gentle renewal.
  • Tetra Acid 50, a resurfacing peel (mandelic, lactic, kojic and malic acids) for pigmentation, sun damage and fine lines.
• Medium chemical peels are deeper peels targeting pigmentation, fine lines and uneven texture.
• Practitioner (Jessner) peels combine lactic acid, salicylic acid and resorcinol to target acne-prone skin, congestion, pigmentation and texture. The Jessner Practitioner Peel is a practitioner-strength resurfacing peel for more advanced correction of pigmentation, texture and visible ageing, and visible peeling is expected.
• Deep chemical peels give advanced exfoliation for severe pigmentation issues.
• Layered booster peels (the Uber Pro Peel) deepen exfoliation to improve skin texture and tone, and can be added to other treatments.

Who it suits

Peels suit many skin concerns. Your clinician will recommend the type and strength after assessing your skin. Depending on the peel selected, treatment may help improve:

• Dullness.
• Congestion.
• Breakouts.
• Uneven texture.
• Superficial pigmentation.
• Sun damage.
• Fine lines.
• Overall skin radiance.

Before your treatment

Unless your clinician advises otherwise, for about 3 to 5 days before your peel:

• Avoid retinol, retinal and prescription vitamin A.
• Avoid AHA and BHA exfoliating acids, scrubs, enzymes, home peels and other strong or irritating actives.
• Keep your skin well hydrated and use SPF every day.
• Avoid tanning, sunburn and significant unprotected sun exposure.
• Avoid waxing, depilatory creams and other procedures that may irritate the area.

Please tell your clinician if you have a history of cold sores or abnormal scarring, have had recent cosmetic procedures, have allergies or sensitivities, are pregnant or breastfeeding, have changed medication, or notice anything unusual happening with your skin.

If you're being treated for pigmentation, or your skin is prone to post-inflammatory pigmentation, you may be prescribed a preparation routine for a few weeks before a corrective peel.

What to expect

Your skin is cleansed and prepared, and the chosen peel is applied and monitored by your clinician. Deeper peels may need your skin to be prepped first with active skin care and/or LED. Downtime depends on the peel:

• Light peels: little to none.
• Practitioner peels: moderate redness and visible peeling.

Epidermal blading, which removes dead skin cells and peach fuzz for a brighter complexion, can be paired with a peel.

Concerns it can help

• Problem skin and teenage skin: light peels to clear congestion and balance oil.
• Pigmentation: medium, deep and resurfacing peels.
• Ageing: layered booster peels for texture and tone.
• Scarring: exfoliation for smoother-looking texture.
• Dull, dry and dehydrated skin: enzyme and lactic peels for hydration and renewal.

What it feels like

Depending on the peel, you may feel warmth, tingling, prickling or stinging. Your clinician monitors your skin throughout and neutralises the peel where needed.

Aftercare

• Immediately after: your skin may look pink or red and feel warm, tight, sensitive or mildly tingly.
• First 24 to 72 hours: redness and warmth should settle progressively, and your skin may feel drier or tighter than usual.
• Days 2 to 7: dryness, flaking or visible peeling may develop. Some light peels cause little or no visible peeling. Stronger peels can cause more redness, swelling, crusting and peeling, and take longer to recover. If you have a stronger peel, your clinician's personal instructions take priority.

How to care for your skin:

• Cleanse with clean hands, using the cleanser your clinician recommends and cool or lukewarm water. Avoid harsh washcloths, cleansing brushes and exfoliating devices.
• Apply your prescribed hydrating serum, moisturiser or recovery product. You can lightly mist your skin with a clean, clinician-approved hydrating mist.
• Don't pick, scratch or peel shedding skin, and don't introduce new products while your skin is irritated or peeling.
• For at least 5 days, and until your skin has fully healed, avoid retinoids, prescription vitamin A, glycolic, lactic, mandelic and salicylic acids, enzymes, home peels, scrubs, exfoliating brushes, benzoyl peroxide, strong acne treatments, and pigment-correcting products unless prescribed. Your skin, not the calendar, decides when your actives restart.
• For at least 24 hours, avoid vigorous exercise, heavy sweating, hot yoga, saunas, steam rooms and spas. Avoid them for longer if your skin still feels warm, red or sensitive.
• Avoid unnecessary sun exposure. Use broad-spectrum SPF 50+ every morning, reapply outdoors, and wear a hat.
• Avoid waxing over the treated area for about 14 days, and allow about 14 days before another intensive treatment on the same area (another peel, IPL, laser, skin needling or microdermabrasion) unless your clinician advises otherwise.
• Makeup: wait until your skin is calm and intact. During recovery, use mineral makeup with freshly cleaned brushes.

Contact us if you have increasing or significant pain, redness that spreads or gets worse, swelling beyond what you were told to expect, blistering, pus or discharge, signs of infection, a severe rash, or anything that feels very different from what your clinician prepared you for.

Our approach

Every treatment at Skin Wellness Academy is part of the Skin Transformation System, our four-phase framework for holistic and clinical skin care. It integrates the best of Western scientific research, Eastern medicine and integrative wellness philosophy. It also looks at your biology, behaviour, goals and habitat to find the root causes of your skin concerns.

You're not just another patient in a clinic. Our dermal clinicians guide you through each phase of your skin journey:

• Strategy: understand your skin, history, lifestyle and goals.
• Rebuild: restore skin barrier, strength and healthy function.
• Regenerate: stimulate healthy cellular renewal.
• Maintain: protect results and age gracefully.

The strongest treatment is not always the best treatment. The right treatment is the one your skin is ready to use well. That's why all new clients begin with a Skin Strategy Session. Until we've properly assessed you and your skin, we can't recommend the best products, routine or treatments for you.

FAQs

Which peel is right for me?

That depends on your skin, your concerns and the downtime you can allow. We work this out at your Skin Strategy Session.

Will my skin peel?

Not every effective peel causes visible peeling. Light peels usually cause little visible peeling. Practitioner and deeper peels can cause moderate redness and peeling.

Do I need a consultation first?

Yes. All new clients start with a skin consultation.

Where is the clinic?

Our clinic is at G1/5 Constitution Ave, Canberra ACT 2601, and is by appointment only. Not in Canberra? Start with an online consultation.

How much does a peel cost?

See current prices on our Phorest booking page.

Book now