Spotlyte / Valis Vicenty
Many of us might shudder at the thought of applying a chemical peel, with a few picturing Sex and the City’s Samantha Jones’s infamously red-faced results that she tried to keep hidden at Carrie’s book launch. Thankfully, peels — and our understanding of them — have come a long way since then. In fact, many formulas have proven to have the power to smooth, brighten, and clear up our complexions (without irritation!) as they target a number of skincare woes. These range from acne, uneven tone and texture to fine lines and wrinkles.
As appealing as they may seem, they still come with some risk — and not just for sensitive skin types. Complexions of color, especially tones that experience hyperpigmentation following a bad breakout or other damage, could make those dark spots and melasma much worse. Even though that’s the exact opposite function that peels are supposed to have, it’s a possibility because of the concentration of the acids used. “The chemical the peel is based on is less important than the depth the peel is designed to exfoliate to,” explains New York City-based, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Maryann Mikhail.
