At home facial peel vs professional chemical peel

Chemical peel. A beauty term that has been knocked around for decades but, when it comes down to it, are all skin peeling treatments the same? How much does a chemical peel cost? And what is better, a professional chemical peel or an at-home chemical peel? Knowing a thing or two about this subject here at The Skin to Love Clinic in Hertfordshire, we set out to answer these questions so you can decide what’s best for you.

There are a number of reasons why we may look to try a chemical skin peel; perhaps we want to improve acne scarring, soften lines and wrinkles, get rid of skin redness, or simply brighten and refresh dull skin. There are different types of peels that are suitable for different skin conditions and skin types; we’ve gone into detail about which particular type of peel may suit your skin here. Today we’re focusing on if, and how, at-home facial peels are similar to professional chemical face peels.

So, let’s get down the nitty-gritty.

At-home chemical peels are usually far milder than professional ones. Many skin peels that you can do on yourself at home contain the same or similar, ingredients as the ones a professional would give you but in a much lower concentration; this means that you’re likely to need multiple at-home peels to get similar results, if at all. But that’s ok! If you are looking for something to gently exfoliate your skin, for example, this may be a good option for you. Beware that although much milder, an at-home peel is still a peel. This means that they come with the risk of skin irritation and skin burns; especially if they aren’t well suited for your skin or skin condition or not applied correctly.

As with a professional chemical peel treatment, your skin will get some level of exfoliation when you give yourself an at-home peel, so it is really important to add a daily sunscreen with SPF 30 or above to your skincare regime (we recommend a mineral sunscreen), no matter what time of year you peel your skin; a freshly exfoliated skin looks beautiful and glowy but it will be more prone to sun damage because some of those dead skin cells sitting on the top of your skin are no longer there.

Cost. This can be a big factor when deciding if you should have a professional skin peel or use an at-home chemical peel. As with all treatments and all home-use products, there is a massive range in price so I thought it best to tell you the cost of chemical peels at our Clinic as I’m sure you’ll research prices should you be going to another clinic; our professional chemical peel treatments start at £65*. I’ve seen at-home products for as little as £7 all the way up to £89 (you may be able to find ones that are less or more!). Of course, the cost of an at-home product includes multiple applications.

One of the biggest concerns skincare experts have about at-home peels is about you buying counterfeit or unregulated products, often unknowingly, even via well-known online marketplaces. I say this because we’ve seen it and, sadly, we’ve had to pick up the pieces for people who have burnt their skin and caused pigmentation issues from skin irritation and burns. This is 100% not to say all at-home peels you buy online will be fake but it’s more an experienced warning to make sure you trust the seller is legitimate. In comparison, professional clinics will have sourced their skin peels from reputable pharmacies or distributors; that’s not to say there are no potential risks when you have a professional skin peel, as with all treatments there are potential risks that run alongside the benefits. Your skin specialist should run through any potential side effects if you have a professional treatment.

So, what is best, an at-home peel or a professional peel? We’d say a professional skin peel every time because you are inexperienced hands and you will usually see more dramatic results in less time. However, there are merits to using products with the same ingredients at home.

If you have any questions about professional chemical peels, please comment below. If you would like to discuss an in-clinic treatment, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team.

*information correct at time of publication. Please check all details with the Clinic prior to booking.

Disclaimer: This blog is not to be used for diagnostic purposes. We are all unique which means that our results, recovery and suitability for any type of treatment will vary. Always seek the advice of a professional should you have any health or cosmetic concerns or to discuss treatments specifically for you.