What are the pros and cons of a VI Peel?

 

Pros

• Chemical peels like VI Peels can simultaneously treat multiple concerns, including fine lines, enlarged pores, dullness, discoloration, breakouts, and acne scars. 

• You’ll see results as soon as skin stops peeling, about a week after your treatment.

• Compared to other in-office methods of treating the same skin conditions, such as laser resurfacing, VI Peel is far less expensive and has little downtime.

• A built-in anesthetic makes the treatment more comfortable than other medium-strength peels. It stings a bit for about two minutes while the peel is being applied, but it’s very mild and easily tolerated.

• It can be used anywhere on the body, including the neck, chest, and hands.

 

Cons

• Expect to have a few days of “social downtime,” starting three to five days after the treatment when your skin starts to peel—especially after the stronger VI Peel Precision formula.

• Peeling or picking off flaking skin could leave you at risk for infection or scarring, so resist the urge.

• People with acne-prone skin may have new breakouts, commonly called purging, following the treatment. The VI Peel can cause blemishes to surface, but the solution will purify blemish-prone skin and clear up the acne below the surface as well as acne scars.

• It’s not uncommon to experience post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation two or three weeks following treatment. It can make discoloration you’re trying to treat (such as melasma) temporarily darker, but it’s rarely permanent. The pigmentation often fades away on its own, but it can also be treated to resolve faster. 

• It can take several treatments to see the full benefits, and some providers recommend two or three a year to maintain results.

 

Who is a good VI Peel candidate?

• VI Peel is suitable for most skin types. In fact, it’s one of the safest peels for people with olive, medium, or deep skin tones, who are usually at a higher risk of hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation from chemical peels. 

​

How should you prepare for a VI peel?

• For the week leading up to your treatment, you’ll be asked to stop using prescription retinoids as well as any  products that contain alpha hydroxy acids, like glycolic acid; beta hydroxy acids, like salicylic acid; or benzoyl peroxide. 

• You’ll also need to avoid waxing, electrolysis, depilatory creams, and laser hair removal for a week before the procedure. 

• These ingredients and treatments can temporarily weaken the integrity of the skin’s protective barrier and make skin more prone to burning and irritation.

​

What happens during a VI Peel treatment?

• Your whole appointment should last 30 minutes or less. Your doctor or aesthetician will begin by cleansing your face with acetone. This helps degrease the skin so the combination of acids and vitamins can penetrate deep into the dermis. If the skin isn’t degreased properly, results may be minimal—the peel didn’t penetrate deeply enough.

• Your doctor or aesthetician will then apply several layers of the solution with cotton-tip applicators, small makeup pads, or a paintbrush. The application itself takes only a minute. You may feel some tingling or burning during the application, but most people find this sensation brief and tolerable. After this, you shouldn’t feel any pain. Your skin may temporarily turn frosted-white in the areas where you’ll get the most peeling. 

• Once the peel solution penetrates completely, your provider will apply sunscreen, to protect your skin. You’ll leave the office with the solution still on your skin and instructions to rinse it off in four hours. After you rinse it off, you’ll be free to apply makeup until the peeling begins. 

• Depending on which VI Peel you had, you’ll also receive three to five VI Peel towelettes for home use. They contain vitamin C and tretinoin (the active ingredient in Retin-A), which will boost the peel’s exfoliating effects and encourage the layers of skin to slough off.

• Because you’re removing the solution at home, you play a big role in making sure your recovery goes well and you end up with the results you want. Though the VI Peel is easily tolerated, it’s not gentle. It may feel less intense than some at-home peels, but it yields greater product penetration and peeling effects.

​

What can you expect during VI Peel recovery?

• Immediately after your peel, your skin will look darker, as pigmentation is brought to the surface. 

• By day two and three (before your skin starts to peel), it won’t be so apparent that you’ve had a chemical peel, and you’ll be able to return to your regular activities. But it’s important to follow your provider’s recovery guidelines closely.

• The rule of thumb after a peel is to stop using anything that ‘burns’ when you put it on. Keep your skin care simple post-peel. The post-peel protectant provided by the VI Peel manufacturer commonly stings, in some cases, patients are advised  to use a thin coat of Aquaphor instead.

• Prior to exfoliation, the treatment area feels tight and a bit dry. Using a moisturizer recommended by your provider  can help ease that feeling and mask the flakiness and peeling when it begins, usually within two to three days after the treatment. . Exfoliating can be anything from flaking to full strips of skin coming off. Moisturizing can also help ease itching.

• The peeling process will continue for about a week, possibly a little longer. Some providers suggest scheduling your treatment on a Wednesday, so you’ll have the worst of the peeling over the weekend. The length of exfoliation depends on individual skin types—for example, if your skin is drier or oilier—as well as whether the patient is in the habit of using Retin-A or vitamin C, which already causes the outermost layers of skin to be peeled off.

• As tempting as it may be, DON'T PICK at your skin while it’s peeling; just allow the skin to slough off naturally. Picking or peeling can increase your risk of bleeding, prolonged redness, hyperpigmentation, and even scarring. The best thing you can do to get rid of the flakes is to apply more moisturizer. This helps the flakes come off without damaging the new skin underneath.

• Because the VI Peel is medium-depth, your “new” skin will be sensitive, and it may look red (if you have fair skin). After the initial peeling, the remaining skin flaking and possible redness should be much easier to cover and hide.

• The level of peeling you experience doesn’t mean that the treatment is any more or less effective. Everybody reacts differently to the VI Peel. The good news is, this particular peel works deep in the dermis to undo damage, so how much you peel is not an indicator of if it ‘worked’ or not.

• Avoiding sun exposure while your skin heals is also key to optimal results. Chemically peeled skin is very sensitive. Strict sun avoidance is advised after a peel and during the initial healing process. After that, the use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen is critical.”

​

How soon will you see VI peel results?

• You’ll see your final results about seven days after the peeling stops. Many patients can see results, often fairly dramatic, after only one peel. The VI Peel typically peels off the outermost layers of skin, and the skin that you see once the outer surface is exfoliated is fresh.

• Keep in mind though that you may need a series of treatments for optimal results. Every individual’s response to a VI Peel varies, which then varies the number of treatments needed to achieve optimal results. Generally, most patients achieve effective results after two or three treatments.

• VI Peel’s maker, VI Aesthetics, suggests an initial series of up to four treatments. The frequency will depend on your skin type. Everyone’s skin is different. Some patients can tolerate VI Peels every three weeks, and some only every six weeks. After you achieve the results you want, a follow-up treatment every three months can help maintain them. Your results can be extended if you take good care of your skin, including using sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher daily. 

​

What are the risks and potential side effects of a VI Peel?

• The VI Peel is considered safe, with few risks of complications.

• One risk of all chemical peels is possible changes in pigmentation, in which patches of skin turn darker or lighter than the surrounding skin. You can reduce this risk by avoiding exercising, sweating, or raising your body temperature significantly for the first three or four days after your treatment. These activities could cause blistering or hyperpigmentation.

• Brown skin is prone to hyperpigmentation. While this risk is lower with the VI Peel than other medium-strength peels, hyperpigmentation is a possibility after any chemical peel, because inflammation can lead to pigment deposits. 

• Hyperpigmentation after a VI Peel usually resolves on its own, but topical products and treatments (including another chemical peel) can help speed it along. 

• Rarely, scarring can occur after a VI Peel.

• Finally, if you’ve experienced cold sores (HSV-1) in the past, there’s a risk of reactivation. To reduce the risk of a flare-up,   be sure to ask your doctor to prescribe an antiviral medication ahead of your treatment.

​

​

​