The holidays are a wonderful time for friends, family, and festivities. But between shopping, traveling, baking, gift wrapping, and party hosting, you’re under a lot of pressure. Holiday stress is real–and it affects more than just your mental wellbeing.

The stress of the holiday season can affect your skin, too. Cortisol, the hormone that is released during stress, causes the skin to become more oily and inflamed. Over-eating and over-drinking are also common during the holidays and can exacerbate skin inflammation.

How Chemical Peels Help

To keep your skin healthy and maintain a holiday glow, chemical peels are an excellent option. Our Hawaii cosmetic plastic surgery practice in Honolulu offers chemical peels of varying strengths to refresh and restore the skin. Chemical peels allow you to put your best face forward during the bustling holiday season. Here’s how:

Peels exfoliate the skin. Chemical peels help remove dead skin cells from the surface to reveal new, fresh cells. Most chemical peels use either alpha hydroxy acids or beta hydroxy acids to gently break apart dead skin cells so they shed more rapidly. New skin underneath is then exposed to give you a brighter, more youthful-looking complexion.

Peels stimulate collagen renewal. Collagen is also known as the youth protein. It gives the skin it’s resiliency and “bounce.” Collagen production declines as we age and can also be affected by stress and inflammation.

Chemical peels encourage the skin to make more collagen. After a chemical peel treatment, your skin will plump up and thicken–which minimizes the look of fine lines and wrinkles. The result is a healthy and refreshed appearance.

Peels help skincare products work better. Any skincare products you are using will be more effective after a chemical peel. That’s because the exfoliating action of the peel sloughs off dead skin cells and other debris from the skin’s surface. This allows your skincare products to absorb more readily so that the active ingredients can do their job.

What to Expect

At my practice, we offer the SkinCeuticals® Pigment Balancing Peel. This customizable peel can correct everything from skin discoloration to poor skin texture to lines and wrinkles. A combination of anti-inflammatory and brightening agents work to accelerate cellular renewal and reduce redness and irritation. Because the peel can be customized to your skin’s needs, we can ensure the right amount of intensity to fit your cosmetic goals.

Prior to application, your chemical peel will be formulated for your skin’s needs. Your skin will first be cleansed and prepped and then the peel will be applied. You might feel a slight stinging or burning sensation for the first 3 to 5 minutes. This is normal, and most people find it very tolerable. The entire treatment takes only 30 minutes.

Once your peel is removed, your skin may look red and feel tender. Most people require a few days of downtime. Peeling and flaking will likely occur 3 to 5 days after treatment. This is normal and can often be controlled with moisturizer and camouflaged with makeup.

It’s important that you apply a daily broad-spectrum sunscreen such as the SkinCeuticals daily sunscreen. Using this product every day after your peel for several weeks will help protect against sun and environmental damage and maintain your results.

Additional Tips for Glowing Skin

In addition to chemical peels, dermal fillers can also help your skin look holiday-party-ready. Dermal fillers add volume and hydration to the skin and can be used in areas like the cheeks, lips, and under the eyes. There are many types of dermal fillers available, and a thorough consultation can help you decide on the best filler option for you.

To schedule your holiday treatment, request a consultation using our online form or call our office at (808) 207-7345.