My chemical peel experience in Abuja -Nigeria

I have been on the quest for good skin this year, which has taken me to unexpected places. The low point was my massive allergic reaction to black soap and body oil I got from one of the fancy Instagram brands. My skin reacted badly to the oud (fragrance ) and the soap and my face puffed up like a pufferfish. You can read about how I handled the episode here. Once my skin was healed I decided to do a chemical peel to get rid of the dead skin and dark spots. So I booked an appointment with flawless skin by Abby med spa where I previously had dermaplaning you can read about here.

What is a chemical peel

A chemical peel is a procedure used to improve and smooth the texture of the skin. Chemical peels use high strength fruit acids (AHAs or BHAs) to remove the outermost layers of the skin revealing the newer skin underneath.

Who is it for

A chemical peel is for anyone concerned about dullness, texture, ageing or acne-prone skin. There are a number of chemical peels available targeted to specific skin conditions. So do your research and speak to a skin therapist or dermatologist to get advise on what works best for your skin. 

The Process

Consultation and skin analysis

Once I arrived at my appointment my skin was analysed. To be honest I didn’t want one because I know what exactly my skin issues are and the type of peel I wanted to be done. However, because this was my first peel at the spa they insisted and I reluctantly agreed.

To do the skin analysis I put my face into the equipment above while the aesthetician looked at my skin. She mentioned my skin was oily, with acne under the skin and of course pigmentation. Once that was done we had a discussion on the types of peels available and she recommended the VI Peel.  The VI peel is supposed to reduce hyperpigmentation, soften fine lines, smooth away rough skin and give an even skin tone. I was told I would need at least 3 sessions one month apart for the best results. Although it wasn’t the peel I intended to have done I decided to give it a shot.

The peel

As with every peel, my skin was thoroughly cleansed to prepare it for the peel. Cleansing the skin is an important part of the process. Because any product or oils left on your skin will affect the effectiveness of the peel and your results.

After cleansing the peel was applied to my face and down to my décolletage and began to sting within a few minutes. When I say sting I mean just that, the pain was not excessive pain and felt like little pinpricks on my skin. My aesthetician gave me a little fan which directed on my face until I didn’t feel the stinging anymore.

Unlike other chemical peels which are usually washed off and neutralized after a few minutes, VI Peel is left on for at least 6 hours.  Since I had errands to run, the aesthetician applied some sunscreen on my face so i could go out. She let me know to significant peeling especially after the 3^rd day and to be ready to get a few stares.

It was also recommended that I use Tretinoin (0.5%) prescription retinol as well as Dr Obaji Nu Derm Clear 4% Hydroquinone. To exfoliate my skin lighten my spots all of which contribute to reducing pigmentation. However, I found the cost in of the two products in addition to the price of the peel prohibitive.

Post peel

I was also provided with a post-peel kit which had 2 faces wipes, a moisturizer and sunscreen. After 6 hours I was instructed to wash my face with lukewarm water only and use one the face wipes as a toner then apply the moisturiser and sunscreen. Because I did this late on Saturday I didn’t wash my face till Sunday the next morning.

Day 1&2

My skin felt a bit tight and looked slightly shining but I didn’t notice anything different. On day 2  I used my oil cleanser to wash my face since my skin felt too sensitive for a foaming cleanser. However, I was able to wear my normal makeup and go to work.

Day 3

This started off just like day 2 with no flaking or peeling of my skin and I applied my makeup as usual and went to work. You need to understand that throughout the workday I didn’t look in the mirror even once. Imagine my surprise when at the end of the day when I looked into my rearview mirror I noticed the sheets of skin peeling off my face. Around my cheeks; jawline and forehead there were sheets of skin just coming off. The best way I can describe it is how a snake sheds its skin. It wasn’t painful at all but I looked crazy. I rushed home to wash my face and get the flakes of dislodged skin off.

One extremely important point is to ensure you don’t pull on the shedding skin. Let it come off on its own or just rub gently.  If you pull on the shedding skin you may tug on sections that are not ready to come off causing it to scab or scar. So as annoying as it is, leaves it alone and just wash your face gently.

Day 4 and beyond

There is was more peeling around the edges of my face and neck. By the 6^th and 7^th day the flaking was almost completely gone & I could see the full effect of the peel.

Results

Let’s start with what the VI Peel promises. It promises to reduce hyperpigmentation, improve skin texture, and reduce fine lines and other signs of ageing.   

Skin texture /brightening

The texture of my skin improved quite a bit and in the areas, with no hyperpigmentation, it looked absolutely lovely. My skin was much brighter and luminous.  

Hyperpigmentation

This is where the peel did not perform as well as I hoped, don’t get me wrong there certainly was an improvement in the appearance of my hyperpigmentation but not as much as I expected. To get the maximum effect I am supposed to do at least 3 peels. So the review is not completely fair since I have only done one peel.

Ease of use

This is not the typical ease of use because you don’t do the application. However, some peels which need to stay on your face for extended periods of time look like clay masks. This prevents you from going about your regular business. This peel was the opposite as it allowed me to do my errands without anyone being the wiser.

Cost :N140, 000

Rating: 3/5

The reason for the scoring is basically the price. The is a very expensive peel and to get the full effect you will need to spend at least N420, 000. Personally, I would prefer to get a deeper peel like a TCA peel at a fraction of the price. This will allow me to have more frequent sessions to tackle my pigmentation more effectively.

Where to Get it done

Flawless Skin By Abby in Wuse 2 Abuja the link provided takes you to their website

Would I recommend it, it depends?  If your skin needs freshening up and the texture is a bit wonky then this is the one for you. However, for severe hyperpigmentation, I would prefer a deeper peel like the TCA or the Jessner’s peel.

Because of the shedding if you are still going to work you need to schedule your appointment carefully. That way the worst of the peeling happens over the weekend. Days 3 & 4 have the most flaking so I would recommend that you do the peel on a Wednesday or Thursday. That way the most intense flacking occurs on Friday or Saturday and you have the weekend to look cray-cray.

I hope this helps, have you had the VI Peel in the past what was your experience? If you have any questions feel free to contact me or leave them in the comments

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