CO2 Laser Resurfacing or a Chemical Peel: Which Is Right for Your Skin?

Sep 17

Both CO2 laser resurfacing and chemical peels renew the surface of your skin to reveal smoother, brighter skin underneath. The difference is how deep they go, how much downtime you have and what they are best at.

Chemical peel and skin resurfacing treatment at Permaskin Med Spa

CO2 laser resurfacing

A fractional CO2 laser treats tiny columns of skin while leaving healthy skin around them untouched. As the skin heals, it rebuilds with fresh collagen.

Best for: deeper wrinkles, acne scars, rough texture and sun damage.

Downtime: plan for several days of redness and peeling while your skin heals. It is a stronger treatment, and the results reflect that.

Chemical peels

A peel uses exfoliating acids to remove dead and damaged surface cells. We offer two levels:

Light peels: gentle exfoliation for glow, mild acne and uneven tone, with little to no downtime.
VI Peel: a medium-depth, medical-grade peel for pigmentation, acne and acne scars, and fine lines. Expect a few days of light peeling.

  
    Chemical peel vs. CO2 laserAnimation · no sound
CHEMICAL PEELCO2 LASER1A peel lifts away the dull top layer of skin, evenly.
2A CO2 laser treats tiny columns that reach deeper into the skin.
3The skin heals and fills in with fresh collagen.
4Peel: a glow with little downtime. CO2: a bigger change with more healing time.

How to choose

Want a glow with no downtime? Start with a light peel.
Dark spots, melasma-prone skin or active acne? A VI Peel is often a better fit.
Deeper wrinkles, scars or major texture concerns? CO2 laser resurfacing gives the most dramatic change.

A note for deeper skin tones

Stronger resurfacing treatments can carry a higher risk of pigment changes on deeper skin tones. That is one reason we always start with a consultation: we look at your skin type and history and recommend the safest treatment for you.