If you’ve been dealing with stubborn sun damage, acne scars, or skin that just looks tired no matter what creams you try, you’re not alone. Living in Sunny Isles Beach means year-round sunshine and ocean breezes, but it also means your skin takes a beating from UV exposure. That’s where chemical peels come in.
At Manhattan Laser Spa, we’ve helped hundreds of clients in Sunny Isles Beach, Aventura, and Bal Harbour bring their skin back to life with customized chemical peel treatments. Whether you’re dealing with melasma, fine lines, or just want that fresh, glowing complexion back, we’ll create a treatment plan that actually works for your skin type and lifestyle.
Here’s the thing: chemical peels aren’t as scary as they sound. They’re controlled skin treatments that use medical-grade acids to remove damaged outer layers of skin, revealing fresher, healthier skin underneath. Think of it like helping your skin hit the reset button.
The process works by triggering your skin’s natural healing response. When we apply the peel solution, it encourages old, damaged cells to shed away while stimulating collagen production and cellular turnover. The result? Smoother texture, more even tone, and a natural glow you haven’t seen in years.
Types of Chemical Peels We OfferNot all peels are created equal, and that’s actually a good thing. Your skin is unique, so your treatment should be too.
Light Chemical Peels
These are perfect if you’re new to peels or dealing with mild skin concerns. Light peels use alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) like glycolic acid or salicylic acid to gently exfoliate the surface layer of your skin. You’ll have minimal downtime (usually just a day or two of slight redness), and you can often see results after just one treatment.
Best for: dull complexion, rough skin texture, mild acne, enlarged pores, and maintaining results between deeper treatments.
Medium-Depth Chemical Peels
Ready to tackle more stubborn issues? Medium peels go deeper into the skin using trichloroacetic acid (TCA) or stronger concentrations of glycolic acid. These treatments work wonders for sun damage, deeper wrinkles, and more pronounced hyperpigmentation.
The recovery time is longer (about 5-7 days of visible peeling), but the results are worth it. Most people see dramatic improvements in skin tone and texture.
VI Peel and Jessner’s Peel
These are two of our most popular options at Manhattan Laser Spa. The VI Peel is a powerhouse blend that includes TCA, retinoic acid, salicylic acid, phenol, and vitamin C. It’s incredibly effective for treating melasma, acne scars, and age spots with relatively comfortable downtime.
Jessner’s Peel combines lactic acid, salicylic acid, and resorcinol. It’s excellent for acne-prone skin and works beautifully on clients who live active lifestyles along Collins Avenue and need predictable results.
Deep Chemical Peels
We reserve these for specific situations where significant sun damage or deep wrinkles need aggressive treatment. Deep peels use phenol and require more recovery time, but they deliver the most dramatic skin resurfacing results possible.
Living in Sunny Isles Beach means dealing with specific skin challenges. Here’s what chemical peels can help with:
Sun Damage and Photodamage: All those days at Samson Oceanfront Park or walking along the beach? Your skin remembers. Chemical peels can reverse years of UV damage, fading age spots and improving overall skin health.
Hyperpigmentation and Melasma: This is huge for our South Florida clients. The combination of sun exposure and hormonal changes creates those stubborn dark patches that regular creams just can’t fix. Chemical peels, especially VI Peels and TCA treatments, break up that excess pigment.
Acne and Acne Scars: Salicylic acid peels penetrate into your pores to clear out the buildup causing breakouts. For acne scars, medium-depth peels stimulate collagen production to smooth out those indented areas.
Fine Lines and Wrinkles: Chemical peels don’t just work on the surface. They trigger your skin to produce fresh collagen, which fills in lines and creates firmer, younger-looking skin.
Uneven Skin Tone and Texture: If your skin feels rough or looks blotchy, peels create a more uniform appearance by removing damaged cells and revealing the healthy skin underneath.
Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH): Those dark marks left behind after breakouts? Chemical peels can fade them significantly faster than waiting for them to disappear on their own.
Why Choose Manhattan Laser Spa in Sunny Isles Beach?You’ve got options for chemical peels in Miami-Dade County, so why come to us? Honestly, it comes down to experience and safety.
Our medical director oversees every treatment protocol, and our licensed medical aestheticians have performed thousands of chemical peels on every skin type imaginable. We understand how different Fitzpatrick skin types respond to various peel formulations, which is critical for avoiding complications like hyperpigmentation.
We don’t do cookie-cutter treatments. Before your first peel, you’ll get a complimentary skin analysis where we assess your specific concerns, skin type, and goals. We might use VISIA complexion analysis technology to document your starting point and track your progress.
Safety is non-negotiable here. We follow strict sterilization standards, use only medical-grade products, and maintain HIPAA compliance. Our facility is licensed by the State of Florida Department of Health, and our staff maintains continuing education in the latest aesthetic techniques.
Plus, we’re right here in Sunny Isles Beach. Whether you’re coming from Winston Towers, Golden Shores, or even Aventura and North Miami Beach, we’re convenient and easy to reach.
Let’s walk through what actually happens when you come in for a chemical peel.
Pre-Treatment Consultation
First, we talk. What are you hoping to achieve? What’s your skin history? Are you using any prescription skincare like tretinoin? This matters because certain medications affect how your skin responds to peels.
We’ll examine your skin closely, determine your Fitzpatrick skin type, and recommend the best peel type for your goals. If you have sensitive skin or certain conditions like active cold sores, we’ll address those first.
Pre-Peel Preparation
Depending on the peel type, we might send you home with a prep kit. This usually includes gentle cleansers and sometimes low-dose acids to prep your skin for the treatment. Think of it like priming a surface before painting. It helps the peel penetrate evenly and reduces the risk of complications.
Treatment Day
You’ll arrive at our spa, and we’ll start by thoroughly cleansing your skin to remove all oils and makeup. Then comes the pH balancing solution, which ensures the peel works effectively.
When we apply the peel, you might feel tingling or mild burning. That’s normal. Light peels feel like a slight sunburn sensation. Medium peels can be more intense, but we’re right there managing your comfort the entire time.
The actual application takes just 10-20 minutes, depending on the peel type. For some peels, we’ll neutralize the solution. For others, like the VI Peel, you’ll leave it on and remove it at home according to our instructions.
Post-Peel Care
This part is crucial. We’ll give you specific aftercare instructions, but here are the basics:
Keep your skin moisturized with the healing ointments we recommend. Your skin will be more sensitive than usual.
Absolutely no sun exposure without broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher. This is South Florida, so you probably already wear sunscreen, but now it’s even more important.
Don’t pick at peeling skin. I know it’s tempting, but let it shed naturally to avoid scarring.
Avoid harsh products, hot yoga classes, and swimming pools during the peeling process.
The peeling itself usually starts around day 3 and can last 5-7 days for medium peels. Light peels might just cause some flaking you barely notice.
Let’s be real about what recovery looks like because everyone wants to know when they can get back to normal life.
Light Peels: Minimal downtime. You might have some redness for a day, similar to a mild sunburn. Most people schedule these during a long weekend and are back to work Monday looking refreshed.
Medium Peels: Plan for about a week. Your skin will darken and then peel in visible sheets. It’s not painful, just noticeable. Many of our Sunny Isles Beach clients time these around their schedules, avoiding big events or photo sessions.
Deep Peels: These require 2-3 weeks of serious downtime. Your skin will be quite red and swollen initially, then go through significant peeling. You’ll need to take time off work and social activities.
The good news? Once you’re healed, the results last. Light peels benefit from regular sessions (every 4-6 weeks), but medium and deep peels can last years with proper skincare maintenance.
Chemical Peels for Different Skin TypesThis is where having experienced providers really matters. Not every peel works for every skin type, and using the wrong one can cause problems.
Fitzpatrick Skin Types I-II (fair skin that burns easily): You can typically handle most peel types well, but we watch for excess redness and adjust accordingly.
Fitzpatrick Skin Types III-IV (medium skin tones): Great candidates for most peels. We customize concentrations to avoid post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Fitzpatrick Skin Types V-VI (darker skin tones): We’re extra careful here. Lower concentrations, specific peel formulations, and thorough prep work help avoid hyperpigmentation. Jessner’s peels and carefully calibrated TCA peels work beautifully when done right.
Sensitive Skin: We start gentle with mandelic acid or lactic acid peels. These larger molecules penetrate more slowly, reducing irritation.
Oily and Acne-Prone Skin: Salicylic acid peels are your friend. They’re lipophilic, meaning they cut through oil to get deep into pores.
Dry or Mature Skin: Lactic acid peels provide hydration while exfoliating, making them perfect for skin that needs moisture along with renewal.
Sometimes the best results come from combining treatments. At Manhattan Laser Spa, we offer several complementary services:
Microneedling: Wait about 4 weeks between a chemical peel and microneedling, but alternating between them creates powerful collagen stimulation.
Laser Skin Resurfacing: For severe sun damage or deep wrinkles, we might recommend combining peels with laser treatments over a series of sessions.
HydraFacial: Perfect between chemical peel sessions to maintain results and keep skin hydrated.
Medical-Grade Facials: These keep your skin healthy and prepped between peel treatments.
LED Light Therapy: Reduces inflammation and speeds healing after chemical peels.
Here’s what our Sunny Isles Beach clients typically see:
After light peels, expect brighter, smoother skin with a healthy glow. Fine lines soften, and your complexion looks more even. These results improve with regular treatments.
Medium peels deliver more dramatic changes. Sun spots fade significantly or disappear. Acne scars become less noticeable. Skin texture smooths out considerably. Fine lines around your eyes and mouth soften.
Deep peels create the most transformation. Years of sun damage can be reversed. Deep wrinkles improve substantially. Severe hyperpigmentation fades.
Most people need multiple sessions for optimal results. We’ll create a treatment schedule based on your goals. Some clients come monthly for light peels, while others do a series of medium peels spaced 3-6 months apart.
Chemical peel pricing varies based on the type and depth of treatment. Light peels are more affordable and require less downtime, while deep peels cost more but deliver more dramatic results.
During your complimentary consultation, we’ll discuss pricing transparently. We believe you should know exactly what you’re investing in and what results to expect. No surprises.
Think of it this way: chemical peels can reduce or eliminate the need for expensive skincare products that aren’t really working. Many clients find their long-term skincare costs actually decrease after a series of peels because their skin simply needs less intervention.
Chemical peels are medical procedures, not spa services. That distinction matters.
Manhattan Laser Spa operates under the supervision of a board-certified medical director. Our licensed medical aestheticians and licensed nurse practitioners have extensive training in chemical peel applications and skin physiology.
We maintain Florida medical spa licensure and follow all State of Florida Department of Health regulations. Our facility meets strict safety protocols and sterilization standards.
We’re members of the American Med Spa Association (AmSpa), which means we stay current on best practices and industry standards. Our staff participates in continuing education to learn about new peel formulations and techniques.
If something unexpected happens during or after your treatment, we have emergency protocols in place and medical oversight to address any concerns immediately.
Most people feel tingling or warmth during the treatment, not pain. Light peels feel like a mild sunburn. Medium peels can be more intense, creating a burning sensation that peaks during application and subsides quickly after neutralization. We manage your comfort throughout the process. Deep peels require numbing because they penetrate significantly deeper.
Prices typically range from $150 to $300 per session, depending on the level of customization and any add-on boosters you choose. At Manhattan Laser Spa, we offer transparent pricing and package options that make regular treatments more affordable. Contact us for current pricing and special offers for new clients.
Honestly, any time works if you’re committed to sun protection. That said, many clients prefer fall or winter when they’re spending less time at the beach and outdoor activities. The key is avoiding direct sun exposure during your healing period, which is totally doable year-round with proper planning and SPF.
Yes, actually. Salicylic acid peels are specifically designed to treat active acne. They penetrate into pores to clear out the buildup causing breakouts. However, if you have a severe active breakout or cystic acne, we might recommend addressing that first with other treatments before proceeding with a peel.
With light peels, you might just experience some flaking that’s barely noticeable. Medium peels cause visible peeling, where skin sheds in sheets over 5-7 days. Deep peels involve significant peeling over several weeks. We’ll tell you exactly what to expect based on the peel type we recommend. Many clients plan their treatments around their schedules to accommodate the peeling period.
Chemical peels can significantly improve the appearance of wrinkles, but “complete removal” depends on the wrinkle depth and cause. Medium to deep peels stimulate collagen production and resurface skin, which softens and reduces wrinkles considerably. For very deep wrinkles, combining peels with other treatments like laser resurfacing or injectables might deliver better results. During your consultation, we’ll be honest about what’s achievable for your specific concerns.
That’s exactly what your complimentary skin analysis determines. We assess your skin type, concerns, lifestyle, and goals to recommend the most appropriate peel. Factors like your Fitzpatrick skin type, sensitivity level, available downtime, and specific issues you want to address all influence which peel will work best. You’re never locked into one option, and we can adjust your treatment plan based on how your skin responds.
If you’re tired of looking in the mirror and seeing sun damage, uneven tone, or skin that just doesn’t look as healthy as it should, it’s time to do something about it.
Chemical peels at Manhattan Laser Spa in Sunny Isles Beach offer proven results backed by medical expertise and years of experience treating South Florida skin. We understand the unique challenges that come with living in this climate, and we know how to deliver the glowing, healthy skin you deserve.
Your complimentary consultation is the first step. We’ll examine your skin, answer all your questions, and create a customized treatment plan designed specifically for you. No pressure, no sales pitch. Just honest advice about what will actually work.
Call Manhattan Laser Spa today to schedule your consultation. Let’s bring your best skin back.
