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PCA Peel vs. VI Peel: What's the Difference?
milk + honey
Chemical peels can address many of the same concerns, including discoloration, acne, uneven texture, and signs of aging. What changes from one peel to another is the depth of exfoliation, the level of correction, and what you can expect afterward.
PCA Skin offers a range of professional peels selected based on your skin and goals, with options ranging from superficial to medium-depth exfoliation and minimal to no downtime. VI Peel is a medium-depth treatment designed for deeper, more corrective renewal, with formulations selected for specific skin concerns and a more visible peeling process.
Both have a place. The difference is finding the approach that makes sense for your skin, your goals, and the amount of downtime you're comfortable with.
what a chemical peel actually does
Chemical peels use exfoliating acids to remove dead and damaged skin cells and encourage cellular renewal. Depending on the peel, that exfoliation can help improve discoloration, acne, uneven tone and texture, and signs of aging.
How deeply a peel works comes down to the acids it uses, their concentration, the pH of the solution, and how long it stays on the skin. That depth affects both what a peel can address and what your skin may look like afterward.
PCA Skin Peel
Your esthetician selects from a range of professional PCA Skin peels. Depending on which one, treatment can range from superficial to medium-depth exfoliation and can address acne, discoloration, signs of aging, and uneven texture.
Acne, discoloration, signs of aging, and uneven texture.
Superficial to medium-depth, depending on the peel selected.
None to light, depending on the peel. Minimal to no downtime.
Esthetician.
30 minutes.
VI Peel
VI Peel is built for correction rather than upkeep, which is why it works deeper and why the peeling is more visible.
You don't pick a formulation. Your advanced aesthetician or medical provider selects one for your skin, from a range that runs from a gentle first peel to options for active acne, pigment, and scarring, plus a separate formulation for the body. It was the first corrective peel developed to be safe for all skin tones.
Acne, acne scarring, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, uneven skin tone, and texture.
Medium-depth.
Noticeable peeling that typically begins within 48 hours and may continue for five to seven days.
Advanced aesthetician or medical provider.
30 minutes for the face. VI Peel is also available for the body as a separate 45-minute service.
To really see results, a series of three peels is typically recommended, spaced four to six weeks apart, followed by maintenance one to two times a year. More challenging concerns like melasma and scarring may call for four to six.
how to prepare
Prep matters as much as the treatment itself, and the two peels ask for slightly different things. Your esthetician will confirm what applies to you.
Before either peel, let your provider know about recent peels or laser treatments, the products you use, melasma, and any history of cold sores. If you are prone to cold sores, a preventative antiviral may be recommended. Accutane needs to have been stopped six months before a VI Peel.
Which peel is right for you?
Choosing a peel isn't about finding the strongest option. It's about finding the right level of treatment for your skin.
Your concerns, skin history, current routine, previous treatments, and desired downtime can all influence which peel is recommended.
A peel is not right for everyone. Pregnancy or breastfeeding, recent Accutane use, active cold sores or open skin, and certain medical conditions can all mean waiting or choosing a different treatment. Share your full history at your consultation so your provider can make that call with you.
what to expect afterward
Stay out of direct sun while your skin recovers, and wear a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every day. No tanning beds for at least two weeks. With a VI Peel, use only the products in your take-home kit while you are peeling.
Never pick or pull at peeling skin. If loose skin becomes bothersome, it can be carefully trimmed with clean scissors.
No saunas, steam rooms, or anything that causes heavy sweating for the first seven days.
One thing worth knowing: more peeling does not mean better results. Cellular turnover is happening whether or not you see much shedding, and the amount varies from person to person.
Your provider will guide you on when to resume your regular skincare routine, usually once peeling has fully resolved and your skin no longer feels sensitive.
ready to find the right peel?
You can book either peel directly, and your esthetician/aesthetician will confirm the right approach for your skin when you come in. If you’d rather talk it through first, a consultation gives your provider the chance to look at your skin and recommend the approach that makes sense for you.