There is a myriad of chemical peels in the aesthetic market today, from light and superficial ones to the deepest. And since I love giving my skin some TLC once in a while, I’m always doing different skin treatments and telling you about it, so that you don’t have to gamble on a certain treatment. This time around I had a Cosmelan depigmentation peel, which is one of the most powerful chemical peels out there that treat melasma, reduces skin pigmentation in addition to evening out the skin tone. And before you ask, the peel was done by Laser and Skincare Specialist – Amira Nassar.

The Skin Problem

I had been having some uneven skin tone and some skin pigmentation on my face for a while. I don’t know what had caused it, but my best bet would be sun exposure. When I consulted with the lovely Amira, she immediately suggested that I go for the Cosmelan depigmentation peel. This sounded simple and straight to the point until she mentioned that I should not make any plans for special occasions or anything similar. At this point, I knew there would be peeling, but it was no big deal (according to my inner voice).

So, we scheduled for the treatment a week from the day of the consultation, so that I could ‘do more research and think it over (but what was there to think over, I just wanted the treatment).

The Treatment – Cosmelan Depigmentation Peel

I arrived at the clinic bright and early ready to take on the wonder that is Cosmelan depigmentation peel treatment. Amira started with her usual routine of professionally cleansing the skin and de-greasing it before commencing with the treatment.

The treatment comes in two phases; Cosmelan 1 and Cosmelan 2. Cosmelan 1 has to be done in the clinic by a specialist (like Amira), while Cosmelan 2 is part of the home care kit, which is simpler and you apply it yourself.

After the cleansing was over, she started applying the Cosmelan 1 cream, which is sort of mustard in color. For some reason I expected it to sting, but I didn’t feel a single thing. After the application, the thick mustard-colored mask has to stay on for 6 – 10 hours, depending on the skin condition you are treating. Since I was treating simple skin pigmentation, Amira told me I had to keep it on for at least 6 hours. That meant not leaving the house at all and staying away from any sun exposure.

YOU’LL LIKE: The Skinny on Laser Skin Resurfacing

At-home After Care

After the Cosmelan depigmentation peel has been applied, I left the clinic (with the mask still on my face). This is because the rest of the treatment has to be done at home. My homecare care kit included the Cosmelan 2 cream, a gentle cleanser, Mesoestetic® Hydra-Vital Factor K cream, and a sun protection SPF 50.

After the recommended 6 hours with the Cosmelan cream on, it was time to gently remove it with lukewarm water, and the gentle cleanser (which was simple enough). Immediately after the cleansing and drying, I had to apply the Mesoestetic® Hydra-Vital Factor K cream, which is supposed to protect the new skin after treatment, as well as restore the skin’s moisture.

The Peeling

The following day after the Cosmelan depigmentation peel, I started experiencing slight stinging and redness, but I kept on with the regimen (gentle cleanser, Factor K cream, and sun protection SPF 50). The third day was the same, but then I started seeing the peeling, which is the point of any chemical peel treatment. The skin felt tight and quite itchy, and it took a lot of restraint to keep my paws off my face. To make this easier to handle, Amira advised that I should apply the Factor K cream often to keep the skin well moisturized in addition to soothing it.

The peeling and flaking were quite aggressive (think of an exotic skin disease), and at this point, I understood the reason Amira told me to make sure I don’t have special occasions coming up. The major flaking was on day 3, and after that, it started subsidizing. This lasted for about 8 days before everything cleared up and I could see some fading of the pigmentation.

DON’T MISS: Is the Green Peel Facial all it’s Cracked up to be? I Tried It…

Cosmelan 2 Maintenance Cream

Soon after, I started using the Cosmelan 2 Maintenance Cream. The routine included cleansing the face completely, applying the Cosmelan 2 cream, then following it up 15 minutes later with the Hydra-vital factor K. This is supposed to be done every evening (in my case) for up to one year for the best results.

Results of the Cosmelan Depigmentation Peel

Would I recommend the depigmentation peel treatment? Definitely! But you’ll need some serious balls to get through the first 8 days. From the itching, peeling, flaking, and the urge to throw every caution out the window just for a little scratch to alleviate that itch; you better have some serious self-restraint before going ahead.

If you finally go ahead with the treatment, you’ll be in for a treat. Results are kind of fast and realistic, from an even skin tone, new and brighter skin, to a melasma-free skin. But hey, who said good things come easy? With the Cosmelan depigmentation peel, you have to flake for it in order to see the magic. But would I ever consider having this peel again? The answer is a resounding no! It’s too brutal.