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Chemical Peels Questions, Answered

Chemical peels are skin treatments that apply a defined-strength chemical agent to create controlled exfoliation, followed by skin regeneration and remodeling (PubMed Central). Chemical peels can improve skin appearance by supporting re-epithelialization and improving texture, pigmentation, and tone (PubMed Central).

What is a chemical peel?

A chemical peel, also called chemexfoliation, is a procedure that applies a defined-strength chemical agent to the skin to cause controlled destruction of skin layers, followed by regeneration and remodeling (PubMed Central).

Chemical peels induce skin injury followed by re-epithelialization that can improve skin appearance by improving texture, pigmentation, and tone (PubMed Central).

Chemical peels penetrate different depths of the epidermis and/or dermis depending on composition, concentration, and how long they are applied to exposed skin (PubMed Central).

What can chemical peels address?

A chemical peel can diminish many signs of aging on the face, hands, neck, and chest (American Academy of Dermatology).

Dermatologists use chemical peels to treat some types of acne and skin-discoloring conditions (American Academy of Dermatology).

Superficial peels such as glycolic acid and salicylic acid are used as adjunct acne therapy to increase topical-agent penetration, improve post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and reduce superficial scarring appearance (PubMed Central).

Depending on concentration, TCA peels can be superficial or medium depth and are effective for treating photodamage, melasma, and acne scarring (PubMed Central).

How do chemical peel depths differ?

Chemical peels penetrate different depths of the epidermis and/or dermis depending on composition, concentration, and how long they are applied to exposed skin (PubMed Central).

The FDA states that a chemical peel product’s concentration, number of applications, and time left on the skin all influence how deeply it penetrates and may contribute to chemical burns (U.S. Food and Drug Administration).

Superficial peels carry lower risk than deep peels, and deep peels should be avoided in darker skin type patients (PubMed Central).

A person can have only one deep peel (American Academy of Dermatology).

Mild and medium chemical peels can be repeated to maintain results (American Academy of Dermatology).

What happens during a chemical peel appointment?

On the day of a chemical peel, preparation includes thoroughly cleansing the skin (American Academy of Dermatology).

After preparation, the dermatologist applies the peel quickly and evenly (American Academy of Dermatology).

The dermatologist watches the skin carefully to remove the peel at the right time (American Academy of Dermatology).

For a deep peel, a patient receives general anesthesia, which puts the patient to sleep (American Academy of Dermatology).

A deep peel must be performed in a surgical setting (American Academy of Dermatology).

With a deep peel, treating one small section at a time limits effects on the heart and lungs (American Academy of Dermatology).

How should chemical peel preparation be understood?

Before a chemical peel, some patients need to follow a pre-peel skin care plan for 2 to 4 weeks (American Academy of Dermatology).

A pre-peel skin care plan can improve results and reduce potential side effects (American Academy of Dermatology).

Chemical peel complications can be best avoided through proper patient selection, counseling, adequate priming, and good care during and after the peel (PubMed Central).

All procedures should be discussed with a qualified physician.

What is recovery generally like after a chemical peel?

After a medium or deep peel there is downtime, and a deep chemical peel requires recuperation at home for 2 to 3 weeks (American Academy of Dermatology).

Rubbing or scratching skin treated with a chemical peel can cause an infection (American Academy of Dermatology).

Mild and medium chemical peels can be repeated to maintain results (American Academy of Dermatology).

Individual results vary.

What are the possible risks of chemical peels?

Chemical peel products remove layers of skin to varying depths and may cause severe chemical burns, pain, swelling, infection, skin color changes, and disfiguring scars (U.S. Food and Drug Administration).

Chemical peel complications include prolonged erythema and itching, delayed wound healing, infection, skin texture changes, acne or milia induction, pigmentation changes, and scarring (PubMed Central).

Deep chemical peels, such as phenol peels, require specialized care such as cardiopulmonary monitoring because phenol can enter the circulation and cause cardiotoxicity (PubMed Central).

Persistent erythema is common in deeper dermal peels, including combination Jessner’s plus TCA peels, especially with multiple coatings (PubMed Central).

A study reported that scars are rare but dreaded chemical peel complications, reportedly occurring in less than 1% of medium-depth peels (PubMed Central).

A study reported that bacterial and viral infections have rarely been reported with chemical peels (PubMed Central).

When performed by a doctor experienced with chemical peels, side effects tend to be mild (American Academy of Dermatology).

Dermatologists have been performing chemical peels for more than 50 years, with an excellent safety record (American Academy of Dermatology).

What should patients know about at-home chemical peel products?

The FDA has not approved any chemical peel products, and consumers should only consider using them under a dermatologist or licensed and trained practitioner’s supervision (U.S. Food and Drug Administration).

The FDA is warning consumers not to purchase or use certain chemical peel skin products without appropriate professional supervision because of the risk of serious skin injuries (U.S. Food and Drug Administration).

The FDA states that some chemical peel products contain acids such as TCA, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and lactic acid at concentrations too high for safe at-home use without supervision (U.S. Food and Drug Administration).

New techniques and devices should be discussed with a qualified physician.

Are chemical peels safe for darker skin tones?

People with skin of color can safely have a chemical peel, but they should see a dermatologist with expertise treating darker skin tones with chemical peels (American Academy of Dermatology).

Without expertise in darker skin tones, people who have skin of color can develop permanent pigment problems after chemical peels (American Academy of Dermatology).

Dyspigmentation, including hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation, can occur after any peel depth and is more likely in Fitzpatrick skin types IV–VI (PubMed Central).

Superficial peels carry lower risk than deep peels, and deep peels should be avoided in darker skin type patients (PubMed Central).

What questions are useful to ask during a chemical peel consultation?

Consider asking:

1. What supervision is involved, since the FDA has not approved any chemical peel products and consumers should only consider using them under a dermatologist or licensed and trained practitioner’s supervision (U.S. Food and Drug Administration).
2. Some patients need to follow a pre-peel skin care plan for 2 to 4 weeks before a chemical peel.
3. What downtime is associated with medium or deep peels, since after a medium or deep peel there is downtime and a deep chemical peel requires recuperation at home for 2 to 3 weeks (American Academy of Dermatology).

FAQ

What is a chemical peel?

A chemical peel, also called chemexfoliation, is a procedure that applies a defined-strength chemical agent to the skin to cause controlled destruction of skin layers, followed by regeneration and remodeling (PubMed Central). Chemical peels can improve skin appearance by supporting re-epithelialization and improving texture, pigmentation, and tone (PubMed Central).

How deep does a chemical peel go?

Chemical peels penetrate different depths of the epidermis and/or dermis depending on composition, concentration, and how long they are applied to exposed skin (PubMed Central). The FDA states that a chemical peel product’s concentration, number of applications, and time left on the skin all influence how deeply it penetrates and may contribute to chemical burns (U.S. Food and Drug Administration).

Can chemical peels help acne-related concerns?

Dermatologists use chemical peels to treat some types of acne and skin-discoloring conditions (American Academy of Dermatology). Superficial peels such as glycolic acid and salicylic acid are used as adjunct acne therapy to increase topical-agent penetration, improve post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and reduce superficial scarring appearance (PubMed Central).

Is there downtime after a chemical peel?

After a medium or deep peel there is downtime, and a deep chemical peel requires recuperation at home for 2 to 3 weeks (American Academy of Dermatology). Mild and medium chemical peels can be repeated to maintain results (American Academy of Dermatology).

What are possible chemical peel side effects?

Chemical peel complications include prolonged erythema and itching, delayed wound healing, infection, skin texture changes, acne or milia induction, pigmentation changes, and scarring (PubMed Central). Chemical peel products remove layers of skin to varying depths and may cause severe chemical burns, pain, swelling, infection, skin color changes, and disfiguring scars (U.S. Food and Drug Administration).

This article was produced by Mentis Intelligence for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Individual results vary. All procedures should be discussed with a qualified physician. For a consultation with Dr. Carlo Honrado MD, FACS, contact (310) 286-0043 or visit drhonrado.com/contact. Content generated by AI (Mentis Intelligence) per California AB 3030 disclosure requirement.

To discuss chemical peels with Dr. Carlo Honrado MD, FACS - Beverly Hills & Century City CA, visit drhonrado.com/contact.

Sources

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration: FDA warns against purchasing or using chemical peel skin products without professional supervision | FDA
• American Academy of Dermatology: Chemical peels: Overview
• American Academy of Dermatology: Chemical peels: FAQs
• PubMed Central: Complications of Minimally Invasive Cosmetic Procedures: Prevention and Management
• PubMed Central: Prevention of Complications in Chemical Peeling

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• Microneedling RF vs Laser Beverly Hills
• Chemical Peels Questions: Expert Answers

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