Chemical peels are techniques that employ chemical treatments to produce improved appearance of the face. Chemical peels produce controlled injury to the skin which promotes growth of new skin with improved appearance. Many different chemicals are used for chemical peels and include glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), salicylic acid, “Jessners” solution, and phenol. The different chemical solutions produce different degrees of injury of the skin. There are two layers of the skin; the outer layer is called the epidermis and the inner layer, the dermis. Superficial peels (such as glycolic acid peels) produce very superficial injury, confined to the epidermis. Superficial peels can help improve conditions such as acne and discoloration. Deeper peels (e.g. phenol peels) produce injury within the dermis and can reverse moderate-to-severe photoaging and wrinkles. In general, the deeper peels offer the most dramatic results but require longer recovery and carry a higher risk of complications.

Last updated on February 6, 2010 by Sarah Yousuff, MD