Chemical Peel Treatment

Does Treatment Hurt? How Long Does it Take? Recovery Time

In my practice I often use chemical peels to augment almost any other treatment I perform as it is a good way to remove the dead skin cells and improve the efficacy of other treatments. I also use chemical peels for photo-aging, such as age spots and wrinkles. Chemical peels are effective for improving acne and modest acne scarring. They are also very effective at exfoliating and smoothing the skin, as well as improving the texture of the skin.

Another benefit of using chemical peels is that they can be used not only on the face, but on the chest and back as well. I almost exclusively use the alpha-hydroxy acid peels, glycolic acid peels and their relatives.

Does Treatment Hurt?

How Long Does it Take?

Recovery Time

With the higher concentration peels, such as TCA or Phenol peels, you can have some peeling and irritation for a few days afterward. Very aggressive peels with very high concentrations can be more problematic. The post-treatment effects and recovery times can be similar to a total skin resurfacing with a carbon dioxide laser. Recovery from an extremely powerful chemical peel can take more than a week, requiring wound care. So the recovery time will vary depending on the type of peel, ranging from no recovery or downtime, to a week or more of downtime. You will have to discuss the strength of the peel and recovery time with your provider prior to treatment.