Is Chemical Peel Safe

The one thing to know about chemical peels is that they are safe to do on your own. You can go to your dermatologist for a peel and be in safe hands, but you can also safely perform a peel at home with the right products. However, there are some tips and suggestions that will help ensure that your experience has minimal side effects.

Results may not be permanent. Over time, age and new sun damage can lead to new lines and skin color changes. With all peels, the new skin is temporarily more sensitive to the sun.

Read on to learn more about Is Chemical Peel Safe, What You Need to Know About Glycolic Acid Peels and Doing Chemical Peels at Home: Everything You Need to Know

Is Chemical Peel Safe

Chemical peels are cosmetic treatments that can be applied to the face, hands, and neck. They’re used to improve the appearance or feel of the skin. During this procedure, chemical solutions will be applied to the area being treated, which causes the skin to exfoliate and eventually peel off. Once this happens, the new skin underneath is often smoother, appears less wrinkled, and may have less damage.

There are a number of reasons people may get chemical peels. They may be trying to treat a variety of things, including:

• wrinkles and fine lines
• sun damage
• acne scars
• hyperpigmentation
• scars
• melasma
• uneven skin tone or redness

What type of chemical peels can I get?

There are three different types of chemical peels that you can get. These include:

• Superficial peels, which use mild acids like alpha-hydroxy acid to gently exfoliate. It only penetrates the outermost layer of skin.
• Medium peels, which use trichloroacetic or glycolic acid to reach the middle and outer layer of skills. This makes it more effective for removing damaged skin cells.
• Deep peels, which fully penetrate the middle layer of the skin to remove damaged skin cells; these peels often use phenol or tricholoracetic acid.

How much do chemical peels cost?

Chemical peels are almost always considered a cosmetic procedure, and insurance rarely covers it. You’ll be paying for the procedure out of pocket. Your initial consultation visit, however, may be covered by insurance.

The cost of the procedure will vary depending on factors like location, expertise of the provider, and what type of peel you want to get. Light peels can cost as low as $150, and deep peels can cost $3,000 or more (specifically if it requires anesthesia, or in-patient stays). According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the current average cost of a chemical peel is $673.

How is a chemical peel done?

Chemical peels are typically done in-office; deep peels may be done in an outpatient surgical facility. Before the procedure, they will likely have you tie back your hair. Your face will be cleaned, and eye protection like goggles or gauze may be applied.

Your doctor may numb the area with a topical anesthetic, especially if you’re receiving a deep peel. For deep peels, your doctor may also use a regional anesthetic, which will numb large areas. They are particularly likely to do this if you’re having your face and neck treated. For deep peels, you’ll also be given an IV, and your heart rate will be closely monitored.

Light peel

During a light peel a cotton ball, gauze, or brush will be used to apply a chemical solution like salicylic acid to the area being treated. The skin will start to whiten, and may have a slight stinging sensation. Once complete, the chemical solution will be removed or a neutralizing solution will be added.

Medium peel

During a medium chemical peel, your doctor will use a gauze, special sponge, or a cotton-tipped applicator to apply the chemical solution to your face. This may contain glycolic acid or trichloroacetic acid. A blue color may be added to the trichloroacetic acid, commonly known as a blue peel. The skin will begin to whiten, and your doctor will apply a cool compress to the skin. You may feel stinging or burning for up to 20 minutes. No neutralizing solution is needed, though they may give you a hand-held fan to cool your skin. If you’ve had the blue peel you will have a blue coloring of your skin that may last for several days after the peel.

Deep peel

During a deep chemical peel, you will be sedated. The doctor will use a cotton-tipped applicator to apply phenol to your skin. This will turn your skin white or gray. The procedure will be done in 15-minute portions, to limit the skin exposure to the acid.

How do you prepare for a chemical peel?

Before your procedure, you’ll first have a consultation with the skin care specialist. During this visit, they’ll help you determine what the best treatment option is for you. They’ll let you know the details about the specific peel you’ll be getting, and they’ll ask about anything that could interfere with the peel. This may include whether you’ve taken acne medication, and information about whether or not you scar easily.

Before a chemical peel, you must:

• not use any type of retinol or retin-A topical medication for at least 48 hours
• inform your skin care specialist about any medications you take
• not have been on Accutane for at least six months

Your doctor may also recommend that you:

• take an antiviral medication if you have a history of fever blisters or cold sores to prevent a breakout around the mouth
• use special lotions to improve treatment, like glycolic acid lotion
• use a retinoid cream to prevent skin darkening
• stop waxing, epilating, or using depilatory hair removal products the week before the peel. You should also avoid hair bleaching.
• stop using facial scrubs and exfoliants the week before the peel.
• arrange for a ride home, especially for medium or deep chemical peels, which will require you to be sedated.

If your doctor prescribes a painkiller or sedative, take it according to their instructions; you’ll likely have to take it before you come to the office.

What are the risks and possible side effects of a chemical peel?

Common side effects are temporary, and include redness, dryness, stinging or burning, and slight swelling. With deep peels, you may permanently lose the ability to tan.

Chemical peels can, however, have more serious risks and dangerous side effects that can be permanent. These include:

• Darkening or lightening of the skin color. These can be more common in people with darker skin.
• Scarring. This can be permanent.
• Infections. People with herpes simplex may experience flares following a treatment. Very rarely, chemical peels can cause fungal or bacterial infections.
• Heart, liver, or kidney damage. The phenol used in deep peels can actually damage the heart muscle, kidneys, and liver, and cause irregular heartbeats.

What to expect after

Recovery time varies depending on which chemical peel you received.

Light chemical peels

Recovery time is about four to seven days. Your skin may temporarily be lighter or darker.

Medium chemical peels

Your skin will recover about five to seven days after a medium chemical peel, though you may have redness that persists for months. Your skin will initially swell, and then form crusts and brown blotches before revealing new skin.

Deep chemical peels

Deep chemical peels will cause severe swelling and redness, with burning or throbbing sensations. It’s common for the eyelids to swell shut. It will take about two weeks for the new skin to develop, though white spots or cysts may last several weeks. It’s common for redness to last for several months.

During recovery, follow your doctor’s postop instructions faithfully. They’ll give you specific instructions for how often to wash your face and moisturize, and which products you should use to do so. Try to stay out of the sun until your skin has healed, and avoid using makeup or other cosmetics until your doctor gives you the go-ahead. You can use ice packs for 20 minutes at a time, or a cool fan, to help relieve discomfort at home.

What You Need to Know About Glycolic Acid Peels

Chemical peels are a type of cosmetic treatment used to exfoliate skin. Professionally done chemical peels come in three strengths: mild, medium, and deep.

Glycolic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid, derived from sugar cane, sugar beets, and other substances. It’s used as a medium-strength chemical peel. Glycolic acid has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Glycolic acid peels are effective for treating several skin conditions. This treatment is done professionally by doctors and licensed cosmetologists or aestheticians.

Mild glycolic peel versions can also be purchased for use at home.

How does a glycolic acid peel work?

Glycolic acid peels slough off the surface and middle layers of skin, removing dead skin cells and debris.

Since glycolic acid is made up of small molecules, it readily penetrates skin, removing the lipids that hold dead skin cells together. The percentage of glycolic acid contained in the peel determines how deeply it can penetrate the skin’s layers.

Glycolic acid also loosens and lifts excess oil from hair follicle roots, which is why it’s often used to treat acne.

It’s also thought to suppress the production of melanin, which may be why it’s beneficial for reducing dark spots.

Benefits of using a glycolic acid peel on your skin

Glycolic acid peels are the most common alpha-hydroxy acid peels used by dermatologists.

When used correctly, they’re considered safe and cause no downtime for people who get them. To acquire optimal results, you may require several peels over a period of time as determined by a doctor.

Glycolic acid peels have proven benefits in the treatment of several skin conditions:

Acne and acne scars

Glycolic acid peels are effective for removing blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples from skin. They also help to reduce pore size.

Consistent and repeated use of glycolic acid peels have been shownTrusted Source to be effective for removing cystic lesions and acne scars from skin.

Ingrown hairs and scarring

Glycolic acid has been found to be effective for reducing the occurrence of ingrown hairs on the face and body. It also helps reduce the scarring caused by ingrown hairs.

Stretch marks

Stretch marks often start out as red or purple (striae ruba). They tend to fade in color, turning white over time.

Glycolic acid peels stimulate collagen production in the skin, and have been foundTrusted Source to be effective for treating white stretch marks (striae alba).

Dark spots (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation)

Trauma to the skin can result in producing excess melanin, which causes dark spots called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This type of trauma can result from a number of causes, including overuse of chemical products, acne, and eczema.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation presents as flat patches that are tan, brown, or black in color. This condition typically resolves completely after the application of 6 to 8Trusted Source glycolic acid peels.

Melasma

Melasma is a type of hyperpigmentation that causes dark patches to form on skin. These patches often occur symmetrically on the face. This condition is also known as cholasma and is common during pregnancy.

In order to optimize effectiveness, glycolic acid is sometimes mixed with other skin lightening ingredients like hydroquinone to treat this condition.

Photoaging

Too much sun exposure can cause premature aging of the skin. This is known as photoaging. Symptoms of photoaged skin include:

• sagging
• wrinkling
• dark spots

Photoaged skin can also appear rough with scaly patches called actinic keratosis. These can become cancerous if they’re not removed.

Mild symptoms of photoaging can often be treated effectively with glycolic acid peels.

Some people have better results when a combination of glycolic acid and trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is used. Severe signs of photoaging, such as deep wrinkles, typically require medical treatment.

Potential side effects

Glycolic acid peels are considered safe for most people. However, they’re not without potential side effects.

Side effects are more likely to occur if acid peels are overused or if they’re applied at high strengths by inexperienced providers.

Sun exposure and cigarette smoking, before and after treatment, may exacerbate side effects.

Potential side effects include:

• eye irritation if the eyes aren’t adequately protected
• skin irritation
• redness that may persist for several days
• a pulling sensation in the skin
• a stinging or burning sensation
• swelling
• changes in skin tone
• reactivation of cold sores
• skin crusts that can become infected if picked

Rare side effects include blisters, scarring, and hypopigmentation (permanent lightening of skin).

Who can get one?

Glycolic acid peels are considered safe for all skin types.

People with dark skin tones should use mild- to moderate-strength peels only, and should work with a medical or cosmetic professional who specializes in treating dark skin.

People with sensitive skin should use with caution.

Do not use a glycolic acid peel if you have active skin infections, blisters, or a sunburn.

Where to get a glycolic acid peel

It’s important to work with a qualified provider when having any type of chemical peel done. These include board-certified dermatologists or licensed aestheticians.

A qualified provider will assess your skin prior to applying a glycolic acid peel. They may also have you prep your skin for several days or weeks prior to the treatment by using sunscreen or other lotions.

Since they’re typically classified as cosmetic procedures, glycolic acid peels are rarely covered by health insurance. The price for this procedure can vary significantly based on where you live and the provider.

In general, you can expect to spend anywhere for $100 to over $600 for a mild or moderate peel.

Glycolic acid peels will affect the appearance of your face for anywhere from 1 to 14 days.

Mild peels cause less down time than moderate ones. Your skin type and sensitivity are also factors that will affect how your skin looks after the peel.

Some people are comfortable returning to work immediately. Others prefer to wait until redness, swelling, and crusting is completely gone.

You won’t be able to use cosmetics on your skin for several days after the peel. Ask your provider when you’ll be able to use products like foundation.

Glycolic acid peel at home

Mild versions of glycolic acid peels can be found online and in stores. These range in price, often from $20 to over $100.

As with any product you use on your skin, only buy glycolic acid peels from transparent manufacturers with good reputations. At-home treatments may be effective for acne and other minor skin conditions.

Shop glycolic acid peels here.

Follow up with a dermatologist or other healthcare professional if you have any concerns before or after doing an at-home peel.

Skin care following a glycolic acid peel

Ask your provider for aftercare guidelines. For 1 to 2 weeks, you should:

• keep skin lubricated and moisturized
• avoid products that dry the skin
• avoid exfoliators on your skin
• use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30
• not pick at blisters or scabs that form on your skin
• not smoke and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke
• wash your skin with cool water rather than warm or hot water
• avoid cosmetics

Call a doctor if you have uncomfortable symptoms of any kind that don’t go away.

Doing Chemical Peels at Home: Everything You Need to Know

A chemical peel is a higher strength skin exfoliant with a pH that’s generally around 2.0. When most people think about chemical exfoliation, they’re probably familiar with the lower strength stuff like Paula’s Choice 2% BHA, or the COSRX BHA (my personal favorite).

These types of exfoliants differ from chemical peels for two reasons:

• They have a higher pH.
• There’s less overall acid inside the product.

When you’re looking at which chemical peels to buy, make sure your chemical peels have a pH of around 2.0. When the pH of a solution is at 2.0 or below, it means the entire percentage of that acid in the product is “free” to exfoliate your skin. However, when the pH is even slightly raised, less of that product will actually work.

For example, say we have a 5 percent salicylic acid product with a pH of 2.0 — that 5 percent would be completely “free” to work its exfoliating magic. But when the pH of that salicylic acid is raised slightly, less of that 5 percent is actually active.

If you want the full effect of the chemical peel, then make sure your product has a pH of around 2.0. If all that’s a little confusing, just know that a chemical peel is simply a stronger version of over-the-counter chemical exfoliating products, and as such requires a lot of caution when using at home.

What does a chemical peel do?

It makes your skin (and you) sexy!

Joking aside, chemical peels have a lot of benefits! These include, but aren’t limited to:

• deep chemical exfoliation
• treating hyperpigmentation and other skin discolorations
• facial rejuvenation
• unclogging pores
• getting rid of acne
• reducing the depth of wrinkles or acne scarring
• brightening skin tone
• enhancing the absorption of other skin care products

In other words, have a problem? There’s a chemical peel out there with your name and solution on it.

Types of chemical peels and recommendations

In terms of strength, there are three varieties:

1. Superficial peels

Also known as “lunchtime peels” — because they involve little to no downtime — superficial peels penetrate minimally, exfoliate gently, and are best suited for mild skin problems like minor discoloration or rough texture.

Examples: Peels using mandelic, lactic, and low-strength salicylic acid normally fall under this category.

2. Medium peels

These penetrate more deeply (middle layer of skin), target damaged skin cells, and are best suited for moderate skin problems like superficial scarring, fine lines and wrinkles, and troublesome discoloration, like melasma or age spots.

Medium peels have even been used in the treatment of precancerous skin growths.

Examples: High-percentage glycolic acid, Jessner, and TCA peels fall under this category.

3. Deep peel

As the name implies, these penetrate the middle layer of skin very deeply. They target damaged skin cells, moderate to severe scarring, deep wrinkles, and skin discoloration.

Examples: High-percentage TCA and phenol chemical peels fall under this category. However, you should never do a deep peel at home. Save that for the top-of-the-line professionals.

Most skin peels done at home will fall into the superficial category. Extreme caution should be taken with medium-strength peels.

What kind of chemical peel ingredient should I buy?

In terms of ingredients, there are a lot of different options to choose from. Because we’re all about simplicity here, here’s a list of common chemical peels, listed from weakest to strongest, with quick summaries of what they do.

Enzyme peels

This is the lightest peel of the bunch and is considered a “natural” option because it’s a fruit derivative. It’s especially great for people with sensitive skin or people who can’t tolerate acids.

But unlike alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), it doesn’t actually increase cellular turnover. Instead, enzyme peels work to remove dead skin and refine pores in a way that doesn’t make your skin more sensitive to the sun.

Enzyme peel products

• GreatFull Skin Pumpkin Enzyme Peel
• Protégé Beauty Pumpkin Enzyme Peel

Mandelic acid

Mandelic acid improves texture, fine lines, and wrinkles. It’s beneficial for acne and helps hyperpigmentation without the irritation or erythema (redness) that glycolic acid can induce. It’s more effective on your skin than glycolic acid when used in combination with salicylic acid.

Mandelic acid products

• MUAC 25% Mandelic Acid Peel
• Cellbone Technology 25% Mandelic Acid

Lactic acid

Lactic acid is another good starting peel because it’s considered lightweight and gentle. It smooths skin, provides a glow, helps with minor wrinkles, and is better than glycolic acid in treating hyperpigmentation and general skin discolorations. In addition, it’s more hydrating.

Lactic acid products

• Makeup Artists Choice 40% Lactic Acid Peel
• Lactic Acid 50% Gel Peel

Salicylic acid

This is by far one of best peels for treating acne. It’s oil-soluble, meaning it’ll effectively get into the crooks and crannies of pores to dissolve any congestion and debris.

Unlike glycolic acid and other AHAs, salicylic acid doesn’t increase the skin’s sensitivity to the sun, which could in turn lead to UV-induced erythema. In addition to treating acne, it’s great for:

• photodamage (sun damage)
• hyperpigmentation
• melasma
• lentigines (liver spots)
• freckles
• warts or excess dead skin buildup
• malassezia (pityrosporum) folliculitis, better known as “fungal acne”

Salicylic acid products

• Perfect Image LLC Salicylic Acid 20% Gel Peel
• ASDM Beverly Hills 20% Salicylic Acid
• Retin Glow 20% Salicylic Acid Peel

Glycolic acid

This one is a bit more intensive, and depending on its concentration, can fall into the “medium peel” category.

Glycolic acid increases collagen production, refines texture, brightens and refreshes skin tone, reduces wrinkles, and is a particularly excellent chemical peel for acne scars. And when I say acne scars, I mean the actual indentations left behind in the skin from old breakouts.

Like all the other peels mentioned thus far, glycolic acid also treats hyperpigmentation and acne — though less effectively than salicylic acid.

Glycolic acid products

• YEOUTH Glycolic Acid 30%
• Perfect Image LLC Glycolic Acid 30% Gel Peel

Jessner’s peel

This is a medium-strength peel that’s made up of three primary ingredients (salicylic acid, lactic acid, and resorcinol). It’s a great peel for hyperpigmentation and acne-prone or oily skin, but should be avoided if you have dry or sensitive skin because it could be fairly drying.

This peel will cause frosting, when parts of your skin turn white during the peel due to the surface of your skin being exfoliated away by the acidic solution. Downtime could last anywhere from a couple days to a week.

Jessner’s peel products

• Skin Obsession Jessner’s Chemical Peel
• Dermalure Jessner 14% Peel

TCA peel (trichloroacetic acid)

TCA is a medium-strength peel, and the strongest of the bunch listed here. TCA peels are no joke, so take this one seriously. Scratch that, take all of them seriously!

This peel is good for sun damage, hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, stretch marks, and atrophic acne scars. Like a Jessner peel, this will have downtime (typically 7 to 10 days).

TCA peel products

• Perfect Image 15% TCA Peel
• Retin Glow TCA 10% Gel Peel

Chemical peel side effects

The side effects you may experience largely depend on the strength, intensity, and type of peel you use.

For lightweight peels like 15 percent salicylic or 25 percent mandelic acid, there’ll be little to no side effects. A little bit of redness post-peel will occur, but should subside in an hour or two. Skin peeling may occur within two to three days. However, this is pretty uncommon with light superficial peels.

Note: Just because you don’t peel, doesn’t mean it isn’t working! Don’t underestimate the strength of a chemical peel, even if you feel it didn’t do much.

As for the higher strength products, there’ll most definitely be skin peeling and redness. This can last anywhere from 7 to 10 days, so make sure you’re doing these peels when you can afford to stay at home and hide away for a while. (Unless you’re okay with looking a bit like a lizard in public — and if you are, more power to you!)

Rare side effects include:

• change in skin color (more likely to happen with people of color)
• infection
• scarring (very rare, but possible)
• heart, kidney, or liver damage

Heart, kidney, or liver damage is really only a concern with phenol peels, which you should never do at home. These are even stronger than TCA peels.

What else you’ll need

We’re almost at the exciting part — but first, we need to go over the things you’ll need.

How to do a chemical peel at home

Before we start, please be aware that it’s possible to experience negative side effects. These ingredients are very strong and shouldn’t be used casually on a daily basis or more than once a week.

As always, it’s best to consult with your primary healthcare professional first before deciding to do a chemical peel at home. This information is for educational purposes to ensure that if you choose to do a chemical peel, you have the accurate know-how.

With whatever peel you start with, patch test first! For a patch test:

1. Apply a small amount of product on your skin in a discreet area, like the inside of your wrist or your inner arm.
2. Wait 48 hours to see if there’s a reaction.
3. Check the area at 96 hours after application to see if you have a delayed reaction.

Incorporate it slowly into your routine. Your patience will be rewarded, and safety is of utmost importance. More isn’t necessarily better here!

Now, if you still want to take the plunge for healthier skin, follow these steps precisely to mitigate any potential hazards.

It may not seem like enough, and to be honest, it probably isn’t — but when you’re starting out, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Ideally, you’d increase the time you leave it on your face by 30 second increments every session until you’ve reached the maximum five-minute limit.

For example, say you were starting off with a 15 percent mandelic acid peel. The first week you’d leave it on for only 30 seconds. The next week, one minute. The week after that, 1 minute and 30 seconds — so on and so forth, until you’ve worked your way up to five minutes.

If you’ve reached the five-minute mark and feel like your chemical peel still isn’t doing enough, this would be the time to move up in percentage. In other words, rather than using a 15% mandelic acid peel, you’d move up to 25% and repeat the whole process, starting again leaving it on for 30 seconds for the first application.

With all that said, as soon as you apply the peel onto the skin, keep track of your timer until the time you’ve allotted has passed (30 seconds minimum, five minutes maximum).

And that’s it! You’ve now successfully completed your first chemical peel!

Chemical peel aftercare

For at least the next 24 hours, you want to make sure you aren’t using active ingredients like tretinoin (Retin-A) or products that include any acids, like glycolic or salicylic acid, in your skin care.

Don’t use for 24 hours

• prescription tretinoins
• AHAs
• BHAs
• vitamin C serums with ascorbic acid
• low-pH serums
• retinoids
• any other chemical exfoliates

After you’ve completed a peel, you should follow up with a very bland, simple skin care routine. Incorporating a hyaluronic acid product can help hydrate the daylights out of your skin, and research has shown hyaluronic acid plays an important role in wound healing — two things which you should definitely be focusing on after a peeling session.

You also can’t go wrong with using moisturizers that strengthen and repair the moisture barrier. Look for ingredients like ceramides, cholesterol, and hyaluronic acid, which function as skin-identical ingredients that repair barrier damage and strengthen the moisture barrier.

CeraVe PM is a favorite moisturizer because it comes with the addition of 4 percent niacinamide, an antioxidant that:

• brightens skin tone
• increases collagen production
• has anti-aging benefits

However, CeraVe Cream is a close second and better suited for people with drier skin.

Another good and inexpensive product to use after chemical peels is Vaseline. Contrary to popular belief, petrolatum is noncomedogenic. Its molecules are simply too big to clog pores.

Petroleum jelly is the most effective ingredient on planet earth at preventing transepidermal water loss (TEWL), which keeps the skin hydrated and moisturized. If you want to speed up the recovery time of a chemical peel, make sure you’re using petroleum jelly!

Lastly, but not least, make sure you wear sunscreen and protect your skin from the sun immediately following your peel. Your skin will be very sensitive.

And that does it for doing chemical peels at home! Keep in mind that incorrectly applied chemical peels can leave you scarred for life. Many individuals have had to seek emergency care due to not being cautious.

Make sure you purchase your products from a reliable source and know exactly what it is that you’re applying. Be safe, have fun with it, and welcome to the world of wonderful skin.