Procedure

Chemical Peel

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Chemical Peel, Chemexfoliation

  • See Also
  1. Skin Cosmetic Procedure
  2. Microdermabrasion
  • Mechanism
  1. Chemical exfoliation of superficial skin layers using acids or enzymes (e.g. hydroxy acids)
  • Indications (same indications as for Microdermabrasion)
  1. Benign epidermal pigmentation
  2. Rough skin
  3. Acne
  4. Superficial acne scars
  • Dosing
  1. Course of 6 treatments every 4 weeks with maintenance treatments every 1-3 months
  • Preparations
  1. Alpha hydroxy acids
    1. Glycolic Acid
    2. Lactid acid
  2. Beta hydroxy acids
    1. Salicylic acid
  • Efficacy
  1. Results are temporary
  • Advantages
  1. Inexpensive
  • Disadvantages
  1. Difficult to control exfoliation depth
    1. Deeper peels risk scarring as well as Hypopigmentation and Hyperpigmentation
  2. Skin peeling is common post-procedure
  3. Low efficacy with a single treatment
  • References
  1. Small (2009) Am Fam Physician 80(11): 1231-8 [PubMed]
  2. Tung (2000) Am J Clin Dermatol 1(2): 81-88 [PubMed]
  3. Kligman (2001) Dermatol Ther 14(3): 225-7 [PubMed]