
CHEMICAL EXFOLIATION
Light Chemical Peel
Explanation of a light chemical peel or superficial chemical peel with mechanism of action and what skin conditions will benefit from a light chemical peel or superficial chemical peel.
HELPS ADDRESS:
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Acne1
- Uneven skin tone
- Dryness
- Pigmentation
- Visible redness
PRICE RANGE: $60-$400 depending upon type of light chemical peel, location and practitioner.
AVERAGE DOWNTIME:
No downtime although some redness, irritation and flaking may occur for up to a week after the superficial chemical peel.
Light Chemical Peels at a Glance
The most mild category of chemical exfoliation, a light chemical peel, works by removing part or all of the epidermis, creating inflammatory triggers that spur the production of new collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycans.2 Although some peeling and flaking may occur after 48-72 hours, a patient may return to their normal return directly after receiving a superficial chemical peel. The result is a brighter, more even complexion

CHEMICAL EXFOLIATION
Medium Chemical Peel
HELPS ADDRESS: 1,2
- Acne
- Acne scars and other scars
- Uneven skin tone
- Some forms of melasma
- UV-induced photoaging
- Hyperpigmentation
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Uneven skin texture
- Superficial scars
- Pigmentory disorders
- Solar lentigines
PRICE RANGE: $200-$2,000 depending on type of medium chemical peel, location and practitioner.
AVERAGE DOWNTIME:
Two full weeks of staying indoors, avoiding all pro-inflammation and sun exposure.
Medium Chemical Peels at a Glance
A medium chemical peel penetrates beyond the epidermis reaching the upper layer of the dermis, the papillary dermis, achieving a final depth in the skin of .45-.60mm. The destruction of these upper layers of the skin causes an increase in collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycan production as new tissue is generated to replace it. In addition, a medium chemical peel reaches levels in the skin that contain clusters of pigment and is able to break up these deposits of abnormal pigment allowing them to be naturally removed from the skin. 3

CHEMICAL EXFOLIATION
Deep Chemical Peel
This treatment involves a deep chemical peel using trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and phenol to stimulate collagen production and address various skin concerns such as wrinkles, scarring, and pigmentation issues
HELPS ADDRESS:
- Pigmentary disorders (PIH, sun damage, freckles)
- Inflammatory disorders such as acne and rosacea1
- Scarring (acne scars, surgery scars, etc)
- Superficial and medium to deep wrinkles and lines
- Pre-cancerous lesions (actinic keratoses)
PRICE RANGE: $2,500-6,000
AVERAGE DOWNTIME:
Two full weeks of staying indoors, avoiding all pro-inflammation and sun exposure.
Deep Chemical Peels at a Glance
A deep chemical peel, classification includes compounds of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) in concentrations of 50% or above and blends containing 88% phenol.2 Because phenol peels were the first deep chemical peel, deep chemical peels are sometimes referred to as “phenol peel”. Deep chemical peels involve the use of these acids to cause the destruction of the epidermis, reaching as far as the mid reticular layer of the dermis. For the most part, a deep chemical peel will cause protein coagulation, commonly referred to as “frosting.”3 Like many other aesthetic modalities such as lasers or radiofrequency devices, a deep chemical peel also works on the principle of controlled wounding to destroy unwanted tissue while also stimulating the body’s natural wound response to increase the production of collagen, elastin and glycoglycosamines (GAGs) such as the water-retaining hyaluronic acid.