Chemical Peels

Surgical Technique

Chemical peels are chosen based on how deeply the treatment needs to work. Light peels refresh the outer surface of the skin and can help with mild texture and brightness. Medium-depth peels go deeper to improve more noticeable sun damage, discoloration, and acne scarring. Deep peels are reserved for more significant rejuvenation and require more recovery. For medium and deep peels, Dr. Castro may recommend several weeks of prescription skin preparation to improve safety and results. The peel solution is applied in controlled passes while the skin response is watched closely.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Chemical Peels?

Chemical peels are best for patients with texture concerns, uneven pigment, acne marks, or sun damage who are willing to follow a skin-preparation and sun-avoidance plan. Peel depth is selected based on skin type, goals, and acceptable downtime. Active skin infection, active cold sores or herpes outbreaks, recent isotretinoin use, or inability to avoid sun may mean treatment should be delayed or adjusted.

Recovery

Chemical peel recovery depends on peel depth. Light peels may cause mild redness and flaking for two to three days. Medium-depth peels usually cause more noticeable redness, swelling, and peeling that begins around days two to three and improves over seven to ten days. Deeper peels can involve more swelling, oozing, and peeling during the first one to two weeks. Gentle skin care, ointment when recommended, and strict sun avoidance are important during healing. New skin may look pink at first and gradually fades toward normal tone over several weeks.

Chemical Peels Risks & Considerations

Chemical peel risks depend on peel depth. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, meaning darkening after inflammation, is one of the main concerns, especially in darker skin types, and preparation before treatment helps reduce this risk. Other risks include prolonged redness, infection, scarring, lightening of the skin, and herpes simplex reactivation, which may be prevented with antiviral medication. Deep phenol peels carry additional whole-body risks, including heart rhythm changes, and require careful monitoring.

• Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (dark spots after treatment)
• Prolonged redness
• Infection (bacterial, viral, or fungal)
• Scarring (uncommon, risk increases with deeper peels)
• Hypopigmentation (skin lightening, more likely with deeper peels)
• Herpes simplex reactivation

Alternatives to Chemical Peels

Laser resurfacing can treat many of the same concerns with more adjustable depth control. Microneedling or radiofrequency microneedling may be better for patients who want less downtime and more gradual improvement. Prescription skin care can help maintain results and improve mild discoloration or texture, but it cannot match the correction of a properly selected medium or deep peel.

Related Procedures

Medical Sources

• Trichloroacetic Acid Peeling for Treating Photoaging: A Systematic ReviewDermatology Research and Practice
• Universal Trichloroacetic Acid Peel Technique for Light and Dark SkinJAMA Facial Plastic Surgery