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How Chemical Peels Work
The solution applied to your skin breaks down the bonds holding dead and damaged cells together. Those layers separate and shed over the following days, and the skin underneath is newer, more evenly pigmented and smoother.
Depth is what determines the result and the recovery. Light peels work on the outermost layer and produce a refresh with little visible peeling. Medium peels reach further and address pigment and texture more meaningfully, at the cost of several days of flaking.
Who Chemical Peels Are For
Peels address a broad range of concerns:
- Uneven tone and dullness
- Sun damage and pigmentation
- Congestion and breakouts
- Fine lines and rough texture
- Melasma, with careful product selection
Skin type and history matter, particularly with pigmentation. Your provider will select a peel appropriate for your skin rather than applying a standard formula.
What to Expect
Skin is cleansed and prepped, then the solution is applied and left on for a set time while your provider monitors your skin's response. You will feel warmth and tingling, which builds and then settles.
The appointment takes 30 to 45 minutes depending on the peel.
Aftercare
Expect redness and tightness, then flaking beginning around day two or three. Do not pick or pull at peeling skin, as that is how pigment problems and scarring happen. Keep skin moisturized and use strict sun protection.
Light peels are often repeated every four weeks. Medium peels are spaced further apart.
Session Length
30 to 45 minutes
Downtime
30 to 45 minutes
Session Count
Light peels in a series every four weeks, medium peels spaced further apart
Results Timeline
As peeling completes, roughly five to seven days
Results Duration
Maintained with a series and sun protection
Device or Brand
Professional chemical peel solutions at varying depths
FDA Status
Professional-use chemical peel formulations
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will I peel?
It depends on the depth of the peel. Light peels may produce only slight flaking. Medium peels typically involve several days of visible peeling.
How many peels will I need?
Light peels work best in a series, often every four weeks. A single medium peel can deliver a meaningful change on its own.
Can I have a peel if I have melasma?
Sometimes, but product selection is critical and the wrong peel can worsen melasma. This needs an in-person assessment.
Should I get a peel or a facial?
A peel resurfaces and is the stronger option for pigment, sun damage and texture, at the cost of visible flaking. A custom facial or HydraFacial maintains and refreshes with no downtime. Many patients use peels periodically and facials in between.
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Dr. Todd A. Besnoff, MD
Medical Director
Top Doctor in Tampa Bay
Dr. Besnoff has been referred to as one of the Top Doctors in Tampa Bay (as seen in the recent Tampa Bay Magazine Top Doctors issue) and Top 100 Aesthetic Provider in America! Dr. Besnoff has assisted and/or performed hundreds of thousands of surgical procedures since 1995 in specialties such as plastic surgery, gynecology, tissue donation and life-saving emergency treatments. In fact, Ultimate Image has been known to have performed more BOTOX® / Dysport® treatments in Tampa Bay than any other provider.