Your Chemical Peel Experience

Your personal experience will depend on the depth you’re receiving. Light and medium chemical peels are performed in the comfort of our Palo Alto office, while deep chemical peels are done in a surgical center under general anesthesia.

Light Chemical Peel:

Light chemical peels remove the outer layer of your skin only. It’s most appropriate for people with fine lines, light wrinkling, acne, and mild skin texture irregularities. Recovery is complete within a few days and there’s very little downtime. We usually perform light chemical peels in a series of three to five peels every few weeks for optimal results. 

Medium Chemical Peel:

With this approach, we remove the surface layer and the upper portion of your middle skin layer. It’s ideal for moderate discoloration, age spots, acne scarring, and moderate wrinkles. There is some downtime, and your recovery can take up to 14 days. During this time, you may experience redness, swelling, and blisters.

Deep Chemical Peel:

A deep chemical peel reaches down to the lower portion of the middle layer of your skin and produces the most dramatic results. You can have a deep chemical peel just once, and it can address extensive sun damage, deep acne scars, and moderate lines and wrinkles. There is significant downtime and a longer recovery period of up to 21 days.

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How to Care for Your Skin After a Chemical Peel

Regardless of the chemical peel you have, you’ll need to take special care of your skin moving forward. While you’re healing, stay out of the sun, apply a daily sunscreen, and apply a daily moisturizer to prevent scarring. 

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FAQ

What can’t a chemical peel accomplish?

Are chemical peels safe for all skin colors?

When will I see the results?

Are chemical peels safe?

What can’t a chemical peel accomplish?

Chemical peels are best for surface imperfections. If you have deep scars, heavy wrinkling, or severe lines, we will likely recommend a different procedure, such as laser resurfacing or a surgical lift.

Are chemical peels safe for all skin colors?

In general, we advise against chemical peels for people with darker skin. This is because you’re at an increased risk of experiencing skin darkening after treatment, also known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

When will I see the results?

You’ll see the results of your chemical peel once your skin heals.

Are chemical peels safe?

Dermatologists have been safely performing chemical peels for more than 50 years. They are very safe as long as they are performed by trained and experienced providers.

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