Environmental factors, stress, and aging all have an impact on the texture and appearance of the skin on your face, neck, and hands. This can affect your self-confidence and quality of life. Chemical peels are non-invasive, effective treatments that may correct some of these concerns.
Chemical peels are the third most popular cosmetic procedure in the United States, with hundreds of thousands being performed every year. The popularity of the treatment lies in the ability to help with a range of skin concerns, including fine lines and wrinkles, dark spots, uneven tone, and even acne.
If you’re considering a chemical peel, it's important to understand the treatment and how to achieve the best possible results.
A chemical peel is a cosmetic treatment with certain acids that may be used for the face, neck, and hands to improve the appearance and texture of the skin. A chemical peel works by removing the damaged layers of skin, stimulating cell turnover, and boosting collagen development. This exposes new skin that is smoother with improved tone, softer wrinkles, and less damage.
Schedule online
Chemical peels are used to treat skin concerns, including: Sun damage, Acne scarring, Wrinkles and fine lines, Hyperpigmentation, Melasma, Uneven skin tone, Redness, Age spots, Skin discoloration, Scars Dullness or roughness.
Pros: Reduces wrinkles, Corrects hyperpigmentation, Improves skin ton, Customized to match your skin concerns and skin type, More affordable than comparable laser treatments, Light peels have little to no downtime.
Cons: May not be suitable for sensitive skin and darker skin tones, Risks include scarring, permanent changes in skin color, infections, and increased risk for heart, kidney or liver damage.
The three main types of chemical peels are light peels, medium peels, and deep peels.
Light peels typically use a mild acid, such as alpha-hydroxy, to gently exfoliate the skin. Superficial peels only penetrate the outermost layer of your skin.
Medium peels use glycolic acid or trichloroacetic acid and penetrate to the outer and middle skin layers.
Deep peels often use phenol or trichloroacetic acid to penetrate through to the deeper layers of the skin, effectively correcting deep wrinkles and other flaws.
In most cases, a chemical peel will be done in-office, although deep peels may be done in a surgical facility on an outpatient basis. Before starting the procedure, your doctor or aesthetician will tie back your hair, clean your face, and cover your eyes with goggles or gauze.
The treatment area may then be numbed with a topical anesthetic, particularly if you have a medium or deep peel. For deep peels, your doctor may elect to use a local anesthetic to numb the area.
Using a cotton ball, gauze, or brush, a chemical solution, such as salicylic acid, is applied to the treatment area. Once the solution has been applied, the skin will start to whiten and may sting slightly. The chemical solution is then removed, and a neutralizing treatment is applied.
To apply a medium chemical peel, a gauze, special sponge, or cotton-tipped applicator is used to apply the solution to your face. It may contain trichloroacetic acid or glycolic acid. If trichloroacetic acid is used, a blue color may be added, which is where the term ‘blue peel’ comes from. As the skin begins to whiten, your doctor will apply a cool compress. You may notice a stinging or burning feeling for up to twenty minutes after the treatment. A neutralizing solution may be applied to the skin to stop the peeling process. If you have had a blue peel, your skin may have a slightly blue tint for a few days.
A deep chemical peel is applied with a cotton-tipped applicator. The acid, usually phenol, turns the skin white or gray. The procedure will be done in 15-minute intervals to limit your skin’s exposure and control the treatment time.
Before the treatment, you will have a consultation with your skincare specialist to help you determine the best peel for your skin and discuss the details of the treatment. The consultation may also include a brief medical history to identify any factors that may affect the treatment. This includes any acne medication that you have taken and whether you scar easily. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not have chemical peels.
Depending on your risk factors, you may also need to:
Your recovery time will vary depending on the type of chemical peel.
You may not need any recovery time. It may take four to seven days for your skin to return to normal. You may notice that your skin is light or darker temporarily.
Initial recovery from a medium chemical peel can take five to seven days. Noticeable redness after your chemical peel may last for several months. You may notice some initial swelling. It is normal after a medium chemical peel to have some crusting and scabbing on the skin, as well as brown-colored blotches. This indicates that new skin is forming after the peel.
Deep chemical peels produce significant swelling and redness initially. It’s also common to experience burning and throbbing sensations. Your eyelids may also swell, making it difficult to keep your eyes open. White spots or cysts may be noticeable for several weeks, and the redness can last for a few months. New skin starts to emerge after two weeks.
For any type of chemical peel, follow the recovery instructions carefully, including how often to wash your face, when to moisturize, and which products to use. You will need to avoid the sun while your skin heals. Avoid using make-up and perfume until the skin is completely healed. If you experience any discomfort, gently apply ice packs to the area. A small fan may also help relieve the discomfort.
There are a number of different chemical peels available, so the treatment can be customized to match your specific needs. An experienced skincare specialist will match your skin requirements with an acid solution that will offer the best results. For those with sensitive skin or dark complexions, Medium and deep chemical peels are usually not recommended for those with sensitive skin or dark complexion due to higher risk of scarring and hyperpigmentation.
If you have a light peel, you may notice a burning sensation that lasts five to ten minutes, followed by some stinging. Gently apply cold compresses to the area to relieve the discomfort. If you are having a deeper peel (a medium or deep peel), you may need prescription or non-prescription pain medication during and after the treatment.
The most common side effects are temporary redness, burning, stinging, slight swelling, changes in skin color, and dryness.
Other less common side effects of a chemical peel include:
A glycolic peel (light peel) can reduce the appearance of dark circles caused by hyperpigmentation. Medium and deep peels are not recommended for the delicate skin of the eye area.
To speed up the healing process and reduce discomfort:
If you have had a light chemical peel, you may experience some mild redness and slight swelling, so you might choose to take the rest of the day off from work. Light chemical peels take around one to seven days to heal.
If you have had a medium-depth or deep chemical peel, you should be able to return to work after a week, although your skin may take a few months to heal fully.
Light chemical peels are recommended every two months or less depending on the condition being treated. A follow-up medium chemical peel can be done after three to nine months. You can only have one deep peel in your lifetime.
While all chemical peels carry some risks, they are considered very safe when performed by an experienced, qualified professional. You can minimize your risks by informing your skincare specialist of any history of keloids (overgrowth of scar tissue), unusual scarring, cold sores, a family history of skin discoloration, or hormone medication use.
Light peels cost between $150 and $300. A deep peel can cost up to $3000, especially if the treatment requires anesthesia or an in-patient stay.
Microdermabrasion, non-ablative laser skin resurfacing, dermabrasion, ablative laser treatments, and IPL® are non-surgical treatments that offer similar results to a chemical peel.
Microdermabrasion exfoliates the top layer of dead skin cells to brighten your complexion. A chemical peel may be performed after microdermabrasion.
Fractional non-ablative lasers vaporize columns of skin tissue in the treated area, stimulating self-heling of the skin through collagen production. This can be used for improving skin texture and pigmentation, as well as fine lines, skin discoloration, and mild acne scarring. Fractional non-ablative laser treatments are comparable to medium chemical peels in terms of results, side effects, and downtime.
Dermabrasion is a deeper level of exfoliation that works by removing damaged skin cells down to the dermal layer. It’s an alternative to a deep chemical peel, and it is often used for skin discoloration, crow’s feet, and acne scarring.
An ablative laser treatment removes the top layers of skin, and it is used for age spots, scarring, and deeper wrinkles. It is associated with higher risks and has a longer downtime.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL®) focuses on pigmentation and discoloration, including liver spots and sun damage. It can also be used for broken capillaries. This makes it a popular alternative to chemical peels for people who have birthmarks, rosacea, and skin redness. It can be used in combination with a light chemical peel.
We have received your report and will review it shortly.
Read real reviews from the Anzolo community
Extremely happy with my eye lift procedure, results were amazing I no longer look tired all the time! Dr. Caniglia and his amazing staff could not have been...
Merryl B. on Ronald Caniglia, Dr via Yelp
I went to Dr. Caniglia for a fat transfer years ago, as I was always very thin and wanted some fullness back in my cheeks, as I had always had naturally. Looking back I really needed nothing done, that would have been the best advice he could have given me. I was 37, my skin was flawless and looked like I was 23. What I was talked into instead was Cheek Implants, Chin Implant, and C02 Laser on my entire face. I was to receive a pretty significant "discount" if I could make the decision to do this within ONE day, as they were "slow". Against my tiny inner voice's advice I went in two days later at 7 am and as my best friend drove me there she proceeded to try her best to talk sense into me; telling me how ridiculous it was that I was doing this to myself. As I sit there in my gown, terrified while waiting to talk to a nurse, the nurse comes in and I explain to her that Ive changed my mind & rushed into a decision out of pressure and that I did not feel that I was making a sound decision. She then said that I was just nervous and gave me a sedative to "calm me", saying that Dr. Caniglia would be in shortly to speak to me and I could voice my concerns at that point. What happened next was a nightmare that took 5 years to get through. I woke up after surgery. I did not speak to the Dr. because I was passed out from the drugs she gave me. From that point and for the next 6 months I tried calling the office to get an answer from each staff member there as to what happened. I demanded to know why I asked to go home and was ignored and drugged up so that I wouldn't know what was happening. Of course, each and every staff member stood by their story that I did in fact speak with Dr. Caniglia. Well, I hear that when someone puts a "roofie" in your drink you are also able to speak and function as if awake, but have no recollection after waking up from the drug that you've been Raped. That's exactly what this feels like, like i've been put under and raped. Dr. Caniglia denies that they put me under without my consent and the entire staff denies it. I had no proof and therefore I could do absolutely nothing about it. It took 5 years to feel normal enough to go out of the house. My once Irish, beautiful skin was now a burn victim, plastic, rubber looking skin, like an old woman's which will forever be damaged and nothing can ever go deep enough to repair it. I looked somewhere between a chipmunk and Jay leno, with a chin that would fit a large man. I looked horrible. It took 5 years for the swelling and inflammation to subside to the point I could actually look into the mirror without feeling completely depressed & feel somewhat pretty again. It was the worst mistake of my life. And, on top of all that I went through I decided to go into another surgeon finally to ask about removing the Jay Leno chin and the surgeon who removed it said that I was lucky to get it done when I did because there was a huge infection surrounding the implant which was "eroding" my chin bone!!
This is the first time I'm speaking out about this. Every word above is the absolute truth. If I can save one person from going through with something that may very well ruin their self confidence, self esteem and from dealing with a monster in sheeps clothing than it's worth speaking up. The thing I remember most about going into speak with Dr. Caniglia after the surgery, was that he would not take an ounce of accountability for his actions. Instead, he was downright mean, over-powering, intimidating & arrogant about it all. And, he refused to do anything about it. Of course, God forbid he take ownership and do the right thing - that would implicate him and he could get sued. That's all these monsters care about, truly. I should have gone to the medical board and had his license revoked!
H on Ronald Caniglia, Dr via Google Reviews
I couldn't be happier with Dr. Caniglia and staff. I have used Dr. Caniglia for facial surgery as well as laser hair removal and my experience has been...
Anna K. on Ronald Caniglia, Dr via Yelp
Had a fantastic experience from Dr. Caniglia and his team of staff. From the moment I walked in door, they helped me with whatever questions and scheduling I needed. The procedure was simple and smooth. They took great care of me and the final result looks phenomenal! Highly recommend!!
Milo Greder on Ronald Caniglia, Dr via Google Reviews
Please fill in the form below and we will get in touch with you shortly.
