Chemical Peel

How it works

The skin is cleaned, then a peeling solution is applied for a set time. Common acids include salicylic, glycolic, lactic, mandelic and trichloroacetic acid (TCA). The acid breaks the bonds between surface cells, so the outer layer sheds over the following days. This may help with clogged pores, uneven tone and dullness. Light peels act on the surface, while stronger ones reach deeper and carry more risk. The solution is neutralized or removed after the timed exposure, and a soothing product is applied.

Who it may suit

• Dull or rough-feeling skin
• Clogged pores and mild to moderate acne
• Uneven tone and some surface marks
• People who want a course of light treatments with little downtime

The treatment day

1. Skin check and history. The doctor asks about sun exposure, acne medicine, past peels and cold sores, and examines your skin.
2. Cleansing. Makeup and oil are removed so the acid acts evenly.
3. Peel application. The solution is applied for a timed period. A warm or stinging feeling is common.
4. Neutralizing and soothing. The peel is neutralized or removed, and a calming product and sunscreen are applied.

Aftercare

• Use sunscreen every day and avoid direct sun, since new skin burns and darkens more easily.
• Do not pick or pull flaking skin. Let it shed by itself.
• Use only a gentle cleanser and plain moisturizer until peeling stops.
• Avoid retinoids, scrubs and strong acids until the doctor says they are fine.
• Skip saunas, hot baths and heavy exercise for the first day or two.

Things to know first

• Redness, stinging, dryness and flaking are expected. Blistering, crusting or spreading pain is not and needs prompt attention.
• Peels can cause temporary or lasting dark patches, especially on deeper skin tones or after sun exposure.
• Recent isotretinoin use, active cold sores, open skin or sunburn may make a peel unsuitable.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding limit which acids are used, so say so before treatment.
• Stronger peels carry a higher chance of scarring and need a longer recovery.

Talking through a chemical peel in English

Start with one plain question: what is in the peel? Ask for the name of the acid, its strength and how long it stays on your skin. A product name alone, such as a brand of peel, tells you little. Ask the coordinator to write the acid name in English in your chat or on your treatment note.

Tell the doctor what you use at home, especially retinol, vitamin A creams, exfoliating acids and acne medicine. Say if you have had a recent sunburn, waxing or laser. Mention cold sores, as a peel may set one off. Describe how your skin reacts to new products so the doctor can choose a safe strength.

Ask how much peeling to expect and on which days it may show up. Your flight date matters: flaking often appears two or three days after a peel. Ask for the aftercare steps in English, and for words you may hear, like exfoliation, desquamation, neutralize and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which means dark marks after irritation.