Chemical peels

What it is

Chemical peels are also called chemexfoliation or derma peeling. Peel products contain acids such as TCA, glycolic acid, salicylic acid and lactic acid.

Sources: American Academy of Dermatology: Chemical peels: Overview ↗ · FDA: FDA warns against purchasing or using chemical peel skin products without professional supervision ↗

How it's thought to work

Peel products remove layers of skin to different depths. The strength of the acid, number of applications, and time left on the skin all affect how deeply a peel goes.

Source: FDA: FDA warns against purchasing or using chemical peel skin products without professional supervision ↗

What people use it for

Dermatologists use peels to treat some types of acne and conditions that discolor the skin. Peel products are marketed for acne, discoloration, wrinkles, and collagen production.

Sources: American Academy of Dermatology: Chemical peels: Overview ↗ · FDA: FDA warns against purchasing or using chemical peel skin products without professional supervision ↗

What the research has found so far

On Chemical peels and aging, PubMed lists 47 trials in people, 46 studies that watched people over time, 9 animal and lab studies. See the counts and searches

Side effects and risks

The FDA says peel products may cause severe chemical burns, pain, swelling, infection, skin color changes, and disfiguring scars. The FDA says these injuries may even need emergency care or care from a dermatologist or surgeon.

Source: FDA: FDA warns against purchasing or using chemical peel skin products without professional supervision ↗

Who should be careful, and drug interactions

The FDA warns that high-strength acid peel products may lead to serious injury from chemical burns. The FDA says the acid strengths in many products are too high to use safely at home without supervision.

Source: FDA: FDA warns against purchasing or using chemical peel skin products without professional supervision ↗

Approval and legal status

The FDA says it has not approved any chemical peel products. The FDA has sent warning letters to companies selling these products. The FDA says consumers should only consider using peel products under a dermatologist or licensed, trained practitioner.

Source: FDA: FDA warns against purchasing or using chemical peel skin products without professional supervision ↗

Roughly what it costs

We don't have prices for this yet.

Questions to ask your doctor

• Is Chemical peels a sensible option for me, given my health and the medicines I take?
• Could Chemical peels interact with any medicine or supplement I already take?
• What side effects should I watch for, and when should I stop or call you?
• How would we tell whether it is helping, and when should we review it?