Chemical Peels
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Chemical peels are strong acids applied by a professional in high percentages to the skin for a few minutes at a time. They...

Chemical peels are strong acids applied by a professional in high percentages to the skin for a few minutes at a time. They remove the top layer of skin cells and are thought to help promote the growth of fresh new skin cells.

Chemical peels are usually performed 4 to 10 times in 2-week intervals. Results are usually temporary, therefore it is not normally recommended for chronic acne.

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5
24.9%
4
24.2%
3
20.1%
2
14.3%
1
16.5%

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January 16, 2007

Pros:

I have been going to the face Dr. for about 3 or to 4 months now. they put me on a topical cream that i dont ever use any more because it made my face super dry and i would peel. Then after the first visit i had a chemical peel to get rid of blemishe

Cons:

during the process of the peel it hurts for about 5 mins then they cool it off. i have one more peel left. && i hope it shows more improvement than the last peels. i dont break out more after a peel it stays the same. && i wash every morning & nite.

i haven not seen that much improvement with the chemical peels that i have had so far. so i searched the internet and seen some ideas that u liked && others that were bad ideas. i seen that boiling water && letting the steam hit your face for a few mins. then washing and rinsing with cold water so that the pores close. i repeated that twice and i dont see any blemishes rite now and only my pimples. so the blemishes went away && now i see ugly pimples. but at least my face looks better than it did! so try the boiling water =] hoe it helps a little.My face DR. told me to only use these soaps. Cetaphil /dove / Neutrogena... only because they work best....pick one for your choice.. or the type of skin you have.. mine is oil and blemishes and pimples..honest truth
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August 10, 2020
chemical peel

Benzoyl peroxide usually helps control my mild acne, but since I had some hyperpigmentation I decided to get a chemical peel done. So far I am only on day 2, but my acne came back worse than before ( even though it had cleared up), I am not sure if I am purging or just having a bad reaction, but I will write an update in a week. As of right now it looks terrible, probably the worst it has ever been. 

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March 23, 2019
Salicylic and Pyruvic Peels

I had 3 each of these peels over a space of 3 months. I stopped using any benzoyl peroxide treatments whilst having these peels as I was not allowed and they ended up doing about the same as what benzoyl peroxide every night does. I was on the antibiotic lymecycline whilst having these peels and my skin got a lot worse after the first 2 peels but seemed to get better after each one. They made my skin a great texture with no side effects wheres benzoyl peroxide made my skin very dry and red however, the peels cost around £650 for 6 wheres a topical treatment costs £8.80 on prescription. Chemical peels are just hit and miss depending on your acne and unfortunately they didn't work for me the way I wanted them too however, if you have the money to do so though I would definitely say give it a go - it is a great experience but an expensive one!  

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February 9, 2017
Didn't work for me.
I was really really excited to try this. I even bought 5 different chemical peels "sample size" to try on my face. In case if one won't work at least the others will do !!. of course, u have to be very careful with this and start with low percentage if u want to try it on yourself at home. actually the peels came with clear and easy instructions to follow. I bought the mandelic acid 40% and 4 others. I tried the mandelic for almost 1 month and half. and i was getting breakouts everywhere. i was telling myself this is the purging effect and i was expecting it and ready emotionally and physically for it. then i started getting acne on my forehead, my temples and near to my mouth. i rarely get acne on those areas. so i was like what is happening! . i was really hopping that this could work it's magic and tadaaa clear skin.. but no !. so i just stopped using it.. i tried two other different peels and the exact same thing happened. it might be just my face doesn't react nicly to chemical peels or the brand. I don't know. However, once I stopped using it my face returned to its normal state with the same amount of acne i was previously getting. so if u want to try this, i would say go for it. it might work for u. but keep an eye on your face. if it gets worse and worse even after 6 to 8 weeks just discontinue using it. plez note; that the chemical peels did remove some old dead skin layers. P.s: skin type: oily / very sensitive skin type with some rosacea bumps appearing after using somthing that is not suitable for me..
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June 19, 2009

Pros:

i havent seen them yet...so the above "how well it works...agreeability...affordability" isn't accurate

Cons:

burns during the process. So far, my skin has gotten more pimples, red, a type of acne i hadn't seen ebfore. I can't go out in the sun.

I just got the chemical peel yesterday, but so far, i havn't seen any improvement, and i think my skin has actually gotten worse. I didn't have any on my chin, now there are visible pimples, and around my cheeks i can deffientely see more acne. My doctor did say that every two weeks i would need another peel, and i would see a clear face between the third and fourth peel. I really hope she's right becouse i've been hiding behind my acne for a while now. I'll post the results of the later peels once (or if) my face gets clear.
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March 7, 2009

Pros:

face feels refreshed
diminishes red marks
softer smoother skin

Cons:

mild buring during the peel

Vitalize peel- i had my first peel today and im already noticing amazing results!! everytime i look in the mirror it seems like my face looks better! i havent noticed any peeling yet, although my mom said my face was lookin a little pink. I cant wait to do another one in 3 weeks and im anxious to see the results! **oh and if you live anywhere near Kearney, Nebraska, i would suggest Dr. Kingsley. Hes the best dermatologist there is!
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November 20, 2008

Pros:

Got rid of brand new redmarks like a day or two old.

Cons:

didnt really do much for old red marks :(
made acne a little worse beacause al the exfoliation at once and u can't put any acne products on ur face for a week after u use it
toooo much downtime

i think lactic acid over a period of a couple months is much better than the tca peel...i did a 12.5%. It did almost nothing for me, but make my acne a bit worse and got rid of my brand new red marks.
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March 6, 2008

Pros:

Not sure yet...

Cons:

First fews days are tough with very tight skin and redness. The peeling will be significant also.

I had a strong Jessner peel to remove acne scars. I am not sure of the results yet but I wanted to post because I have read a lot of reviews out here where people are using peels to control acne. I had major acne from 13 - 26 and I can give everyone some good advise about treating it. First off - most acne is caused by bacteria on the skin, excess oil or other skin irritations. I had a major cat allergy that I was not aware of until my mid-20s (I knew I was allergic to something just didn't know what until then) that made my acne much worse. Acne mixing in with skin rash can really cause a mess so if you have bad acne think about an allergy further worsening your situation. Killing all bacteria on the skin and controlling the oil is the best thing to do and don't pop your zits! The scars are far worse than the zits and creating sores on your skin only lengthens the duration of the pimple.
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February 25, 2008

Pros:

None, still waiting to heal. My face looks like I had a sun burn, looks brownish.

Cons:

Very painful burning sensation, leaves bad sun burn stains on face, flaking

Had the UMD Cranberry Peel done by the maker SKinCare by Doctors. I really think this new peel stinks. Dont recommend for sensitive, thin skin types. Not worth, it. There is nothign like a nice facial and a good facial mask. Not happy, won't do a peel ever again. PEOPLE, YOU ONLY HAVE A FACE, WHY MAKE IT GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS PAIN AND SH*T, TAKE CARE O IT WITH MORE NATURAL PROCEDURES.
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November 6, 2007

Pros:

Great for lighter skin tones, notice a difference after the first one, many different types to choose form

Cons:

Slight to moderate burning when applied, pretty bad peeling for a few days after

I greatly recommend chemical peels done by an esthetician. Estheticians can assess your skin and they have many peels they can choose from. For example, I had a tomato peel done. It's works for removing scars and treating existing acne. Many people don't know that tomatoes are actually very beneficial to skin, as many acids exist in it. The first day after my peel, my skin was a tad pink, but no flaking yet. The next morning it was very flaky and then peeled to reveal new skin. Overall, I do recommend this to be done by an esthetician.
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Finding a Doctor

The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.
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Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

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  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
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Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.
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