Chemical Peels
Results
Side Effects

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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Read All About Chemical Peels
Compare To Other Treatments
5
24%
4
27.2%
3
21.2%
2
12.4%
1
15.2%

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April 7, 2007

Pros:

chemical peels are more beneficial than microdermabrasion! however the results take longer to see...

Cons:

excessive peeling... dry irratated skin

It works...patience is key when dealing with acne
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April 6, 2007

Pros:

None, unless you consider lightening your wallet for nothing a pro.

Cons:

Waste of money, made my face worse, made huge permanent dark marks on my face.

If you are going to get a chemical peel, do NOT get a TCA peel. I had a low 15% peel and it RUINED my face. It felt like a blow torch was being put to my face when it was applied (by a nurse at my dermatologist's office), I looked like a burn victim for the next week and I could only take two days off from work, and when I went back, co-workers didn't even recognize me! I took two weeks to heal, and it left huge scars all over and made my acne worse! I regret it totally now and I am now wasting more money to correct this disaster. If you are going to get a peel, get a Beta-Lift peel. They are lighter & you have to get them done more often, but they actually work and they don't leave scarring and you can go right back to work. Again, please trust me. Go with Beta-Lift peels. The TCA's are too risky and you may regret it like me. What really blows me away is that they have do-it-yourself home kits for these! What is the FDA thinking?! I went to a doctor and it was a disa
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April 5, 2007

Pros:

given your comments regarding the pain you experienced during your peels I was hesitant to try it. My dermatologist that gave me something called a Refinity peel... it has something in it that lessens the pain but works the same.

Cons:

none really. some mild tingling is all I felt.

I recommend it. I've had several now and have noticed good results with no discomfort. Their take home products are great too.
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March 29, 2007
I had a TCA peel for acne scars, indents, and dark spots. I purshased 50% Tca on e-bay. Diluted it to 35%. It worked great for me the dark spots are gone my skin looks smoother and I actually look younger. My acne scars look smaller now. I feel so much better about my self now. I dont have to hide a home. I will be doing another in about 6 months.
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March 24, 2007

Pros:

30% reduction in pink pigmentation

Cons:

5 days of intense peeling (like a snake shedding it's skin) and mild itching. Also, there was no reduction in deep pitted scars.

Retin-A Peels: The first peel reduce pink scars about 15%, the second peel did NOTHING, and the third peel reduced pink scars about 15%. The pain is minimal (about a 3 at its height) and only lasts about 20 minutes. Do not pick or pull your skin while it peels, or it could leave permanent scars...but my dog did actidently paw my face and it did not leave permanet damage. Retin-A peels are inexpensive, and give only mild results. You should have a series done. You will peel and look like a burn victem for 5 days, but the 30% reduction in pigmentation was worth it for me.
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February 7, 2007

Pros:

TCA PEEL-READ THIS!!!!! BECAUSE IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFUL & FORGET A SIMPLE INSTRUCTION YOU JUST MAY REGRET IT.

Cons:

I did 4 applications of DEEP 50% TCA Peel myself and each peel turned out spectacular with absolutely astonishing results from a born surfer with brown spots everywhere & wrinkles, very tough skin.

I brought another bottle of 60% TCA. It had been 1 year since the last peel. So I put it on with much pain as you could imagine, my skin over the next 4 days weeped, broke out in white spots, blew up like a balloon, my down time was 14 days. I made a critical error of forgetting NEVER HAVE A SHOWER !!!!!! unless you can keep your face out of the water, I was showering 2 times a day, so when I got out my skin was soft & white much like being in a pool too long. So my face pre-maturely peeled, it just fell off, then went hard again and peeled again but my whole chin & under lip scabbed over like it was a major sore sitting on top of my skin. i did not go out in the sun for 4 months or even bright light afterwards. I treated it properly because it was serious LEFT IT ALONE I did not stress about it, it took 4 weeks to come off, I applied pure aloe vera plant once healed & now my skin is absolutely spotless Ageless with no scaring. I did scare me a little NEVER EVER FORGET THE RULES TO TCA
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February 6, 2007

Pros:

evens out skin tone

Cons:

caused scarring all over my face.

i had 2 25% tca peels done through my derm. before, i'd had isolated patches of scars. now, my entire face is covered in countless tiny scars that have completely destroyed the texture of my face. i also found that my derm had been cleansing my face before each procedure with glycolic acid. during my last procedure (not a chem peel), my skin worsened again from the glycolic alone. please be careful- it took my skin from poor to almost deforming.
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February 2, 2007

Pros:

Vanished acne marks

Cons:

2 day Redness

Chemical peels can be very effective if done properly by licensed estatitions, they can also be very detrimental if they are not. I have had a number of chemical peels but my estatition started me with mild products and slowly advanced me into the medicated peels while preping my skin inbetween peels as well. Improvements can't been see in a couple of days with one harsh peel. Obagi espically is a very strong product, I used obagi products for the treatment of acne for less than a month rather than the 3 months I was directed to because it was far to harsh on my skin. For me GlyMed products work better. I know acne and acne marks are EXTREMELY frustrating, I developed cystic acne in my 20's that left scars. Stay positive there are mixes for everything but your conditions didn't appear over night and they won't dissapear over night either. Find licensed professionals that will consult with you and talk to you about your concers and what options you have. Best of Luck to All
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January 17, 2007

Pros:

Dermetologist really know what they are doing...LISTEN to them.

Cons:

Even though some Dermetologist will approch curtain issues lightly first its for your own good. This will allow them to get to know your skin and how it reacts.

I had my first "glycolic peel" done. This was done at a medical spa, not my Dr. office. As soon as they applied the acid to my face its started to burn really bad....i mean my face was on fire. They left it for about 2 minutes b/c that is how long i could tolerate it. Afterwards my skin looked like someone took a blow tourch and went over my face with it. I had blistering and 1 day later my whole face was like a big scab. About 3 days later my face started to peel. Now i see more breakouts then ever. The peel made my skin thiner thus causing the breaks out under my skin to come to the surface. The up side to this traget event is that my face is more even, pores smaller, and the dark post acne marks gone. I really caution u give to do your research. If you had an experience like mine then your dermetologist/aesthetician/anyone is NOT the one to go to. Rather then having a glycolic peel i would recommend a Salicylic Acid Peels. SA peels will clear skin up,glycolic is for post ance
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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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