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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June 18, 2009

Pros:

Can't find any

Cons:

EZ Peel information on Anais Website states no frosting or burning. I got just the opposite in addition to huge brown-birh mark looking blotches. This is not a simple peel.

I put one coat of EZ Peel on my entire face. I set the timer for 3 mintues but washed off in less due to burning. It did frost and on the same day I had huge brown blotches which resemble birth marks on my cheeks and chin. I contacted Anais only to get vague responses. If you read the ad it states there is no down time, no frosting, a light flakey peel in a few days. I do not take any medication and EZ Peel states there is no pre-conditioning required to use this product. I have been off work without pay for several days now because I cannot be seen like this. Makeup does not cover it. I just have to wait it out and hope I did not ruin my skin. DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT
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October 4, 2007

Pros:

Very effective! Keeps my skin soft, smooth, and clear

Cons:

Slight discomfort/peeling/redness

I use the 12.5% at home TCA peel purchased from an online site. I have never had problems with this strength. I use it approx. once a month and follow with applications of Copper Peptide serum and emu oil (also purchased online). The first day post-peel my skin feels slightly tight and looks red and kind of wrinkly. By the 4th or 5th day after, I am usually done peeling. Sometimes I do a 30% glycolic peel in between TCA peels also. I have received MANY compliments on my "glowing" skin, and I attribute it completely to doing this regimen. I agree with others that you must use caution, but if you follow the directions, you should be fine. I have never used more than 12.5% strength, but I am thinking of bumping up to the 15% next time I order.
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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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December 3, 2006

Pros:

Before they put on the last layer they do some extractions. It is a bit painful, and usually leaves marks but after a couple days it peels right off. Helped with the appearance and little bit of the texture helped as well.

Cons:

After you peel your skin tends to be red and your very sensitive to the sun. After the chemical peel you look like you just got beat up cause of the extractions and trauma with the chemicals. I wouldnt recommend it if you have to go to work right awy

helped me in the beginning but i noticed that the extractions may have caused other breakout to appear. I rec. if you have minimal acne. I also rec if you want to treat some discoloration and skin tone. goodluck
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July 11, 2009

Pros:

Skin was brighter, reduced cystic pimples, eliminated oil on my face, and lighten scars

Cons:

Had a few break outs after the peel. Payed about 180.00.Pricey 4 me. Oily skin and bumps came back and face looked terrible again

Overall I liked the after results, but I was hoping it would reduce pore size but it just lightened the dark spots on my face. For me it lasted for about 2mths, then after that I felt like Cinderella...:( But the great thing I've discovered regarding my acne breakouts was that my hormones was out of wack and found a great herbal product that was such a blessing 4 me gosh wish i could show a before and after pic. Well ill be planning for a 2nd peel soon..Much Healing and Blessings to all that read this
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August 11, 2007

Pros:

Eliminated fine lines around eyes. Made skin smoother, removed some hyperpigmentation, made pores smaller. Got a 12.5% solution from the Internet and applied one layer (4 mos after Dr. peel). Scary since it was unsupervised but so far, so good.

Cons:

Expensive. $1500 at a cosmetic surgeon.
One important point I see misssing from this forum is that if you have a history of fever blisters or even never had one since the peel can bring it out, is to take a course of Valtrex as a preventative meas

Recommend. I also use "bleaching cream" from the doctor which serves as the preparatory stage which I don't see mentioned. It definitely improved the quality of my skin and something I will continue but conservatively.
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April 24, 2016
not really worth it for cystic/hormonal acne :/
I've gotten a chemical peel twice and both times have really done nothing much except for the areas where I didn't have any acne anyway Basically, if you wanna get rid of scars or huge pores or black/white heads, then yeah, by all means this works. It did dry up the pimples and cystic acne I had, and it came off, however, after those were peeled off, I saw brand new ones underneath. Like yes, it'll take your current pimples out, but if you consistently get acne, then there would be new ones underneath. Basically, after both times, my skin still wasn't anything close to being clear. As tempting as it is I do not want to go through a week of that again. Not quite worth it
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August 18, 2014
Pricey
I've gone to a few places to have chemical peels done but I have not gone enough times to see any results. I personally think they are way too expensive especially at doctor's offices so I prefer to let my scarring go away on its own.
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September 3, 2009

Pros:

TCA peels are great but only done by a professional. I am a Licensed Medical Esthetician and I have seen terrible things on people who use them who are not qualified.

Cons:

when people say they do a 25-30% tca at home it is not actually the same strength as what a Professional does. At that % people have to be sedated. It depends who made it, what PH it has and lots of other things

They are awesome and are a good way of getting rid of fine lines and light hyperpigmentation, but only when done by a professional
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July 7, 2008

Pros:

At-home TCA peel 12.5%. I found this peel on the internet and I love it. It was only about $30 for a 1 ounce bottle (over 10 peels) and I have seen better results than with the lasers for not even a fraction of the cost.

Cons:

With a mild peel only a little bit of peeling and redness. Does take about a week before skin is completely back to normal though.

If you have mild rolling/icepick scars from acne that you had in your early teens this will definitely help. I would recommend getting a mild TCA peel (I got mine on Makeup Artists Choice) and doing it yourself. Combine it with an AHA cream/lotion and you will see even better results. I am saving hundreds of dollars and I have never been more satisfied with any other procedure (Fraxel and other non-ablative lasers and microdermabrasion). If you are fed up with Dr.'s that don't really listen or pay attention to what you want, I would go this route! I love being in control of the outcome and targeting the EXACT areas that bother me!
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