The following side effects are expected to occur in the first few weeks after the chemical peeling procedure. These side effects are usually less noticeable after the second and all subsequent procedures. Contact your doctor if these symptoms are severe and/or do not go away:
How Common (based on clinical studies)
| Burning and/or stinging sensation | Up to 65% of all users |
| Skin peeling | Up to 50% of all users |
| Redness in the area | Up to 45% of all users |
| Dryness of skin | Up to 32.3% of all users |
| Hyperpigmentation | Up to 20% of all users |
| Flare-up of inflammatory lesions | Up to 12% of all users |
| Crusting | Up to 11.7% of all users |
| Prolonged burning (>24 hours) | Up to 8.8% of all users |
| Photosensitivity | Up to 4.5% of all users |
Chemical peels may also cause other side effects that are not mentioned here. Contact your doctor if you experience any other troublesome symptoms after chemical peels.
References
- Abdel Hay R, Hegazy R, Abdel Hady M, Saleh N. Clinical and dermoscopic evaluation of combined (salicylic acid 20% and azelaic acid 20%) versus trichloroacetic acid 25% chemical peel in acne: a RCT. J Dermatolog Treat. Jun 4, 1-22 (2018).
- Dayal S, Amrani A, Sahu P, Jain VK. Jessner’s solution vs. 30% salicylic acid peels: a comparative study of the efficacy and safety in mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris. J Cosmet Dermatol. 16(1), 43-51 (2017).
- In Jae J, Dong Ju H, Dong Hyun K, Yoon MS, Lee HJ. Comparative study of buffered 50% glycolic acid (pH 3.0) + 0.5% salicylic acid solution vs Jessner’s solution in patients with acne vulgaris. J Cosmet Dermatol. 17(5), 797-801 (2018).
- Kaminaka C, Uede M, Matsunaka H, Furukawa F, Yamomoto Y. Clinical evaluation of glycolic acid chemical peeling in patients with acne vulgaris: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, split-face comparative study. Dermatol Surg. 40(3), 314-22 (2014).
- Abdel Meguid AM, Elaziz Ahmed Attallah DA, Omar H. Trichloroacetic Acid Versus Salicylic Acid in the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris in Dark-Skinned Patients. Dermatol Surg. 41(12), 1398-404 (2015).
- Lee HS, Kim IH. Salicylic acid peels for the treatment of acne vulgaris in Asian patients. Dermatol Surg. 29(12), 1196-9; discussion 1199 (2003).
- Garg VK, Sinha S, Sarkar R. Glycolic acid peels versus salicylic-mandelic acid peels in active acne vulgaris and post-acnescarring and hyperpigmentation: a comparative study. Dermatol Surg. 35(1), 59-65 (2009).