Chemical Peel Questions Answered
Chemical peels raise the same handful of questions, and each one has a published answer.
They run from who performs the peel, through how much preparation it needs, how long results take and how long they last, to what can go wrong, who it suits, what it cannot fix and who pays. Your own provider decides what applies to your skin. Use the answers to write your questions down before the consultation.
Who should perform the peel?
Start with the person, not the product. The American Academy of Dermatology says the results you see after getting a chemical peel depend largely on the skill of the person performing the peel. To protect your health and get the results you seek, the American Academy of Dermatology says you should see a dermatologist or dermatologic surgeon.
Ask who will perform your peel and what their training is. Ask to hear it before you book, not at the appointment. Several of the answers below come from the academy's chemical peel FAQs, so keep the FAQs open as you read.
Is preparation needed first?
The answer depends on the patient. The American Academy of Dermatology says that before getting a chemical peel, some patients need to follow a pre-peel skin care plan for 2 to 4 weeks, and that this plan can improve results and reduce potential side effects.
The directive is short. Ask at the consultation whether you are one of those patients, and ask for the plan in writing with dates on it.
How long until I see results?
Results come after healing, so the answer depends on the depth of the peel. The American Academy of Dermatology says once your skin heals you will see the results, and that healing time ranges from 1 day for a refreshing or lunchtime peel to 14 days or longer for a deep peel. It also says that to get the results you seek from a refreshing or lunchtime peel, you may need to have 3 to 5 peels.
Ask your provider how many peels they expect you to need and how far apart they should be. For a second description of the treatment to compare with this timeline, read a dermatologic surgery society's chemical peel page.
Will the results last?
Plan for upkeep. The American Academy of Dermatology says most results are not permanent because our skin continues to age. If you have lots of sun-damaged skin or precancerous skin growths called AKs, the American Academy of Dermatology says you will likely continue to see new spots and growths on your skin.
The academy also says that to maintain results you can repeat mild and medium chemical peels, that your dermatologist can tell you how often you can have a repeat treatment, and that a person can have only one deep peel. Ask how often repeats would apply to you, and ask what the plan is if you want a deep peel.
What side effects can I expect?
Know the list before you agree. The American Academy of Dermatology says that in the hands of a doctor who has experience with chemical peels, side effects tend to be mild. It says some patients develop persistent redness that may last for months, temporary darkening of the skin, lighter skin color after medium and deep peels, and scarring, which it calls very rare when a dermatologist performs the peel.
Ask which of these apply to the depth of peel being proposed for you. Read the academy's overview of chemical peels for the wider picture.
Is a peel safe for darker skin?
The sources say yes, with a condition. The American Academy of Dermatology says dermatologists have been performing chemical peels for more than 50 years with an excellent safety record, and that even people who have skin of color can safely have a chemical peel but should see a dermatologist who has expertise using chemical peels to treat darker skin tones.
Cleveland Clinic adds that superficial peels can generally be used on all skin types, but that if you have a darker skin tone you have a greater risk of experiencing a darkening of your skin after treatment, a condition called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Ask the provider how many peels they have done on skin like yours.
What can a peel not fix?
Match the treatment to the concern. Cleveland Clinic says sags, bulges, deep scars, deep facial lines and more severe wrinkles don't respond well to chemical peels.
If your main concern is on that list, ask the provider what else they would suggest. Compare the provider's answer with a plastic surgery society's chemical peel page and ask about any difference.
Will insurance pay?
Expect to pay yourself. The American Academy of Dermatology says chemical peels are considered a cosmetic treatment and that insurance does not cover the cost of cosmetic treatments. Ask for the full price in writing before the visit, including every peel in the series.
Take these answers to your consultation
Bring six questions. Ask who performs the peel, whether you need a preparation plan, how many peels you need and how far apart, how often you can repeat it, which side effects apply to your skin and what the full course costs. Write the answers down and compare them with the sources above. A provider who answers plainly is giving you what you need to decide.