Chemical Peel

What is a chemical peel?

A chemical peel is a minimally invasive, nonsurgical therapy that exfoliates and resurfaces damaged skin to smooth texture and tone. Chemical peels are commonly used as facial treatments. They can also smooth age- or sun-damaged skin in other areas, such as your neck and hands.

Chemical peels may use mild, medium or strong chemical solutions to peel (remove) damaged layers of skin. You can have one or a series of chemical peels to smooth out rough or uneven patches and reduce visible spots, lines, scars and discoloration. The result is a fresher, brighter look for your face and other treated areas.

Our Med Spa at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center comprises multiple departments. Experts offer chemical peels to help you achieve the look you want. You can get a chemical peel from our experts in Dermatology; Facial Plastic Surgery (Ear, Nose and Throat); or Plastic Surgery. You’ll find convenient outpatient care locations for Med Spa treatments in Columbus, Ohio, and the surrounding area.

Our Med Spa team that includes board certified and nationally ranked plastic surgeons, doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and aestheticians.

Schedule your appointment in MyChart or call a provider listed below.

How much is a chemical peel?

Chemical peel pricing: starting at $120

Pricing is subject to change. Contact your doctor’s office to confirm current rates.

What are the benefits of chemical peels?

Chemical peels can address:

• Sun-damaged skin
• Spots, blemishes and blotches
• Uneven skin coloring
• Rough or scaly areas of skin
• Minor scars and indentations

Conditions not improved by chemical peels include:

• Loose, sagging skin
• Deeply scarred skin tissue
• Certain kinds of deep folds and wrinkles

Ask your Ohio State Med Spa team about these and other skin problems to find the best procedure or combination of treatments for the results you want.

Types of chemical peels and treatment goals

Our experts use high-quality, medical-grade products to treat your skin. We will select and adjust the formula to your skin type, condition and treatment goals.

Light chemical peel

This milder peel exfoliates just the outer skin layer (epidermis). It can be an effective option if you have dry skin, acne, uneven pigmentation or fine wrinkling. It may include a blend of relatively mild ingredients such as:

• Alpha-hydroxy acid
• Beta-hydroxy acid
• Glycolic acid
• Salicylic acid
• Lactic acid
• Maleic acid

Light chemical peels give your skin a subtle, healthy glow. Regular light peels can help you achieve the results you want.

Medium chemical peel

Medium peels can effectively treat acne scars, deeper wrinkles and uneven skin color. This type of peel removes skin cells from both the epidermis (outer layer of skin), and the dermis (the upper part of the middle layer of skin). A medium peel may include these ingredients:

• Trichloroacetic acid (TCA)
• Jessner’s solution — a formula with a specific ratio of ingredients
• Glycolic acid

Deep chemical peel

This stronger peel treats sun-damaged, scarred or blotchy skin. It can help some deeper facial wrinkles. Deep peels are sometimes used for precancerous growths carefully evaluated by specialists. Doctors use phenol — a strong chemical that can reach the lower dermal layer of your skin. Compared to other peels, this treatment involves more extensive preparation. It can involve more discomfort and post-treatment recovery time.

You may have a sedative and local anesthetic to manage any discomfort.

Deep peels typically require pretreatment for up to eight weeks to prepare your skin and promote healing.

Pretreatment may include retinoic acid, a topical prescription medication derived from vitamin A. It thins out the surface of your skin. This helps the chemical solution to work more evenly and deeply.

How to prepare for a chemical peel

During your consultation, we’ll explain how to prepare and what to expect before, during and after your chemical peel. Procedures vary, but chemical peels generally include the following steps:

• Medical evaluation
• Assessment of your health and skin condition
• Evaluation of specific areas to be treated
• Discussion of types of peels, products and treatment choices
• Review of procedure steps and the healing process
• Instructions about medications or supplements to avoid
• Other instructions, such as sun and ultraviolet light avoidance
• Products to take or avoid before and after treatment

Steps for specific types of chemical peels

A chemical peel is an outpatient procedure done at one of Ohio State’s easy-to-reach outpatient clinics in Columbus, Ohio, or surrounding areas. Your skin will be cleansed and prepared before your procedure. The doctor applies a light, medium or deep solution as discussed in earlier office consultations.

Light chemical peel steps

• Your doctor gently brushes the chemical solution onto your face or other areas of skin to be treated.
• You may feel a mild stinging sensation.
• After a few minutes, the doctor washes off the solution.
• We may treat your skin with a chemical-neutralizing therapy.

Medium chemical peel steps

• Your doctor brushes the solution onto your skin.
• You may feel a burning or stinging sensation.
• After a few minutes, the doctor neutralizes the chemicals with a cool compress or other methods.

Deep chemical peel steps

• Your doctor will discuss skin treatments you’ll use for up to eight weeks before your peel to prepare your skin and promote healing.
• Before applying the chemical peel solution, your doctor may pre-treat your skin with retinoic acid. This is a topical prescription medication derived from vitamin A. It thins the surface of your skin so the chemical solution can work evenly and deeply.
• Your doctor gives you a relaxing sedative and a local anesthetic to numb your face.
• The doctor carefully brushes the phenol solution onto the area to be treated. Your surgeon will discuss a predetermined length of time the solution stays on to achieve the desired treatment goals. Times can be 30 minutes to an hour or longer.
• The chemical is neutralized with water.
• The doctor applies a thick layer of ointment or medicated gauze across your skin. This helps prevent dryness and discomfort.

Recovery and results of a chemical peel

After a chemical peel, your recovery process and results will vary depending on the strength of your chemical peel. Results are generally:

After a light chemical peel

You can expect some redness, irritation and a stinging sensation, as well as flaking as your skin begins to exfoliate. These effects typically subside with repeated treatment.

After a medium chemical peel

In the days after your treatment, your skin may begin to turn red and look like you have a sunburn. The peeling process typically lasts for about a week after this procedure.

After a deep chemical peel

You can expect some redness, discomfort and peeling or scabbing of your skin. This can last for several days or up to a few weeks. Recovery after a deep peel can take about two weeks after treatment before you’re ready to return to work and routine activities.

Your doctor will prescribe pain medicine so you’re more comfortable while you recover. The swelling should go away in about two weeks. Your skin may remain red for as long as three months. It’s especially important to avoid sun exposure during recovery.

A deep chemical peel can have dramatic, long-lasting results. Skin looks smoother, brighter and more youthful.

Risks of chemical peels

The risks of chemical peels vary with each individual’s health, skin condition and level of treatment. Choosing our trusted medical aesthetic team assures you of high-level care and high-quality skin care products to minimize risks. Your doctor will carefully evaluate your health, medical history and skin condition to determine what therapies are safely suited to you and your desired outcome.

There is a possibility of:

• Infection
• Scarring
• Hypopigmentation (lightening of skin)
• Hyperpigmentation (too much pigment resulting in brown blotches)

Following pre- and post-treatment instructions carefully, including skin protection, can reduce your risk of complications. Your doctor will discuss potential risks, including any conditions that could raise your risk of complications. Things that can raise your risk of complications include:

• Certain skin types
• Hormone medications
• A family history of developing brown discolored areas on the face
• A tendency to develop discoloration or scar tissue overgrowth (keloids) as scars heal
• A history of cold sores (herpes simplex I)
• Pregnancy
• Allergies to certain ingredients
• Heart disease and other medical conditions

If you have had cold sores in the past, they could come back. Your doctor can prescribe medication to lower or manage this risk. For safe, effective results, be sure to ask questions, provide up-to-date, accurate health history details, and follow your doctor’s care instructions as directed.

Risks specific to phenol in deep chemical peels

Phenol, used in deep peels, is a strong chemical solution that requires expert guidance. It’s important to carefully follow the doctor’s instructions from preparation to recovery, as well as post-treatment skin protection. Ask your doctor about these and other possible complications of using phenol:

• Phenol can lighten your skin, and the skin may lose its ability to tan normally. It’s especially important to protect treated skin from the sun.
• Individuals with heart disease shouldn’t use phenol. Provide a complete, accurate medical history and whether you have a heart condition.