A chemical skin peel is a solution applied to the skin to remove dead skin cells and stimulate the growth of new cells. The aim is to improve the appearance of the skin. A few of the most common types of acids used are glycolic acid which helps your skin shed dead skin cells. It cleans out your pores and prevents acne. Salicylic acid decreases redness and reduces the amount of inflammation to the skin. It also boosts skin cell turnover and reduces acne whilst spreading up the healing process.

Chemical skin peels can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, acne, scars, uneven skin tone, and other skin imperfections. There’s a variety of different chemical compositions to different peels – this determines the depth of your peel and type of skin condition treated, making the treatment particularly bespoke. 

Immediately following your peel your skin might feel tight and may appear red and you might experience a degree of peeling. Peeling should be light and easily controlled with a good moisturiser and usually lasts between 3-5 days.

Following a mild to moderate chemical peel you can expect to see the results after 7 days and be fully recovered at 14 days. By this point any peeling and redness should have subsided and skin cell turnover should have been initiated which will improve the appearance and texture of the skin. 

Straight after a chemical skin peel, your skin may appear red and perhaps blotchy depending on the strength and depth of peel you choose. If you choose a mild to moderate chemical peel, you may experience slight redness, however this will subside within a few days. Deeper chemical peels may leave longer lasting redness.

At least 1 week prior to your chemical peel, you must stop using any skincare products containing active ingredients, such as retinol, tretinoin, salicylic acid and any acne treatment that you use daily. It is also essential that you refrain from using sunbeds, limit sun exposure and ensure that you are wearing SPF 50 both before and after your treatment. Following your treatment, it is important to not be involved in any activity that may increase your body heat such as exercise, using saunas or drinking alcohol for 48 hours. Also, it is best not wear any makeup for 

To make results last as long as possible we would recommend that you invest into a good medical grade skincare routine as well as repeating the chemical peel every 4-6 weeks for a period of time if it is a mild to moderate skin peel to give your skin an extra boost. It is also crucial to stick to the after care information that your practitioner provides you with.

The results of a chemical peel for acne can really help to boost your confidence and feel better about your skin and acne scars. By removing the top layer of skin in a safe way, not only will debris, dead skin and oil be removed, but the scars and marks left after acne spots have faded can also be reduced.