Restoring skin to a smoother and more youthful appearance is the goal of many skin resurfacing treatments, and chemical peels are a popular and effective method to achieve this. Chemical peels enhance the appearance and health of your skin by promoting the regeneration of new skin cells. If you’re wondering whether or not a chemical peel can heal your skin, keep reading to learn the basics of how they work, what your options are, and how much a peel may cost.
What is a Chemical Peel?
A chemical peel is a skin treatment that accelerates exfoliation using a specialized chemical solution. Don’t be alarmed by the word "chemical" in chemical peel; it’s merely a term that refers to the various substances that cause the epidermis to shed skin, known as keratosis, often leaving the remaining skin looking fresher, radiant and more glowing. This process helps improve skin texture, tone and overall appearance by encouraging the regeneration of new, healthier skin cells. By exfoliating the top layer of dead skin cells, fresher and healthier skin emerges. Chemical peels are a simple yet effective way to refresh your skin and tackle issues like uneven tone, acne scars, or wrinkles.
Benefits of Chemical Peels
Chemical peels provide numerous benefits for the skin, offering both cosmetic and therapeutic improvements. Here are some key benefits:
- Improvement in skin texture: Chemical peels smooth out rough patches, leaving your skin soft and more even. They are a viable way to smoothen and enhance skin texture.
- Reduction of fine lines and wrinkles: By promoting collagen production, chemical peels help to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, providing a more youthful appearance.
- Fading of hyperpigmentation: Peels can reduce dark spots, sun damage, and other pigmentation issues, creating a more uniform skin tone. Chemical peels are a great way to lighten these spots by gently removing the outer layers of skin and encouraging fresh, healthy skin to take their place. They deliver consistent, longer-lasting results, unlike store-bought creams or serums.
- Acne control: Chemical peels can help to reduce acne breakouts and minimize the appearance of acne scars.
- Brighter complexion: With dead skin cells removed, your skin will look brighter and fresher.
Types of Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are generally broken into three types: light or superficial, medium, and deep. Each type offers different results, intensity levels, and healing times. At True Beauty in San Diego and La Jolla, skincare professionals offer customized chemical peel treatments that cater to a wide range of skin concerns.
Superficial Peels (Light Peels)
The lightest of the chemical peels are typically performed using alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), such as glycolic acid, which is naturally occurring in fruits and other foods. Light peels are superficial and remove only the outer layer of skin. These mild peels gently exfoliate the skin. They are ideal for brightening the complexion and improving minor textural issues with minimal downtime. A light peel can cause mild skin tingling or burning for around three to five minutes, which will dissipate once the peel agent is neutralized. After your light peel, expect some redness that will usually resolve within 12 hours, though sensitive skin can be red for several days.
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Examples of light peels and their approximate costs:
- Glycolic Peel: \$100 to \$300 per session. It exfoliates the top layer of skin and brightens the complexion. Minimal downtime; mild redness and peeling may occur for 2-3 days post-procedure.
- Salicylic Acid Peel: \$100 to \$300 per session. It penetrates deeper into pores, reducing acne, blackheads, and oiliness. Low downtime; slight redness, dryness, and peeling may occur for 2-3 days.
Medium Peels
Medium peels are typically performed with trichloroacetic acid (TCA). These peels can penetrate deeper than the epidermis, removing skin cells from the epidermis as well as the dermis. Medium peels will last longer than light peels, approximately two to six months, but have a longer recovery time than light peels. A medium peel may cause a more intense stinging sensation and for a longer duration, around 15 to 20 minutes. After a medium peel, the skin needs more recovery time than a light peel. It may feel sunburned and sensitive before it begins sloughing.
Examples of medium peels and their approximate costs:
- VI Peel: \$300 to \$600 per session. It improves skin tone and texture, reduces pigmentation, acne scars, and fine lines, and promotes collagen production. Minimal downtime; peeling lasts 3-7 days with mild redness and flaking.
- TCA Peel (Trichloroacetic Acid): \$300 to \$1,000 per session. It treats deeper wrinkles, acne scars, and pigmentation issues, offering significant skin rejuvenation. Downtime depends on depth; light TCA peels require 5-7 days, while deep peels may take up to 14 days.
Deep Peels
Peeling agents used in deep peels may include TCA plus other agents, such as Jessner’s solution - a combination of resorcinol, lactic acid, and salicylic acid - for an intense peeling agent. Because this more intensive treatment penetrates deeper skin layers, the results have been compared to facelifts in their rejuvenation of skin. Deep peels can have benefits that last for years, depending on the peeling agents used, but will also have the most significant recovery time. Because a deep peel is much more intensive than the other two types, you will likely be given both a sedative in advance and a local anesthetic to minimize discomfort. The peeling agent will be brushed on and left on for the treatment time. Deep peels have the longest recovery time, with a minimum of two weeks before you can return to normal activities but up to eight weeks for full recovery.
- Phenol Peel: This is one of the strongest chemical peels out there, perfect for tackling deep wrinkles, scars, or serious sun damage. Its long-lasting results make it stand out-you often need just one session for a big transformation. Due to their intensity and the expertise needed to perform them, they are on the pricier side.
Chemical Peel Costs
The national average cost of a chemical peel can range widely. The average cost of skin resurfacing procedures like chemical peels is \$1,829, according to the latest statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. According to internal data, the average light to moderate chemical peel costs \$100, with prices ranging from \$40 to \$1,008.
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- Light Chemical Peel: \$100-\$300 per session
- Medium Chemical Peel: \$300-\$1,000 per session
- Deep Chemical Peel: \$1,000-\$3,000 or more per session
Factors Influencing the Cost of Chemical Peels
The price for chemical peels varies widely because there are nearly endless ways to customize this service. Prices may be based on the expertise and qualifications of the person performing the procedure, the type of chemical peel performed, the time and effort the procedure or treatment requires, and the geographic location of the office. Chemical peel costs may include anesthesia fees (when done with anesthesia), prescriptions for medications, and facility costs.
Here are some factors that can affect the cost:
- Type of Chemical Peel: The type of chemical peel you receive is one of the biggest influences on the cost. A deep chemical peel will be more expensive than a light or medium peel.
- Provider's Expertise: Stronger peels and services with more experienced providers will typically cost more. For example, a light peel with an esthetician will cost less than a deep peel from a dermatologist.
- Location: Your geographic area also impacts the cost of a chemical peel based on the cost of living in your area. The cost is usually lower in states where chemical peel customization options and facilities are limited.
- Clinic Facilities: Clinics with advanced facilities, such as special equipment, may cost more.
- Customization and Add-ons: There are many different active ingredients, concentrations, and service add-ons that affect pricing.
- Number of Sessions: The number of sessions you need, depending on your skin type, can affect the overall cost. Lighter peels are inexpensive but may require frequent visits to the clinic. Whereas medium to deeper chemical peels provide more sustainable results.
- Additional Treatments: Sometimes dermatologists recommend combining a chemical peel with other nonsurgical skin treatments, such as microneedling or microdermabrasion facial for desired results, which will increase the cost.
Be sure to ask your surgeon about all costs involved in your procedure. When choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area for any treatment, remember that the surgeon's experience and your comfort with him or her are just as important as the final cost of the surgery.
Preparing for a Chemical Peel
While the steps before your peel might vary slightly based on the strength of the peel you choose, you will generally be guided to make sure your skin is well-moisturized and hydrated in the days or weeks leading up to your peel, which helps the exfoliation process. You may be asked to switch out any harsh skin care products or routines for mild ones and may even be given specific products by your skin care professional to use for a set duration before your treatment. Don’t work out before your peel. Exfoliate per your skin care professional’s guidelines. Hydrate in advance. Your skin care professional will begin by cleaning and removing oils from your skin. They might also put protective petroleum jelly on any area you don’t want to receive the treatment.
What to Expect During a Chemical Peel
During a chemical peel treatment, expert providers will start by thoroughly cleansing your skin. Next, they’ll apply the customized chemical solution to your face. The type of peel you receive will determine how long it will remain on your skin. Once the appropriate amount of time has passed, your provider will wash it off and apply a soothing moisturizer. The goal of the peel will be to gently peel away the top layers of your skin and reveal a fresh, glowing complexion.
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Recovery and Aftercare
For a few days after your chemical peel, you can expect your skin to be red and extra sensitive. Within a day or two, it will begin to flake and peel. Light peels feel dry and mildly irritated when healing. Moderate peels feel like a moderate sunburn. You’ll have some swelling, scabbing, and discoloration that can last for a few months. Deep peels may cause severe swelling and require prescribed painkillers to manage the pain. Redness and discoloration will last a few months, and you can wear makeup around two weeks after the procedure.
Recovery Timeline
- Day 1-2: Skin looks red, like a mild sunburn, and may feel tight or slightly tingly. Apply moisturizer and sunscreen to protect your skin.
- Day 3-5: Peeling starts, like flaky or dry skin. Be gentle with your skin and let it peel naturally.
- Day 6-7: Most peeling is done. Skin looks smoother and more even but may still be tender. Keep using moisturizer and sunscreen daily.
- Week 2+: Skin looks brighter and feels softer.
During recovery, it’s important to avoid sun exposure, moisturize regularly, and let the skin naturally shed without picking or peeling.
Potential Side Effects and Complications
While most people can get chemical peels with minimal complications, there are some common side effects and rare but serious complications that can occur. Systemic toxicity (Phenol has been linked to liver and kidney toxicity, though rare. Chemical peels affect everyone differently, so it’s hard to say how long they last and how often you should get one. When done properly, chemical peels are a great way to target many different skin concerns and reveal healthier skin. However, when performed incorrectly, or if you’re not careful during aftercare, you can end up with more skin discoloration than before.
Insurance Coverage and Payment Options
Health insurance plans may not cover the cost of chemical peels if the health insurer doesn't consider the treatments to be medically necessary. Most people get chemical peels for cosmetic reasons, like smoothing wrinkles, improving skin tone, or fading dark spots. Since these are optional treatments, insurance usually won’t cover them. But in some cases, chemical peels are recommended for medical reasons-like treating severe acne, removing precancerous growths, or reducing scars. When that happens, insurance might help cover the cost.
With insurance coverage, out-of-pocket costs for a chemical peel can include deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. If insurance doesn’t cover the cost, there are various options other than insurance, such as flexible payment plans or third-party financing options. Many dermatologists nowadays offer Denefits payment plans. Denefits has a ‘No Credit Check’ policy, which makes it more accessible, even if you have a slightly poor credit score.
Finding a Provider
Finding a chemical peel near you is easy. You can start by searching online for dermatologists or skin care clinics. Many clinics and med spas offer chemical peel services.