Want to know what to expect from a peel? Here, you’ll see 9 types of chemical peel before and after pics to help you understand what to realistically expect.
There are more than 9 types of chemical peels out there but these are the most common. Likely, when you see these chemical peel before and after photos you will want to get one as soon as possible! I am obsessed and try to get one every 8 weeks myself. Think of chemical peels as routine exfoliation. Although short lived, the results can be life-changing.
Today you will see a lot of chemical peel before and after pics, glycolic peel before and after, tca peel before and after, salicylic acid peel before and after and chemical peel for acne scars before and after. After you see exactly what you can expect from each variation of chemical peels, you’ll learn which one might suite you best!
This article is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice contact a licensed healthcare professional.
See the Difference between 9 Chemical Peel Before and After Pics
1. Chemical Peels For Acne Scars Before And After
All chemical peels can be helpful for acne scars however if you have the indented, atrophic, box scars, ice pick or rolling scars unfortunately most superficial peels won’t do a thing. Those types of scars are better addressed with lasers, subcision, RF microneedling or TCA cross.
If you have the red or brown scars that are down here, the good news is that they resolve very quickly within a series of 3-10 chemical peels. In my own personal experience if a person is experiencing active acne the best formulation is a blended peel containing salicylic acid, tca, resorcinol and/or hydroquinone or arbutin. Also a Jessner’s peel is another great option for this type of acne scarring.
In this specific chemical peel before and after, these results require the PCA Sensi blended peel x4, and the PCA MD peel x1. Downtime averages 5-7 days with moderate dry and flaky skin. It can be very challenging to apply makeup so I advise that you use a tinted moisturizer if you leave the house.
2. Glycolic Peel Before And After
Although I love an over-the-counter glycolic acid pad, in-office treatments are the very best! Nothing makes my pores shrink and skin glow quite like the Glycolic acid chemical peel!
When I choose to perform this peel over others, it is usually for the purpose of treating fine lines or textural issues on lighter skin types. Glycolic acid has the smallest molecular size out of all other Alpha Hydroxy Acids and can penetrate deeper to help soften fine lines etc. Glycolic can be used on darker skin tones as well but needs to be applied by experienced providers to avoid superficial burns.
In this Glycolic peel before and after, this woman had three “Replenix Perfect 10 Peels” which are a two-step combination of acids. Step one includes a formulation including, Resorcinol, Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Pyruvic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Mandelic Acid, and Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinaterecommended. The second important step is the all-trans retinol complex which is all a leave-on peel. The glycolic chemical peel before and after is characterized by the skins “shiny-ness” or maybe you have heard the term “glass-skin.” This is what they are referring to. You will leave the office looking oily but it will be worth it in the end.
3. TCA Peel Before And After
Enter the GOAT! My personal favorite! Not only just TCA but blended TCA peels are great for ALL skin types. In particular, PCA’s Sensi, Ultra and Forte!! These TCA’s vary in strength but are all medical grade chemical peels that pack a punch!
The depth of penetration can be customized to address concerns such as pore size and other textural issues. As you can see in this chemical peel before and after, her texture has improved substantially. She is a skin type IV, and had the PCA Ultra x2, PCA HQ+Resorcinol x2. Four months total.
These peels don’t peel in sheets but more similar to flakes of skin and always around the mouth first. Here is a woman on Day 4 after a chemical peel. This will continue peeling for a few days. All in all, 5-7 days to be exact with these peeling formulations. You will want to avoid any social events as it can be very difficult to apply makeup! I recommend using the tinted sunscreen by Elta MD to conceal.
Now If you’re wondering what the main differences between Glycolic Acid and TCA, below if a graph to help you understand the main takeaways. Anecdotally, I have seen more dramatic chemical peel before and after photos with the TCA peels.
TCA is a whole lot safer for darker skin tones because it is self-neutralizing and stops penetrating. Glycolic needs to be neutralized and sometimes even a small window of prolonged time can cause unnecessary burns.
TCA can be safely combined with other treatments, such as RF microneedling or less aggressive peels, to enhance results while minimizing risks. This is particularly useful in treating conditions like melasma or acne scars in darker skin tones.
Another treatment option if you have limited time before a special event (or perhaps limited budget for multiple treatments) ask your provider for a combination treatments as follows; Dermaplanning, microdermabrasion and the Sensi Peel with Advanced booster. It will get your skin as beautiful as possible in one week!
4. Salicylic Acid Peel Before And After
Salicylic is the gold standard for acne, breakouts and congestion. There are all types of blended formulations that contain bacteria-busting ingredients. Another one of my all time favorites to treat acne involves the BBL Clear (ultra-violet light device) and the PCA HQ Free peel.
Even in skin of color with melasma, this is a light chemical peel that will gently exfoliate while turning over skin cells to reveal a brighter complexion without adverse effects. In this chemical peel before and after, I used PCA HQ+Resorcinol plus the Advanced booster x2, then the Sensi with Advanced booster x3.
Since melasma will rebound in warmer months, it is important to wear a zinc-based sunscreen and keep cool throughout the summer.
5. Croton Oil Based Deep Peel
Sometimes referred to as the “Bensi Peel” or “Hetter” modified phenol peel, this chemical peel before and after is life-changing. Check out the amazing pics here.
Now this is not an easy recovery and there are many risks involved including infections etc however the results are so incredible that it may be worth the downtime for more of a “one and done” treatment. Especially if you are one that has accumulated a lot of sun damage over the years.
Full transparency, I have not performed this treatment but I have met people that have had this done before. They all say the recovery was “a lot!” However they would do it again because the results were natural looking and profound. For this degree of skin correction, I prefer using the Co2 or Erbium full field laser resurfacing because of the predictability and preciseness of it. If you want to see some laser before and afters, visit my Advanced Skin Treatment Blog.
6. Lactic Peel Before And After
On the opposite end of the spectrum, you may want to opt in for a lighter peel. Maybe you want to come in for frequently for a lighter peeling effect that blends well with your “no-downtime” lifestyle. This is where the lactic acid peels come into play! One of my favorites is the Skin Ceuticals Gel Peel GL. It has both Glycolic+Lactic for a gently refreshed finish.
As you can see in this chemical peel before and after, there isn’t a dramatic improvement however if multiple sessions are combined, there is a cumulative effect. Mixing and matching chemical peel formulations is par for the course and I believe the secret to success. That is why finding an experienced provider makes all the difference in your results!
7. Chemical Peel Skin Rejuvenation
Although the results can be short lived with chemical peels, it is important to remember why they benefit our skin. Every 21 days, we get a new layer of dead skin cells at the surface and without methods in place to exfoliate, will result in dull, lax and blotchy skin complexion. I would recommend scheduling a chemical every 4-8 weeks. If you are struggling with acne, I would recommend lighter peels every 4 weeks. If you are concerned about signs of aging, I would recommend stronger peels at every 8 weeks. Once your skin concern is under control, you can begin to stretch out those intervals and move into what I call the “maintenance phase.”
8. Cross TCA Peel
This technique is specifically for ice pick acne scars or those deeper pores that just don’t seem to go away and refill with bacteria. As you can see in this image, each pitted acne scar is individually treated with 100% TCA. What begins to happen in time, is the base of that scar begins to surface resulting in a smoother less pitted appearance. There is no real downtime with this technique but there will be marks and swelling in those areas that can last a month or so.
This TCA Cross before and after is 3 weeks total. As you can see there is some swelling that will take time to go down completely but all in all she will have a great result! A second treatment may be required. Sometimes this can be combined with other laser devices to help address all types of acne scars. Usually if there are ice picks, there are box scars and rolling scars combined. TCA Cross is not ideal for rolling and box scars.
These types of scars are near and dear to my heart because I have suffered with acne for years in my 20’s and that is why I became a Medical Aesthetician. If you are struggling with ice pick scars, RUN don’t walk to get this done! It truly helps tremendously. Again, find the best provider near you and you too will have an incredible chemical peel before and after!
9. Mandelic Peel Before And After
If you struggle with extremely sensitive, red or inflamed skin, this is the peel you need to start with! One of my absolute favorites is Glytone’s Mandelic Acid Peel. If you can’t find a provider that has it, try using the retail serum first, Glytone Mandelic Serum.
Derived from bitter almonds, this gentle AHA is made to gently exfoliate even the most sensitive skin types. Sometimes we think that if we are struggling with sensitive skin we shouldn’t opt in for a chemical peel but on the contrary. The build up of dead skin cells could be contributing to the problem. After using this active ingredient for a few months, you will be ready to try something like the Sensi peel (from PCA) and that will result in even more improvement. This chemical peel before and after will be more subtle at first but quite impactful in 6 months time.
Conclusion
Achieving the best chemical peel before and after results involves a combination of proper knowledge, experienced providers, and compliance. I am here to help guide you to understand your unique skin and which treatments will be best suited for you. This will save you time and money in the long run and your results will be maximized!
