Chemical peels are a topical means of providing cosmesis for a number of dermatologic conditions of the face. The hazards increase with the depth of the peel.
Skin Problem
Superficial
Medium Depth
actinic damage, photoaging
mild
moderate to severe
wrinkling (rhytidosis)
superficial
moderate to severe
dyschromia
mild
moderate to severe
actinic keratoses
limited
more extensive
acne
active
NA
skin laxity
NA
moderate to severe
Deep chemical peels should only be performed with caution and by an experienced clinician. It may be appropriate for severe photoaging. An alternative is to combine a medium depth chemical peel with laser ablative resurfacing.
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