A chemical peel is one of the least invasive treatments for the improvement of the appearance of the skin. Chemical peels are used for skin rejuvenation of face, neck, chest, and hands. They remove dead skin cells, promote skin rejuvenation, and tighten the skin. They effectively treat fine lines and wrinkle, uneven pigmentation, acne and acne scars, sun damage to skin, age spots, and freckling.

The most commonly used peels are:

• Glycolic acid
• Salicylic acid
• Mandelic acid
• Lactic acid

They will generally produce superficial peeling or exfoliation only and require very little downtime. Salicylic acid peels are a useful treatment for active acne especially on the chest and back. Recovery is usually in one or two days.