Chemical Peels

Not necessarily. Modern peels are designed to work at a cellular level without always causing dramatic visible peeling.

Chemical peels are categorised by depth. Light peels (alpha-hydroxy acids such as glycolic, lactic, or mandelic) refresh the surface — minimal downtime, suitable for sensitive or first-time patients. Medium peels (TCA, Jessner's, or combinations) reach the upper-mid dermis and address pigmentation, fine lines and acne scarring — visible peeling for 3–7 days. Deeper medical peels exist but are reserved for specific clinical cases and require longer recovery. At INNODERM your practitioner selects the right depth and acid mix for your concern and skin type after consultation.

Yes, but with careful selection. Lighter peels using AHAs (lactic, mandelic) are widely used on Fitzpatrick IV–VI and are considered safe with appropriate pre-treatment skin conditioning. Higher-strength peels (TCA, Jessner) require more caution and pre-conditioning to reduce the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Your practitioner will assess your Fitzpatrick type, may recommend a pre-peel topical regime (such as ZO Skin Health), and may start at a lower strength on your first session.

This is a clinical decision, not a patient one — but the practical differences are: AHAs (glycolic, lactic, mandelic) are water-soluble, work on surface texture, dullness, and fine lines, and are gentle. BHAs (salicylic) are oil-soluble and penetrate into pores, making them strong choices for oily, congested, or acne-prone skin. TCA (trichloroacetic acid) is a medium-depth peel that reaches deeper layers — used for pigmentation, scarring, and visible peeling for more dramatic resurfacing. Your practitioner picks the right acid (often a combination) based on your skin type and goals.

Yes — salicylic acid (BHA) and certain combination peels are among the most clinically effective treatments for inflammatory and comedonal acne. They work by exfoliating inside the pore (BHA is oil-soluble and dissolves sebum and dead skin in the follicle), reducing inflammation, and breaking the cycle of pore congestion. A course of 4–6 sessions spaced 2–4 weeks apart is the typical protocol for active acne, then maintenance every 4–8 weeks. Best results come from combining peels with an appropriate skincare routine.

At-home AHA/BHA serums and pads can be a useful part of daily skincare — at the strength they are sold to consumers (typically 5–15% AHA or 0.5–2% BHA). Clinical chemical peels are different products: medical-grade strength (20–70% glycolic, 10–30% TCA), professionally applied for precise contact time, with rapid neutralisation if needed. The depth of effect, the speed of result, and the safety of higher strength all require clinical oversight. At-home maintenance and clinical peels work together — they are not interchangeable.

For surface refresh and glow, you can see immediate improvement after a single light peel. For corrective goals (pigmentation, acne scarring, fine lines), expect a course of 4–6 sessions spaced 2–4 weeks apart to build meaningful change. Maintenance is then once every 6–12 weeks depending on your goal. Your practitioner will recommend a course after assessment.

Yes for lighter peels, with strict aftercare. The risks come from UV exposure on freshly peeled skin — sun on recently peeled or actively peeling skin significantly raises the chance of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Light AHA peels are reasonable in summer provided you commit to broad-spectrum SPF 50 every day, avoid direct sun for at least 2 weeks, and have no major outdoor events planned during recovery. Medium and deeper TCA peels are generally avoided in the strong-UV months and rescheduled for autumn–winter.

All three resurface the skin but through different mechanisms. A chemical peel uses an acid solution to dissolve the top layers — visible flaking is part of the result, particularly with medium peels. HydraFacial uses water-based vortex cleansing with serum infusion — no downtime, no peeling, the gentlest option. Microneedling creates controlled micro-channels with fine needles — works mechanically, triggers collagen, redness for 24–48 hours. Often these are layered into a long-term plan rather than used in isolation: peels for tone, HydraFacial for maintenance, microneedling for structural rebuilding.