Chemical Peel to Treat Precancerous Skin Lesions

What are the types of chemical peels?

There are three types of chemical peels 

Superficial peel

A superficial chemical peel will remove the top layer of skin.

Medium peel

A medium chemical peel will reach the middle layer of skin.

Deep peel

A deep chemical peel will penetrate deep into the middle layer of your skin.

Who is a candidate for a chemical peel?

Chemical peels are typically used to treat patients who have actinic keratosis. Actinic keratosis is a precancerous skin condition that can lead to squamous cell carcinoma if not treated early.

Chemical peels are not appropriate for patients who have:

• Warts on the face
• History of skin discoloration
• History of abnormal skin scarring
• Used specific acne treatments - advise your doctor on all medication you have taken so he or she can determine if a chemical peel is right for you

Side effects of a chemical peel?

The most common side effects of a chemical peel include:

• Your skin will appear red and stay that color for up to a month
• Skin discoloration - your skin can darken or lighten

Other side effects of a chemical peel include:

• Infection
• Activation of herpes simplex virus, which could lead to a cold sore breakout
• Slow healing

Benefits of a chemical peel?

There are a variety of advantages of a chemical peel over other more invasive skin procedures. A chemical peel can be performed in a doctor’s office under local anesthesia. There is less scarring associated with chemical peels, and it is less costly than alternative treatments.

What to expect during a chemical peel?

What to expect during a chemical peel will differ based on the type of chemical peel you need.  If you have actinic keratosis, your doctor will likely perform a medium chemical peel. You can have a medium chemical peel in your doctor’s clinic. You may be given a sedative and anti-inflammatory medications before the procedure. During the procedure, your doctor will apply trichloroacetic acid, Jessner’s solution or glycolic acid directly to the affected area. Once it has been in place a few minutes, long enough to seep down to the appropriate layer of skin, the acid will be removed. 

Recovery from a chemical peel?

Directly after the procedure, your care team will treat the treated area with lotion and a cold compress to aid healing. Your will be given detailed instructions on how to care for the treated area. Instructions include:

• Avoid sun during recovery
• Soak skin 
• Apply ointment daily

The recovery period for a chemical peel can take as long as two weeks. During the healing, the skin may appear red and swollen. Some patients experience blistering.