How We Customize Chemical Peels for Different Skin Types

A solid skincare regimen helps the natural exfoliation-renewal process along, keeping your complexion fresh and healthy most of the time. But does your usual routine provide enough support when your skin is stressed, irritated, depleted, damaged, or unbalanced? 

That’s when a next-level clinical skincare treatment can work wonders. 

At Keehan Dermatology in Fort Worth, Texas,, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Patrick Keehan and our expert team can tailor a chemical peel treatment to your skin type, condition, and goals to deliver a custom complexion “reset” with optimal skin-renewing results. Here’s how it works. 

An exfoliation-renewal boost

As your largest organ, your skin is a multi-layered functional barrier that works hard to protect your body every minute of every day. To maintain optimal condition, epidermal tissue is in a constant state of exfoliation and renewal — sloughing off dead cells and replacing them with new ones every 30 days.

A chemical peel — also known as dermapeeling or chemexfoliation — aims to boost your skin’s natural exfoliation and renewal process in six basic steps:  

1. Cleanse your skin and protect sensitive areas
2. Gently brush on the chosen chemical solution
3. Let the peel work for an exact, timed duration 
4. Neutralize the solution to halt the peeling process
5. Gently remove the peel with a specialized wash
6. Cleanse, moisturize, and protect the fresh skin  

Basically, the skilled application and timely removal of a penetrating chemical solution works to “peel,” or lift away, dead cells and damaged skin layers to reveal fresh, healthy skin below. At the same time, it sends the collagen remodeling process into overdrive —smoothing and tightening every skin layer for months to come. 

Chemical peel customization

Simple yet highly effective, chemical peels can improve a wide range of common skin concerns, from uneven skin tone and texture to sun damage and acne scars. Even better? They’re easy to customize — and we can tailor each step to your precise skin needs.  

Elements of chemical peel customization include:

1. Expert skin evaluation

Chemical peel customization begins with your initial skin assessment: We identify your skin type — normal, dry, oily, combination, or sensitive — and assess your specific skin condition or complaint (i.e., sun damage, wrinkles, dark spots, acne). 

2. Acid solution selection

Your skin type determines the best acid choice for your peel. Mild alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) are good for exfoliation and improving skin tone and texture; examples include glycolic acid (for dry or combination skin) and lactic acid (for sensitive skin). 

Pore-penetrating beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs), like salicylic acid, work well for oily, acne-prone skin. Mandelic acid is another gentle exfoliating keratolytic agent that’s suitable for sensitive skin; stronger peeling agents like trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and phenol can be ideal for normal, sun-damaged skin. 

3. Peel depth adjustment

Once we determine the best peeling agent for your skin type, we decide on the right depth of peel — or chemical strength and application duration — for your skin needs. 

Light peels

A superficial peel uses low acid concentrations to gently penetrate and exfoliate the outermost skin layer. It can help even out skin tone, smooth rough texture, diminish fine lines, brighten your complexion, and even treat an acne breakout.     

Medium peels

Using stronger acids to penetrate into the upper part of your middle skin layer, a medium peel addresses more significant issues like moderate discoloration (hyperpigmentation), wrinkling, or acne scars. 

Deep peels

Using strong acids, a deep chemical peel penetrates the lowest part of your middle skin layer to help correct severe sun damage, wrinkling, or scarring. This once-in-a-lifetime treatment comes with significant healing and downtime of up to eight weeks.   

Ready to revitalize your skin?

Our skincare experts carefully consider your individual skin type and concerns to craft a custom chemical peel that can transform dull, uneven skin into a brighter, more uniform complexion, soften rough skin, tighten large pores, correct discoloration, smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, and even erase shallow scars.  

Ready to revitalize your skin with a customized chemical peel? Schedule a consultation with our skincare specialists at Keehan Dermatology in Fort Worth, Texas, today.