Chemical Peel Treatments (Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, TCA, pH-Dependent Burns, At-Home vs Professional) — safety profile
Moderate riskChemical peels use concentrated acids — glycolic acid (AHA, 20-70%), salicylic acid (BHA, 15-30%), and trichloroacetic acid (TCA, 10-35%) — to induce controlled chemical injury to skin layers, stimulating regeneration and treating acne, hyperpigmentation, and photoaging.
What is this product?
Chemical peels use concentrated acids — glycolic acid (AHA, 20-70%), salicylic acid (BHA, 15-30%), and trichloroacetic acid (TCA, 10-35%) — to induce controlled chemical injury to skin layers, stimulating regeneration and treating acne, hyperpigmentation, and photoaging. The critical safety variable is pH, not acid concentration alone: a 30% glycolic acid solution at pH 1.5 causes significantly deeper injury than the same concentration at pH 3.5. At-home peel products (typically 10-30% glycolic or 2% salicylic) have become widely available without dermatologist oversight, leading to chemical burns, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), and scarring, particularly in individuals with darker skin tones (Fitzpatrick IV-VI) where PIH risk is highest. Professional TCA peels at concentrations above 25% can reach the reticular dermis and cause permanent scarring if applied incorrectly.
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