Author: Meghan Barajas, licensed medical aesthetician
Medically reviewed by Courtney Vesely, FNP-C, MSN, RN – Last reviewed: October, 2026
A chemical peel uses an acid solution to remove the skin’s outer layers so smoother, more even skin can form. Peels come in light, medium and deep strengths. Light peels usually mean a few days of mild flaking, while deeper peels need longer recovery. The right depth depends on your skin and your goals.
What a Chemical Peel Does
A chemical peel is a professional treatment that applies a solution of one or more acids to the skin. The solution loosens and removes the top layers. As the skin heals, newer skin takes their place, and it often looks smoother and more even in tone. Deeper peels reach further and can also prompt the skin to make new collagen, which is why they are used for fine lines and texture as well as tone.
A peel is not one treatment. It is a category. The strength, the ingredients and the way a provider applies the peel all change what it does and how long recovery takes. That is why the first step is always a skin assessment. Results vary from person to person, and a peel is not right for everyone.
Light, Medium and Deep Peels: How They Differ
Peels are grouped by how deep they reach. The table below is a general guide. Your provider will tell you what to expect for the specific peel they recommend.
| Depth | What it is | Often used for | Typical recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | Removes the outermost layer of skin. Often glycolic, lactic or salicylic acid. | Dullness, mild acne, uneven tone, fine texture | Pink or tight skin for a day or two, then light flaking for several days |
| Medium | Reaches deeper layers. Often TCA or a blend of acids. | Sun damage, pigment, acne marks, fine lines | Redness and peeling for about a week or longer |
| Deep | Reaches the deepest layers. The strongest peels. | Deeper lines and significant sun damage | Weeks of healing under medical supervision |
Most peels offered at medical spas are light or medium depth. Deep peels are a more intensive procedure with a longer recovery, and they are usually performed in a medical or surgical setting.
Common Peel Ingredients
Professional peels use different acids, alone or in blends:
- Glycolic and lactic acid (alpha hydroxy acids) are commonly used in light peels to brighten dull skin and soften fine texture.
- Salicylic acid (a beta hydroxy acid) dissolves in oil, so it is often chosen for oily or acne-prone skin and clogged pores.
- Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is used at different strengths for light to medium peels, depending on the concern.
Some professional peels combine several acids with other active ingredients. For example, the VI Peel line blends TCA and salicylic acid with other actives, and comes in formulas aimed at general rejuvenation, acne and oily skin, pigment, and more advanced aging concerns.
Concerns a Peel May Help With
- Acne and the marks it leaves. Peels can help with active breakouts and with the dark marks acne leaves behind (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation).
- Uneven tone and sun damage. Peels can lighten sun spots and uneven tone. Melasma is more complicated: it can return or worsen with sun and heat, so it needs a careful plan.
- Fine lines and rough texture. Medium peels may soften fine lines and rough texture over several weeks.
- Dullness. Even a light peel can leave skin looking brighter, often within days.
Deeper acne scars are a different problem. A peel works on the surface of the skin, but scars that sit below the surface often need another treatment, such as microneedling. Many providers combine the two over time.
What Recovery Looks Like
Recovery depends on the depth of the peel, the strength used and your skin. These are general timelines. Your provider will give you instructions for your peel.
- Light peels: skin may look pink or feel tight for a day or two, followed by dryness or light flaking for several days.
- Medium peels: expect redness and visible peeling that can last about a week or longer. Skin may look blotchy before it settles.
- Deep peels: recovery can take weeks, with swelling, crusting and a longer healing process under medical supervision.
Do not pick or pull at peeling skin. Doing so can cause scarring or dark marks.
For typical healing windows by peel depth, see the American Academy of Dermatology’s chemical peel FAQs.
How to Prepare for a Peel
- Tell your provider about every skin product and medication you use, including retinoids, and about any history of isotretinoin (Accutane).
- Tell your provider if you get cold sores, since some peels can trigger an outbreak, and if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or have had recent procedures.
- Avoid tanning and unprotected sun in the weeks before your peel, and mention any recent sunburn.
- Follow the preparation routine your provider gives you.
Aftercare
- Use a gentle cleanser and a simple moisturizer while your skin heals.
- Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day and stay out of direct sun. Skin is more sensitive after a peel.
- Let your skin peel on its own. Do not scrub, pick or pull.
- Hold off on strong active products, such as retinoids and exfoliating acids, until your provider says it is safe.
- Call your provider if you notice severe pain, blistering, or signs of infection such as spreading redness, warmth or pus.
At LiveWell, VI Peels include a post-peel kit for at-home use during recovery.
Who Should Wait or Skip a Peel
A peel is not right for everyone. Your provider may recommend waiting, or choosing a different treatment, if you have an active skin infection or open wounds, a recent sunburn, active cold sores, are pregnant or breastfeeding, have recently taken isotretinoin, or tend to form keloid scars.
Skin tone also matters. Peels can cause dark or light patches in some people, so tell your provider about your skin tone and any history of dark marks. That lets them choose the peel and strength carefully.
Mayo Clinic’s overview of chemical peels explains who may not be a good candidate.
Chemical Peel, Dermaplaning, DiamondGlow or Microneedling?
These treatments are often confused, and they can be combined.
| Treatment | How it works | Downtime |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical peel | Uses acids to remove the skin’s outer layers. | Some downtime |
| Dermaplaning | Uses a medical-grade blade to remove dead skin cells and fine facial hair. No acids. Offered with peels at LiveWell’s chemical peel and dermaplaning page. | No downtime |
| DiamondGlow | Exfoliates, extracts and infuses serums in one visit. | Zero downtime |
| Microneedling | Creates tiny channels in the skin to prompt collagen. Used for texture, tone and acne scarring. | Mild redness and swelling for 24 to 48 hours |
Your provider will recommend the right one, or a combination, after assessing your skin.
Chemical Peels in Rapid City at LiveWell
Chemical peels at LiveWell Medical Aesthetics are performed by Meghan Barajas, a licensed medical aesthetician who has held her aesthetics license since October 2009 and holds professional certifications in chemical peels and advanced acne treatment. LiveWell offers the VI Peel line, with formulas for general rejuvenation, acne and oily skin, hyperpigmentation, and more advanced aging concerns. Your provider will recommend a formula at your consultation based on your skin type and goals.
LiveWell serves Rapid City and the Black Hills region, including Spearfish, Sturgis, Deadwood and Box Elder. Call or text 605-545-9020 to book a consultation, or learn more about chemical peels at LiveWell. You can also contact us online.
Frequently Asked Questions about Chemical Peels
How long does a chemical peel take to heal?
Light peels usually heal in about a week, with a few days of visible flaking. Medium peels take longer, often a week or more of peeling, and deep peels take weeks. Your provider will give you a timeline for the peel they recommend.
Does a chemical peel hurt?
Most people feel tingling, warmth or mild stinging while the peel is on the skin, and it usually passes quickly. How strong it feels depends on the peel and your skin. Tell your provider if anything feels uncomfortable.
How much downtime should I plan for?
Plan for a few days of visible flaking with a light peel, and about a week or more with a medium peel. If you have an event, book your peel well ahead of it so your skin has time to settle.
Can I wear makeup after a chemical peel?
Your provider will tell you when. Most people wait until the skin has settled and stopped peeling, then start again with gentle, clean products.
When is the best time of year for a chemical peel?
Many people choose fall and winter because there is less direct sun, and sun protection matters while skin heals. A peel can be done in other seasons with careful sun protection. Your provider will advise you.
What is the difference between a chemical peel and dermaplaning?
A chemical peel uses acids to remove the skin’s outer layers. Dermaplaning uses a blade to remove dead skin cells and fine facial hair, with no acids and no downtime. They can be done in the same visit.
Can I get a chemical peel if I have darker skin?
In many cases, yes, but the peel and its strength need to be chosen carefully. Darker skin tones are more likely to develop dark patches after some peels, so your provider will take your skin tone and history into account. Tell them about any past dark marks.
How often can I get a chemical peel?
It depends on the peel and your skin. Light peels may be repeated in a series, while deeper peels are spaced much further apart. Your provider will build a schedule for you.
