Medical-Grade Chemical Peels

Medical-grade chemical peels at Elysium Aesthetics + Longevity in Chicago using glycolic, salicylic, lactic, and TCA acids in light, medium, and deep formulations. Addresses wrinkles, pigmentation, acne, acne scars, and uneven skin texture. Sessions run 30–45 minutes. Recovery ranges from three to ten days depending on peel strength. Administered by licensed estheticians and aesthetic NPs in River North.

Elysium Aesthetics + Longevity offers a range of medical-grade chemical peels across multiple depths and acid formulations to address diverse skin quality concerns in their River North Chicago clinic. Light peels use alpha-hydroxy acids — primarily glycolic acid (from sugar cane) and lactic acid (from milk) — at concentrations calibrated to dissolve the corneodesmosomes binding dead keratinocytes in the stratum corneum, producing a controlled superficial exfoliation that accelerates cellular turnover, brightens dull skin, and lightly smooths fine texture irregularities. Zero to three days of mild flaking are typical for light peels. Medium-depth peels incorporate salicylic acid — a beta-hydroxy acid with lipophilic properties that allow it to penetrate into sebaceous follicles, making it particularly effective for comedonal acne, congested pores, and oily skin — or TCA (trichloroacetic acid) at concentrations up to 35%, which creates a controlled protein coagulation through all epidermal layers and into the superficial dermis. The subsequent wound-healing response produces new collagen, improved skin elasticity, and more uniform pigmentation. Recovery for medium-depth TCA peels is five to ten days with visible peeling. Deep peels reach the mid-dermis, producing the most dramatic resurfacing but requiring the longest recovery. All peels are performed under practitioner supervision, with pre-treatment skin preparation protocols (retinoid conditioning, sun avoidance) to optimise results and reduce the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Treatments are available from licensed estheticians Victoria Ambolo and Kelsi Firek for lighter peels, with aesthetic NPs Rachel Deutsch and Paige Bartuch supervising medium and deeper formulations.