Custom Chemical Peels

Medical-grade chemical peels customised to the patient's skin type and concerns, addressing hyperpigmentation, acne, fine lines, uneven texture, and skin dullness. Peel depth ranges from superficial (zero downtime) to medium-depth (up to seven days peeling). Performed by estheticians and nursing staff at all SDBotox San Diego locations.

SDBotox includes medical-grade chemical peels in its skin services menu, offering a controlled chemical exfoliation approach that complements the clinic's device-based skin treatments. Chemical peels apply an acid solution to the skin surface, causing a predictable degree of epidermal shedding and, at deeper concentrations, stimulating the dermis to produce new collagen and ground substance. The depth of effect is determined by the acid type, concentration, contact time, and number of passes applied, and is customised by the treating esthetician or nurse based on the patient's skin type, Fitzpatrick classification, primary concern, and lifestyle (particularly their tolerance for visible peeling or social downtime). Superficial peels — typically using alpha-hydroxy acids such as glycolic acid (20–70%) or lactic acid, or beta-hydroxy acid (salicylic acid) — exfoliate the stratum corneum and outer epidermis, resulting in a mild brightening effect, reduced comedonal acne, and improved product penetration. Downtime is minimal to none: mild flaking may occur for one to two days. Medium-depth peels using trichloroacetic acid (TCA, 20–35%) or a Jessner's solution combination penetrate the full epidermis into the papillary dermis, producing more significant pigmentation improvement, fine line reduction, and scar improvement at the cost of three to seven days of visible peeling and redness. All peels at SDBotox are followed by practitioner instructions on post-peel care, including strict sun avoidance and broad-spectrum sunscreen application, as the newly exposed skin is more photosensitive. A series of superficial peels spaced two to four weeks apart typically produces cumulative improvement greater than a single medium-depth peel for patients who cannot accommodate downtime.