Does It Hurt to Have a Chemical Peel

GoodRx Health

A chemical peel is used to address skin issues like acne scars, skin discoloration, and fine lines associated with aging.

The treatment involves the application of acids of varying strengths to the face or body. These acids cause the skin to peel over time, promoting new skin growth.

Dermatologists and estheticians perform light, medium, and deep peels in office settings and at outpatient facilities. At-home peels are also available, but dermatologists do not recommend them.

During or after a chemical peel, you might feel tingling, stinging, or burning. But this depends on how strong the treatment is and the condition of your skin.

Here's how three people describe what it's like to have a chemical peel.

A mild, brief stinging

Bonnie Ali wanted to get a chemical peel after experiencing 2 years of acne and scarring, skin issues she thinks were brought on by stress and eating habits. "My skin was horrible," Bonnie says.

The Atlanta resident first tried facials and microneedling to get rid of the acne and scars on her cheeks. (Microneedling involves using tiny needles to puncture the skin, promoting collagen production and skin rejuvenation.) After not seeing any results, Bonnie decided to get a deep chemical peel in May 2024. The treatment was quick, and she experienced minimal discomfort.

"It was like 20 minutes," Bonnie says. "I wouldn't say it burned. It stung for a couple of minutes."

The esthetician who performed the peel gave Bonnie sunscreen and instructed her to stay out of the sun as much as possible to prevent sun damage. She also gave her a retinol cream to apply every 12 hours for the next 25 days. Over the next few weeks, the 32-year-old saw her scars fade as her skin peeled from the treatment.

Although the treatment didn't completely clear her acne and scarring, Bonnie is satisfied with the results.

"They told me that I might not see the full results" after one treatment, she says, noting that the esthetician told her she would probably need another peel.

A painless, tingling sensation

Jonique Depina researched chemical peels for a year before deciding to get one in January 2024.

"It took me a bit of time to decide to actually want to do it," she says of getting a chemical peel. "I've heard horror stories of people getting it - especially people of color. They say, like, 'Oh, it's burned my skin. And now I have even more dark marks.' And I was just, like, that would be counterintuitive to what I'm trying to get rid of."

Up until that point, Jonique, a medical student in Kansas City, Missouri, had been using products such as adapalene, vitamin C, and at-home masks to help clear her acne scars. But she wanted to speed up the process. So she scheduled an appointment at a local medical spa. "I made sure that they had people of color [as] clients," she says. "And then, I booked a consultation."

Jonique's esthetician advised her to use only a basic cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen for skin care a week before she got the medium-level chemical peel. "I had to stop any acids or retinols or retinoids that I was doing," Jonique says.

While applying the acids, Jonique's esthetician told her about "skin frosting" - when proteins in the top layers of skin react to the chemical solution and temporarily form a white residue. "[The esthetician] was just kind of walking me through the whole process as she was doing it, which I thought was really nice," Jonique says.

Jonique says she felt a "tingly sensation" during the peel but not much more. "It's a very painless process," she says.

After the appointment, Jonique continued to follow the simple skin care regimen her esthetician had recommended. And within a few days, she noticed her skin starting to peel.

The skin peeling went on for a week after the treatment. And when she got a recommended second peel 2 months later, she experienced the same thing.

Jonique is pleased with how her skin looks now. And she is considering adding chemical peels to her regular long-term skin care routine.

"I felt like my skin was a lot smoother and more even," she says. "I experience a lot of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, regardless of whether I pop a pimple or not. So I thought it was really helpful to get rid of some of the more stubborn dark marks that I feel like I've just had all my life."

A little bit of heat on the skin

Even though 27-year-old physician Natasha Henry has a background in medicine and skin care, she wanted chemical peel specialists to work on her skin.

"I do not yet have a medical practice with the right tools necessary to administer a chemical peel on my own. Plus, at-home peels are not recommended for safety reasons," Natasha says. "I saw it fitting to see someone who does this as their everyday work, instead of taking matters into my own hands and risking damaging my skin even more."

Natasha started having skin issues after moving from Mexico, where she practiced medicine, to California so she could focus on building a skin care line.

"I was having a lot of hormonal breakouts and got on tretinoin, and it really irritated my skin," she says of the retinoid. "So I was left with a lot of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation."

The Jamaica native got a light chemical peel at a medical spa in June 2023. After a nurse practitioner applied the treatment, Natasha experienced a couple of minutes of discomfort.

"It wasn't really burning per se, but it did have a hot feeling," Natasha says. "And then, there was some tingling, but nothing too excessive. They did give me a fan - those little electric fans - to help to control the feeling."

Natasha got another light peel in October 2023. "I decided, toward the end of the year, I would do the second one just for added benefits, because I realized my pigmentation was really bad," she says. "One chemical peel wasn't really going to cut it for me."

After both treatments, Natasha's skin peeled around her mouth and cheeks, but only a small amount. She says she's planning to incorporate peels and microneedling into her routine at least once a year to continue to enhance her improved skin.

"I'm still working on it, but compared to what my skin was [in 2023], we have come a long way," she says.

What does the doctor say?

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Senior Medical Editor

A chemical peel can be helpful for people with certain skin concerns. A chemical peel speeds up the skin's natural turnover. In short, the acids prompt the top layers of skin to die and peel off, leaving new skin to grow in its place.

On its own, a chemical peel doesn't usually cause many symptoms, though you might feel more discomfort if you have sensitive skin. And if you have active inflammation or open lesions, your skin care professional may want to treat your condition before doing a peel.

You may experience more symptoms - such as redness, itching, and mild discomfort - as your skin starts to peel and new skin matures. It's important to take care of this fragile, new skin by using only gentle skin care products, avoiding sunlight as much as possible, and putting on sun protection whenever you go outdoors. This means using the right type of sunscreen and also hats and clothing to protect your skin, even on cloudy days.

Always work with a professional when getting a chemical peel. You want to make sure the peel isn't too weak or too strong and that you get the right follow-up care. If you need deep (stronger) peels or regular peels, it's best to work with a board-certified dermatologist with experience in administering chemical peels. It's also a good idea to work with a dermatologist if you're prone to hyperpigmentation or scarring or if you have an inflammatory skin condition, so they can help you avoid or manage side effects. If you're only looking for occasional, light chemical peels, a licensed and experienced esthetician may be a good option.

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