Chemical Peel Types Explained: Which Peel Is Right for Your Skin?

The 3 Levels of Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are classified by how deep they penetrate into the skin's layers:

• Superficial (light) peels: Exfoliate only the outermost layer of skin (epidermis). Minimal to no downtime. Best for maintenance, mild texture, and early pigmentation.
• Medium-depth peels: Reach into the upper dermis. Some redness and peeling for 5–7 days. Best for moderate hyperpigmentation, acne scars, and more visible fine lines.
• Deep peels: Penetrate to the mid-dermis. Significant downtime (1–2 weeks). Performed by physicians for severe scarring, deep wrinkles, or sun damage. Not typically offered at medical spas.

At Solace Wellness Aesthetics in Fort Myers, we perform superficial and medium-depth peels — the range that delivers real corrective results without requiring extended downtime.

Superficial Peels: What They Do and When to Choose Them

Light peels use gentle acids — lactic acid, glycolic acid (low %), mandelic acid, or enzyme-based formulas — to dissolve the bonds between dead surface cells and speed cell turnover. Results are subtle but cumulative.

Best for: Dull skin, mild texture, dry or dehydrated skin, maintenance between deeper treatments, first-time peel patients who want a low-risk introduction.

Our Pro MicroPeel ($95) and Timeless Radiance Peel ($135) fall in this category — they're designed to brighten and refine without social downtime. Many clients get these monthly as part of a skin health routine.

Medium-Depth Peels: Where the Correction Happens

Medium peels use stronger acids — higher concentrations of glycolic acid, TCA (trichloroacetic acid), or combination formulas — that reach past the epidermis into the upper dermis. This is where you get meaningful correction of:

• Moderate hyperpigmentation (sun damage, melasma, post-acne marks)
• Acne scarring (surface-level atrophic scars)
• More visible fine lines and textural irregularities
• Uneven skin tone and solar lentigines (age spots)

Expect 4–7 days of visible peeling — the skin will look bronzed, then flake off over the course of a week, revealing smoother, more even skin beneath. Social events should be planned around this window.

What Is the Perfect Peel?

The Perfect Peel ($250) is one of the most requested treatments at Solace — and for good reason. It's a medium-depth peel that combines TCA, kojic acid, phenol, retinoic acid, and salicylic acid with a glutathione booster for brightening.

What sets it apart from a standard TCA peel:

• The kojic acid and glutathione target pigmentation specifically, making it highly effective for melasma and sun damage common in Florida residents
• The retinoic acid drives collagen stimulation during the peel process
• It's self-neutralizing, which reduces the risk of over-penetration
• Peeling occurs on days 3–5 and is complete by day 7 in most patients

It's not a peel you do the week before vacation — but it is one that produces results visible enough that clients schedule their schedule around it.

Chemical Peels vs. Microneedling: When to Choose Each

Both treatments target texture, pigmentation, and collagen — but through different mechanisms:

• Chemical peels work through chemical exfoliation and controlled cell death. Better for surface pigmentation, melasma, and skin tone evenness.
• Microneedling works through physical injury and collagen induction. Better for textural scarring, large pores, and skin laxity.

Many clients do both — alternating treatments every 4–6 weeks. A chemical peel refines the surface; microneedling rebuilds the structure. Used together strategically, they're one of the most effective non-surgical skin transformation protocols available.

How to Prepare for a Chemical Peel in Fort Myers

• Discontinue retinol and retinoids 5–7 days before your appointment
• Avoid waxing or any abrasive treatments for 1 week before
• If you have active cold sores (HSV), tell your provider — prophylactic antivirals may be prescribed
• Arrive with clean skin and no makeup
• Avoid sun exposure for 2 weeks before a medium-depth peel — active tan skin peels unevenly

Not sure which peel is right for your skin concerns? Our providers at Solace Wellness Aesthetics do a thorough skin assessment before recommending any treatment. Book a consultation — no commitment required.

For further reading, see the American Academy of Dermatology's clinical guide to chemical peels.