Chemical peels in Glasgow

How depth works

Peels are classified by how far into the skin the agent takes effect. Superficial peels affect the epidermis. Medium peels reach the upper dermis. Deep peels reach further and are essentially a surgical-grade procedure with anaesthesia, monitoring and weeks of recovery, performed in a small number of settings.

Depth is determined by the agent, its concentration, its pH, how it is applied, how long it is left, and how your skin is prepared. The same acid at the same strength behaves differently on skin that has been using a retinoid for six weeks and on skin that has not.

This is the reason a peel is a clinical procedure rather than a product. The decision being made is how much damage to do, deliberately, with the intention that it heals better than it was.

What each depth is good for

Superficial

Dullness, uneven tone, mild texture, congestion and blackheads, superficial pigment, and as maintenance between other treatments. Almost no social downtime. Works cumulatively over a course, which is why a single peel before an event is a poor use of money.

Medium depth

More established pigmentation, fine to moderate lines, sun damage, some acne scarring. Real downtime, real results, and a real requirement for careful aftercare and sun avoidance.

Deep

Severe photoageing and deep lines. Rarely appropriate, performed in specific settings, with systemic risks that place it in a different category from everything else on this page.

Choosing the acid

• Glycolic acid: small molecule, penetrates readily, general resurfacing and brightening.
• Lactic acid: gentler, more hydrating, useful for sensitive or dry skin.
• Mandelic acid: larger molecule, slower penetration, often preferred in darker skin types and in rosacea-prone skin.
• Salicylic acid: oil soluble, so it works inside the follicle. The usual choice for congested and acne-prone skin.
• Trichloroacetic acid: used for medium depth work, alone or in combination.

Skin type is the safety question

The Fitzpatrick scale describes how skin responds to ultraviolet light. It is a crude tool and it remains the practical starting point for peel safety, because the higher the Fitzpatrick type, the greater the risk that inflammation leaves behind a brown mark that outlasts the problem being treated.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is the complication that turns a peel into a longer problem than the one you started with. It is largely preventable through appropriate agent selection, conservative depth, skin preparation over several weeks beforehand, and absolute sun protection afterwards.

Melasma deserves separate mention. It responds to some peels and relapses readily, and it can be aggravated by heat as well as by light. A peel plan for melasma should be cautious, topical-led and long term.

Preparation and the appointment

Skin is usually prepared for two to six weeks beforehand, commonly with a retinoid, a pigment-inhibiting agent where relevant, and sun protection. This is not an upsell; preparation makes the peel more even and reduces complications.

You should be asked about:

• Recent isotretinoin use, recent laser or waxing in the area.
• A history of cold sores, since medium depth peels can trigger an outbreak and antiviral prophylaxis may be advised.
• A tendency to keloid or hypertrophic scarring.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding, which restricts some agents.
• Any active skin infection or open skin in the area.
• Recent sun exposure or a sunbed, which are a reason to postpone.

During the treatment you should expect stinging and warmth that builds and then subsides. Superficial peels are usually comfortable. Medium peels are not, and should be discussed honourably in advance.

Recovery, and what is normal

After a superficial peel, expect tightness and mild redness for a day, then light flaking for two to four days. After a medium peel, expect noticeable redness, darkening of the treated skin, then sheets of peeling from around day three to day seven, resolving over roughly ten days.

• Do not pick or pull peeling skin. This is the single most common cause of scarring and pigmentation after a peel.
• Use only the products you have been given or told to use.
• Avoid exercise, saunas and heat for the first two to three days.
• Avoid all sun exposure and use broad-spectrum protection daily, indoors near windows included.
• Do not book anything abrasive, including waxing and facials, for two weeks.

The aftercare page covers the sequence in full.

Risks

• Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, especially in Fitzpatrick types four to six.
• Prolonged redness or irritation.
• Infection, including reactivation of herpes simplex.
• Scarring, uncommon with superficial peels and a genuine risk with deeper work or with picking.
• Uneven result where application was uneven or the skin was not prepared.
• Loss of pigment, which is rare, more likely with deeper peels and can be permanent.

A peel performed by someone who cannot describe how they would manage each of these is a peel to decline.

Choosing a provider in Glasgow

Peels sit across the boundary between beauty therapy and medical practice. Superficial peels are widely and legitimately performed by qualified aesthetic therapists. Medium depth work belongs with a medically qualified practitioner who can manage complications and prescribe.

Ask which depth is proposed, what training the person has for that specific depth, whether the premises is registered with Healthcare Improvement Scotland where a healthcare professional is involved, and what the follow-up looks like. Our clinic guide explains how to verify claims.