Cosmetic results from a chemical peel are mostly dependent on depth of peel, chemical agent, and your skin quality. Patients get better results with deeper peels; however, the recovery time and potential risks are higher. Any location where skin care takes place must be clean & sterile.
Generally speaking fruit peels, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid are very superficial and do not go deep into the skin. Some of the home peels are available for patients to self-administer. Consequently, the results are minimal and treatment must be repeated multiple times to appreciate an effect. Cosmetic results may last a couple months. Recovery is quick though, with a usual downtime of a day or two.
Any treatment which goes deeper into the skin must be performed by a physician. Medium or deeper peels with TCA, Jessner's type, or phenol based last for several months. Cosmetic results are much better, however, potential risks and recovery time is higher. Chemical peel recovery ranges generally from 1-2 weeks, again depending on the exact depth.
Lastly, skin care starts before and continues after the peel, which your physician can help manage. Certain skin care products are only available from a physician. If you keep exposing yourself to the sun without protection, then you may end up loosing all the benefit from the original peel. Best of luck.
