Best Chemical Peels for African American Skin?

Our treatments use combination therapy to improve the epidermis and dermis. We see atrophic and hypertrophic scars, as well as scars that have hypo and hyperpigmentation. Our main concern is rebuilding collagen and that is why we use a HIDEF protocol that includes combination therapy. Morpheus 8, scar subcision, fibrous release, fractional laser, CO2 laser, Thulium laser, PDL Vbeam laser, and fractional resurfacing can be used in addition to TCA Cross and chemical peels to further improve skin. Patients should start Melarase AM and Melarase PM for active hyperpigmentation. Always begin with a consultation to discuss the best treatment options for your type of skin. .

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Thank you for your message! Chemical peels are a great option to help even out skin tone, help with fine lines/wrinkles, and overall brighten the skin's complexion. With darker skin tones caution must be used as there is a risk of hyperpigmentation. We generally recommend using a skin prep before and after the peel, though this may vary depending on the office. We generally use the VI peel for darker skin tones as it is a bit safer. I would recommend a consultation with a provider in your area for further assessment!

The Medical Grade VI Peel is safe for darker skin and offers great results for hyper-pigmentation. It also brightens skin and smooths rough texture to the skin. 

THis can be complex as darker skin tones are much more likely to have potential complications, particularly post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This can occur even with pretreatment of the skin. i would recommend starting off with a superficial peel to see how your skin tolerates this. You will likely require multiple rounds to get desired effect but you should be able to minimize possibility of side effects with this. If you do choose a medium depth peel, I would make sure you use some form of pretreatment of the skin with a bleaching agent such as hydroquinone and also choose a clinician that has significant experience with this type of peel in darker skin tones. Hope this helps!

Hello.It is so important to talk with your physician about what your concerns and goals are.  There are multiple chemical peels out there and it depends on your skin sensitivity, your goals (acne scars, dark spots, wrinkles, texture, brightening, glowing) that targets which type of peel is the best for your.  Make sure your physician not only understands your skin type but also the amount of downtime you can allow for the procedure. Nikki D. Hill, MD