Do chemical peels work for hyperpigmentation?

Yes, chemical peels can be a great
way of treating hyperpigmentation. There
are many types of chemical peels and all are different with different downtimes
as well. You may want to look into
having a TCA peel done. This peel should only be performed in a medical clinic
by a professional. Be prepared to give
yourself some downtime. If you do not have the time then a
Modified Jessner may be your next best thing.
This peel only has about 3 days of mild peeling so all regular activity
can be resumed fairly quickly and no time will be needed off work most likely.

Chemical peels are an excellent treatment for hyperpigmentation. In fact, I prefer chemical peels over any kind of laser treatment for management of hyperpigmentation alone. This can be done using a more gradual approach, with a series of “light” chemical peels (generally, in my practice, this is a combination of glycolic acid, salicylic acid, kogic acid, Jessner’s solution, hydroquinone, and resourcinal) or a more aggressive type of peel, known as trichloroacetic acid (also popularized as a “blue” peel or known as a TCA peel). The more aggressive of these two approaches – the TCA peel – will usually require pre-treatment of the skin for 3-4 weeks prior to the procedure, for best results and to ensure that there are no negative consequences from the peel itself. Pre-treatment involves home application of topical skincare products, including topical vitamin C serum and a product containing hydroquinone and Retin A. Often these products are used again after the procedure to help maintain and prolong your results.