Do chemical peels work for hyperpigmentation?

Yes. Chemical Peels are a great for treating hyper-pigmentation. There are several types of chemical peels with different and multiple chemicals in them. Chemical peels vary in depth and strength as well. Skin Medica's Vitalize peel uses salicylic, lactic, and resorcinol. All are great to lighten pigmentation. Glycolic acid peels are effective as well. Multiple peels are needed for maximum  results. Usually peels in  a series of 3-6 peels is standard. It is always important to consult a professional for the appropriate skin treatment for your skin type. 

Hyperpigmentation of any kind needs a combination approach of peels like Cosmelan; lasers like Clear + Brilliant, Aerolase or Laser Genesis; radiofrequency like Venus Viva; and constant skin care and sun protection. Bimonthly facials with SilkPeel DermalInfusion are essential to hydrate, exfoliate and infuse vitamins and antioxidants into the skin. If you have acne you can do additional treatments and peels to get more improvement. Hypopigmentation will need more of an evaluation and possibly additional lasers to get improvement. I suggest a formal consultation with an expert in lasers and peels. Best, Dr. Emer.

Chemical peels are an excellent treatment for hyperpigmentation. This can be done using chemical peels (generally, in my practice, this is a combination of salicylic acid, kojic acid, TCA, retinoic acid, Phenol Glutathione and Vitamin C) AKA THE PERFECT DERMA PEEL.  It has excellent results for aging skin, acne, melasma, hyperpigmentation. It may be used on the body as well.  You will have a peeling time of about 3-5 days.  Proper homecare instructions will be given to you at the time of visit.  Also Discussion of Routine home care after to maintain results.  Recommended 3 timed a year.
Hope you found this answer helpful.  All the best!

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.

Chemical peels belong to a broad class of treatments used to treat melasma.  A chemical peel does not work alone to treat melasma, but does in combination with topical and laser treatments. 

Chemical peels have a very long, proven track record for helping to fade or eliminate irregular skin staining and dark patches from photoaging (overexposure to the sun through the years) and for bleaching postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (the troubling brown discolorations left on the skin after acne, rosacea and other skin inflammations heal). In addition, chemical peels can impart increased luster and glow to the skin, freshen a sallow complexion, temporarily tighten pores, and decrease the appearance of fine wrinkles and lines.

Chemical peels are typically classified as superficial, medium and deep, depending upon the desired depth of the penetration of the acid. Medium depth peels and certainly deep peels are procedures that entail discomfort and a signficant recuperative period. Naturally, the deeper the peel the more potential risk there  is of scarring and permanent pigment loss (or sometimes even permanent increased pigmentation).

For this reason, I prefer to treat hyperpigmentation using a series of  four to six maximum strength superficial peels spaced at two to four week intervals. Agents used in this fashion include TCA 10%-20%, Jessner's solution, salicylic acid 30%, and glycolic acid 70%. Downtime from superficial peels is minimal to absent and the risks of any permanent problems extremely small.  For best results and for maintenance, it is important to supplement and complement in-office peels with the the prior, concomittent, and post-treatment regular use of high SPF (at least SPF 30) sunscreens, bleaching agents, retinoids, and antioxidants.

Hi there-
Chemical Peels are great for treating hyperpigmentation.
Depending on the type of chemical peel you are having, and the severity of your pigment problem, a series of treatments may be necessary to achieve your goals.
Using at least an SPF 30 daily and avoiding long periods of time in the sun is critical to help achieve your desired results-- otherwise your hyperigmentation can become darker instead of lighter.
This is important not only while having chemical peel treatments, but even after you have completed treatment to prevent the pigmentation from returning.

The answer to your questions depends on the type of hyperpigmentation. If the hyperpigmentation is Melasma, then it is unlikely that any chemical peel is going to help as Melasma is most often a dermal (lower layer) skin condition.
If your hyperpigmentation is sun related then deep TCA or phenol peels may do well at getting rid of it. While this is true, the pigmentation can be much more easily removed with q-switched laser treatments that are much less expensive and do not have the downtime associated with deep peels.

Certain chemical peels can help with hyperpigmentation and dark spots. I would recommend an in person consultation prior to having any type of chemical peel. Certain skin tones, generally those that are darker, may require preparation or particular post care given there is a risk of causing hyperpigmentation. Chemical peels help to take off layers of the skin leading to cell turnover which often leads to a brighter complexion with softened dark spots.