Are chemical peels considered skin bleaching? What are the short and long-term side effects?

Question

I'm a tall black African male, u deal with hyperpigmentation and black heads.

Timothy Osborn, MD · Answer

Chemical peels are not considered bleaching. The purpose of a chemical is to improve skin tone, texture and wrinkles, while also reducing hyperpigmentation. It works as a more intense exfoliant, causing the top layers of skin to "peel" off while producing newer, fresh looking skin from below. It is not to strip the skin of its natural pigmentation, but removes some of the dead and damaged skin from the top. As for side effects, it can depend on the strength of the peel used. Generally, the stronger the peel is, the more intense the recovery is. That being said, stronger peels lead to better results. Most people will experience some redness and heat. There can be swelling. Some people will have intense peeling while others may not. Everyone's skin type is different so not all skin reacts the same. As for long term side effects, there are not really many. It is possible to have a bad reaction which may lead to blistering or potential scarring, however it is uncommon. We always recommend seeing a professional so they can provide you with an assessment and the best recommendations for treatment.

Elizabeth Liotta, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hi there! Chemical peels do not bleach the skin. They work deeper into the skin to pull up hyperpigmentation and it removes dead skin cells only. After the peel you will be left with a brighter, more even skin tone! Getting a chemical peel that contains salicylic acid will help in reducing/ removing blackheads. You can also get the blackheads extracted prior to getting the peel done for a better result. We hope this helps!

Are chemical peels considered skin bleaching? What are the short and long-term side effects?

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