Difference between Ultraviolet light and chemical peels in causing cancer?

Question

I´ve done 3 TCA peels recently, but I was told by biology teacher, that chemical peel are as dangerous as ultraviolet light - skin cells on the top are destroyed and the production of new skin cells starts, what can cause some mutations. Is that true? Thank you.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

I hope your biology teacher is more accurate in the subject matter they are teaching you than the misinformation regarding chemical peels.  Ultraviolet light damages the skin by damaging cellular DNA which leads to skin cancer.  There is no evidence that chemical peels are carcinogenic.  In fact chemical peels can be used in certain clinical settings to reduce the burden of early skin cancer and premalignant lesions by turning over the skin.

David Hansen, MD · Answer

Chemical peels are so beneficial that I tell my patients to get a medium peel yearly for the rest of their life to help get rid of sun damage and even out skin color and soften wrinkles, etc....

Difference between Ultraviolet light and chemical peels in causing cancer?

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Difference between Ultraviolet light and chemical peels in causing cancer?

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