Why isn't my face peeling after a Jessner peel? (photos)

Question

I haven't seen any visible peeling after I got this peel. I'm on Day 5 now and my skin looks the same from before the treatment just a bit cleaner. When I contacted the aesthetic doctor who did the peel on my face she said she applied the lowest possible jessner peel for me but describe it to be mild not superficial. So shouldn't I at least see the tiniest bit of peeling or at least tightening and dryness of my skin? I have oily skin with acne scars. I included a photo of my day 5, face pic.

A. David Rahimi, MD · Answer

I have performed Jessner and TCA peels since 1999 and can tell you that most doctors don't spend enough time either explaining what can be expected from a Jessner peel or how to take care of the skin after the peel is done. Jessner peels can be very superficial but they can also penetrate very deeply depending on how the skin was prepped. If the top cornmeal layer of the skin is wiped off with Acetone or a microdermabrasion prior to a jessner peel it can penetrate much deeper and almost simulate a TCA peel. If you have used Retin A before the peel it can also penetrate much deeper. Even more important is what you do after a Jessner peel. If the skin is hydrated with moisturizers and lotions the peeling is delayed and may not be visible at all. I often encourage my patients not to put anything on the skin for the first few days and until the peeling starts. The skin feels itchy and tight but the results are more dramatic and visible. After 5 days you should have had some peeling. Discuss this with your physician and entertain the idea of a repeat peel; maybe with a stronger agent such as TCA or fractional laser. Jessner is great for pigmentation but in my hands  does not help acne scars at all. I hope this was helpful. Yours.

Yannis Alexandrides, MD, FACS · Answer

Jessner peels are generally quite mild and there are various factors that can prevent 'peeling'. Many people do not experience 'peeling' at all with a jessner peel and report flaking or slight dryness instead. With ongoing treatments you  might start to notice enhanced results, or you could switch to another peel with a greater strength. Different peels are used depending on the skincare concern. It might be worth going over your goals with your practitioner to address your concerns and determine whether there could  be a more suitable treatment plan for you.

Michael J. Brown, MD · Answer

Good afternoon and thank you for your question! A traditional Jessner's peel is a combination of 14% resorcinol, 14% salicylic acid, and 14% lactic acid in an alcohol base. It is most commonly used for combination to oily skin that shows some degree of photo-damage. Depending on the formulation and the number of layers applied, a modified Jessner's peel can be used superficially by estheticians or as a medium-depth peel by physicians. A number of factors can affect the reaction of the skin after the peel has been applied. These include, but are not limited to the following: how aggressively the skin was degreased before applying the peel, the number of layers applied during the treatment, the wait time between each layer, and the skin type. Best of luck! For more information please feel free to visit our website!

Sameer Bashey, MD · Answer

A Jessner peel is a very superficial and many people don't peel after it. That being said a lot of factors determine how someone peels after a chemical peel: pre-conditioning of the skin, texture, oiliness, thickness of the skin; layers of chemical peel placed, how much the skin was cleaned before the procedure, etc. Jessner's peel being very superficial will not cause skin tightening. It is a lunch time peel to just give you a "fresh" look in my opinion.

Why isn't my face peeling after a Jessner peel? (photos)

Answers (4)

Answer: Jessner's peel is very superficial

Answer: Jessner's peel is very superficial

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Everything you need to know about Jessner Peel

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Why isn't my face peeling after a Jessner peel? (photos)

Answers (4)

Answer: Jessner's peel is very superficial

Answer: Jessner's peel is very superficial

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Jessner Peel

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.