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Can Smokers Get a Chemical Peel?

Doctor Answers 6

Smokers and Chemical Peels

October 7th, 2015
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Smokers can absolutely get Chemical Peels. There's no side effects or interactions that would be of harm to you. Chemical peels can be done at different depths—light, medium, or deep—depending on your desired results. Deeper chemical peels produce more-dramatic results, but also involve longer recovery times.

Web reference: http://www.dennisgrossmd.com/services/treatment/chemical-peels/

Dennis Gross, MD


New York Dermatologist
4.4 out of 5 stars 5 reviews

Smokers can get a chemical peel

February 8th, 2010
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Absolutely, I do them all the time. Go see 3 experts in peeling to receive advise in your specific case. Remember your healing could be longer. Good Luck!

Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Chemical Peels

February 7th, 2010
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Smoking increases your risk of infection and poor wound healing in any cosmetic or surgical procedure. That being said, chemical peels would be much safer for smokers than lasers that remove the upper layers of skin. Lastly, there are different types of peels, superficial medium and deep and your risks of complications goes up the deeper you go.

Shawn Allen, MD

Shawn Allen, MD
Boulder Dermatologist
5.0 out of 5 stars 1 review

Chemical Peel in smokers

February 5th, 2010
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This depends on the chemical peel. There are many different chemical peel for all kind of skin. Your Dermatologist or plastic surgeon can guide you better regarding the best peel for you or offer another treatments like Fraxel.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon
4.7 out of 5 stars 110 reviews

Smokers do fine with glycolic, jessners and TCA chemical peels

February 5th, 2010
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Smokers tend to have longer wound healing in facial surgeries and that would also be for deep chemical peels such as phenol peels as well. Medium and light chem peels such as most TCA and glycolic peels doesn't seem to be affected by smoking as much.

Always be sure to follow your doc's advice and see him or her for your follow-ups to make sure you get a good result with your peel no matter what the strenght of it.

Web reference: http://www.TheBestLipoDoc.com/drdavidhansen/landing/

David Hansen, MD

David Hansen, MD
Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon
4.8 out of 5 stars 36 reviews

Chemical peels and tobacco use or smoking history

February 4th, 2010
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Individuals who smoke tend to have impaired healing. A deeper chemical peel in smoker has a tendency for prolonged healing which may result in a higher tendency for hypertrophic scarring (thick scars) and hyperpigmentation (dark skin).

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 72 reviews

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.