Will a chemical peel cause an acne flare up?

Hello and thank you for your question. I do not recommend a chemical peel with acne as it will further irritate the area. I recommend using IPL to treat the affected area. I think you will see very positive results. I suggest an in person evaluation to explore your options. Best wishes.
Dr. T

The last thing you need for post-traumatic hyperpigmentation is a peel. Peels, in fact, in someone like you are very likely to simply cause more pigmentation from the trauma of the peel itself. There are only 2 things that really work well in these cases. One is use of hydroquinone cream to control the pigment cells. If you have continuing acne, the Obagi Nu-Derm system, which contains hydroquinone, can treat both the hyperpigmantation and the acne. The other is a specialized IPL (Intense Pulsed Light machine) that can target the pigmented areas. Make sure you see a physician with expertise in treating this.