How much downtime can I expect from chemical peels of different depths?

There are a wide variety of chemical peel solutions that vary in strength and effectiveness based on the active ingredient. The more superficial peels such as the glycolic acid or salicylic acid peels often have minimal or no downtime. These are sometimes referred to as "lunchtime" peels, because you can have this performed at lunch and go right back to the office for the afternoon without anyone realizing you had the peel performed! However, these can still sometimes produce redness and/or mild flaking of the skin for a couple of days. The stronger medium to deep depth chemical peels -- such as TCA peels or phenol-croton oil peels -- typically require anywhere from 5-10 days of "social" downtime as the peeled skin flakes off and is replaced with a new layer. In general, a deeper peel will have longer downtime, but will typically also offer a more dramatic result. The selection of which peel would provide the best result depends on your specific concerns. I recommend scheduling a consultation with a board-certified physician who has extensive knowledge regarding skin care and facial aesthetics in order to determine the best solution for you. Take care!

There are many different types of chemical peels. A TCA peel will have the longest downtime, usually 7-10 days. The lightest Skin Medica peel will have no downtime. 

Thanks for your question. With mid-depth peels (TCA, Vi Peel, Jessner) you can expect to start peeling 2-3 days after the treatment and peel for around 4-5 days. The most obvious days of peeling being 2-4  days post treatment. You can certainly get superficial peels like lactic and glycolic that have minimal if any downtime. Depending on what your skin type is and what you condition you are trying to improve a light depth laser treatment like Fractional C02 may be a better treatment to get on a friday and return to work monday with mild redness that makeup can cover. Please make sure to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon.  Best of luck.