Skip to main content
search

Chemical Peels

Cutis Dermatology is home to Brisbane’s leading dermatologists who have over 20 years of experience in superficial, medium and ultra-deep chemical peels. Peels are a great way to improve your skin’s quality and luminosity. We have the biggest selection of formulations and concentrations in Brisbane, and employ both clinical grade peels and specialist grade agents.
Cutis Dermatology offers a wide variety of chemical peel options.
  • AHA Peels
  • VITA Peels
  • Cosmelan Peels
  • TCA Peels
  • BHA Peels
  • Jessner Peel

Our results speak for themselves

Before

After

Acne Treatment Cutis Dermatology Brisbane 57

Chemical peels including salicylic acid & retinoic acid are excellent methods to reduce acne lesions

Ask us more about this treatmant

    Before

    After

    Acne Treatment Cutis Dermatology Brisbane 54 e1655813623217

    Chemical peel & topical skin care to treat acne prone skin

    Ask us more about this treatmant

      Before

      After

      Acne Treatment Cutis Dermatology Brisbane 61

      Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation can be treated with lasers, topicals or chemical peels

      Ask us more about this treatmant

        Our Selection of Chemical Peels

        AHA Peels
        Best for: Mild pigment, sun damage
        Down time: 0 days
        Comments: Best maintenance peel
        VIT A Peels
        Best for: Mature skin
        Down time: 2-3 days
        Comments: Reduces sun damage
        Cosmelan Peels
        Best for: Superficial pigment
        Down time: 5+ days
        Comments: Use with caution
        TCA Peels
        Best for: Deep wrinkles
        Down time: 7+ days
        Comments: Seriously good peel
        BHA Peels
        Best for: Acne-prone skin
        Down time: 0-1 day
        Comments: Exfoliates & brightens
        Jessner Peel
        Best for: Combination skin
        Down time: 1-3 days
        Comments: Best combined with TCA
        Our experts at Cutis Dermatology will find an effective solution for your skin. Benefits of chemical peels.
        Need to get rid of acne in a hurry?
        • Smoother, healthier, & clearer skin
        • Removes blackheads & congestion
        • Treats acne scars
        • Improved clarity & luminosity
        • Removes brown spots, melasma & pigmentation
        • Treats wrinkles of all depths from fine to deep
        • Improves dull skin
        • Reduced pore size

        Did you know that chemical peels are one of the fastest ways to get rid of acne & blackheads? The two main classes of anti-acne peels include salicylic acid & retinoic acid. Peels can be incorporated into your at home skin care routine for better & faster results. Be guided by your skin care expert as to the best type & concentration.

        Acne scars? Peels are an awesome way to remove deep scars
        Depigmentation Peels; Cosmelan & Dermamelan

        Deep acne scars can be safely & effectively erased with a procedure called TCA CROSS. Our dermatologists have revolutionized delivery of this peel using modified techniques called the drip & paint methods.

        Peels provide precise delivery of peeling agents directly into the scar, minimizing damage to surrounding tissue, whilst optimizing outcomes. This procedure can be used in all skin types.

        Cosmelan & the more powerful Dermamelan peels are the fastest way to treat pigmentation due to sun, age, & melasma. This comprehensive kit starts off with one in office peel, followed by skin care products to use at home.

        Peels are a great way to improve your skin’s quality & luminosity. At Cutis Dermatology we have over a dozen formulations & concentrations. We employ both clinical grade peels & specialist grade agents. Our dermatologists have over 20 years of experience in superficial, medium & ultra-deep chemical peels.

        FAQs

        Why Cutis Dermatology for your chemical peels?

        Cutis Dermatology has the biggest selection of chemical peels in Brisbane, our specialists have had over 20 years of clinical experience in the use of all types of peels- from superficial to deep.

        We not only perform peels, but also instruct the industry & contribute to further research & development with many peer reviewed publications in leading scientific journals on the use of deep peeling agents.

        Need to get rid of acne in a hurry?

        Did you know that chemical peels are one of the fastest ways to get rid of acne & blackheads? The two main classes of anti-acne peels include salicylic acid & Jessner peels. Peels can be incorporated into your at home skin care routine for better & faster results. Be guided by your skin care expert as to the best type & concentration.

        Salicylic acid peels:

        • Powerful exfoliant
        • Treats blackheads & congestion
        • Anti-inflammatory, reducing redness
        • Concentrations tailored for each patient
        • Cost $120

        Are you happy with your skin? Maintain it with a Vit A Peel.

        Vita Peels are supercharged retinol peels, at over 100 times the power of your normal skin care. This peel infuses the most powerful collagen stimulation molecule – retinoids, directly into pores & the deeper layers of skin.

        • Great for maintaining skin quality & texture
        • Awesome for acne prone skin & enlarged pores
        • Downtime can be tailored. From 2 to 4 days
        • Suitable for all skin types
        • Cost $120

        Into organic skin care? Glycolic & lactic peels are naturally powerul.

        Glycolic acid is derived from sugar cane, whilst lactic acid is a natural product of milk. These peels are called lunchtime peels. They take less than 20 minutes to perform with zero downtime. Safe in all skin types.

        Glycolic & lactic acid peels:

        • Treats pigmentation, fine lines & wrinkles
        • Great for sun damage including sunspots
        • Super-fast recovery with no downtime
        • Concentrations tailored for each patient
        • Safe in pregnancy
        • Cost $120

        Peels for acne scars?

        Deep acne scars can be safely & effectively erased with a procedure called TCA CROSS. Our dermatologists have revolutionized delivery of this peel using modified techniques called the drip & paint methods.

        Peels provide precise delivery of peeling agents directly into the scar, minimising damage to surrounding tissue, whilst optimising outcomes. This procedure can be used in all skin types.

        TCA CROSS:

        • Best for deep ice pick, deep pores & boxcar acne scars
        • Safe & effective in all skin types
        • Fast recovery
        • Cost $390

        How are chemical peels classified?

        Peels are classified according to the level of action in the skin. The deeper the peel, the longer the recovery time. Examples include-

        • Very superficial: Retinoic & trifarotene peels
        • Superficial: Glycolic, lactic, mandelic, enzyme peels, Jessner
        • Medium to deep: TCA, Jessner TCA
        • Deep: TCA 70-100% supersaturated, phenol 88%, croton oil phenol

        Can peels remove pigment?

        Chemical peels acids at stronger concentrations, can markedly reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation by removing the epidermis. Deeper versions will penetrate the middle dermal layer of your skin to produce more dramatic results. As a guide-

        • Superficial peels: AHA, Retinoic acid. 3-5 sessions.
        • Medium to deep peels: TCA, Jessner TCA, Phenol peels 1 session.
        • Dermamelan & Cosmelan peels, 1 session.

        What are Cosmelan & Dermamelan Chemical Peels?

        Cosmelan & the more powerful Dermamelan peels block the enzyme responsible for pigment production.

        They also stimulate cell renewal & actively combats the accumulation of melanin in the upper layers of skin. The result is removal of existing unwanted pigmentation, resulting in a brighter and more even skin tone.

        Dermamelan works similarly to Cosmelan but with a stronger corrective & regulating action as it contains higher amounts of the active ingredients. This results in better clearance, but a longer recovery time.

        At Cutis Dermatology, we are very careful in how we apply these peels as we want the best clinical outcomes.

        What chemical peels give the best results for treating skin laxity?

        Deep peels including phenol & modified Jessner TCA. These peels are conducted under partial sedation in an operating theatre by our senior dermatologists. Downtime approaches 10-14 days in some cases. 

         

        For extreme sun damage & laxity, we often combine deep CO2 with peels. One session is required, downtime is epic, so are the results. It takes 4-6 months for optimal results as this procedure stimulates your own collagen.

        What is the best chemical peel for acne & congested skin?

        BHA peels or beta hydroxy acid peels are best for acne. The only member of this family is called a salicylic acid peel. This skin care acid penetrates the oil gland easier compared to alpha hydroxy acids. BHA is also anti-inflammatory. 

        Salicylic acid peels can markedly improve congestion, blackheads, acne lesions & reduce oil production. Downtime can be tailored from one day to four days. BHA peels are safe in all skin types, including ethnic skin. 

        Can peels remove acne scars?

        Chemical peels are an awesome way to remove deep ice pick, boxcar & linear scars. Peels including ultra-high strength TCA & phenolic acid can reduce scars by removing the top layers of skin, thus regenerating the damaged skin.  

        These special peels are termed TCA or phenol CROSS, drip or paint. Our dermatologists & senior nurses are experts in this procedure, having presented & published on this topic in many scientific journals.

        Can chemical peels remove wrinkles?

        Peels are one of the best ways of treat all forms of wrinkles from mild wrinkles & fine lines, through to deep wrinkles in patients over the age of 55. The type of peel will depend on your skin type, wrinkle depth, goals, downtime & budget. 

        • Fine lines & wrinkles: AHA step up glycolic peels & retinoic acid peels
        • Medium depth wrinkles: TCA medium depth peels (via dermatologist) 
        • Deep wrinkles & photoaging: Jessner TCA, Phenol Peels (via dermatologist) 

        Can chemical peels treat sun damage?

        Peels are an option for sun damage (hint: lasers are much better). For actinic keratosis & sunspots, glycolic acid peels give good results. This starts off with a 20% peel & escalates to 70% glycolic over 10 weeks. 

        Jessner TCA is a medium depth chemical peel. It’s a one-off treatment with a downtime of over one week. It’s a heavy-duty peel conducted under partial sedation by our specialist dermatologists. The results are amazing, but the recovery time is long. 

        Retinoic acid peels are great at maintaining your skin’s health. They are a great anti-aging peel that can reduce sun damage & sunspots. 

        Can chemical peels treat stretch marks?

        The two of the best chemical peels for stretch marks are a TCA skin peel or a Jessner TCA peel. Either of these peels will work to fade and diminish stretch marks. However, it’s important to note that stretch marks are deemed as higher risk treatments. They are performed by our senior dermatologist. 

        Fractional & vascular lasers are far safer & in most cases more effective than chemical peels for the treatment of stretch marks. 

        Can chemical peels treat rosacea?

        If you have done your Google searches you would have come across a few peels for rosacea & sensitive skin. These peels include mandelic acid, as well as enzymatic peels. 

        Mandelic acid is a large molecular weight alpha hydroxy acid, in contrast to glycolic acid at half the molecular weight of mandelic. A large molecule limits skin penetration, & hence why some clinics advocate this acid for rosacea patients. Enzyme peels have anti-inflammatory effects. 

        Dermatologists advocate lasers over peels for patients with rosacea & sensitive skin as lasers are more predictable in their outcomes.

        How long does a chemical peel treatment take?

        A clinical peel treatment depends on the type of agent we use. We first cleanse the area & remove any excess oil. This increased the efficacy of the peeling agent.  Your clinician will then apply the correct peel to meet your skin’s requirements & leave the peel on the skin for the appropriate amount of time. 

        • Glycolic, lactic, mandelic, salicylic acid peels- 20 to 30 minutes
        • Retinoic, tazarotene, trifarotene peels- 10 minutes 
        • TCA & Jessner TCA- 40 minutes 
        • TCA or Phenol CROSS/Drip/Paint- 30 minutes

        What is the pain level of a chemical peel?

        For AHA peels including lactic & glycolic acid, your clinician will talk to you throughout the treatment, & ask you to give verbal feedback to manage your comfort levels. The peel is terminated when you feel discomfort. 

        For medium to deep chemical peels, you will have numbing cream prior & conscious sedation in an operating room. Pain is minimal with the level of analgesia. 

        What are the potential risks of chemical peel treatment?

        The deeper the peel the more risk for complications. Superficial peels are safe and effective treatments with very little downtime & risks. Risks can be avoided by strictly following pre &  post peel instructions. Risks include-

        • Infection- both bacterial & cold sores
        • Persistent redness- especially if you have sensitive skin/rosacea
        • Unexpected darkening- especially if you have dark skin/ethnic skin

         

        How should I care for my skin after a chemical peel?

        Your clinician will go through your aftercare & provide you with appropriate skin care pertaining to the type of peel. Most superficial peels have no downtime, whilst medium to deep peels have over a week of recovery. In general- 

        • Avoid sun exposure for 2-4 weeks post treatment. You (must wear SPF 50+ sunscreen at all times)
        • Avoid swimming activities, exercise for 1-9 days depending on the peel
        • Avoid hair dye for 3–9-day post peels
        • Do not have any other skin treatments for 2-8 weeks after chemical peels
        • No do pick, scratch or exfoliate the skin if it is flaking. 
        • Avoid at home products that contain vitamin A, glycolic, salicylic & lactic acid for 5-28 days after chemical peels
        • Only use approved products at home on the skin as recommended by our clinicians

        What patients are not suitable for a clinical peel treatment?

        • Pregnancy, however glycolic & lactic acid peels are safe as these are ‘organic’
        • Active cold sores. If you have a history, antivirals are needed
        • Dark skin types are a relative contraindication, lasers are far more effective & safer
        • People that have had recent sun exposure & tanning
        • Patients with sensitive skin such as rosacea; lasers are far safer & better
        • People on certain medications

        Are chemical peels covered under Medicare?

        In most cases, no. There is however a rebate for medium to deep chemical peels for the treatment of recalcitrant cases of severe melasma. This treatment is performed by a dermatologist in an operating theatre. It is deemed as a last-resort treatment for deep dermal melasma that is unresponsive to other forms of therapy. It is classed as a high-risk procedure as rebound pigment is not uncommon.

        Ask us more about this treatment