Chemical peels cause intentional damage to the epidermis and/or dermis with the goal of stimulating new tissue. Chemical peels improve skin texture and firmness, decreasing fine lines and wrinkles. Peels also even out skin tone, improve acne-prone skin and reduce pore size appearance.

Chemical peels are classified as superficial, medium or deep, depending on the depth of penetration of the ingredients used. Superficial peels exfoliate to various levels of the epidermis. Medium-depth peels treat through the papillary dermis and deep peels to the mid-reticular dermis. The strength of a chemical peel is determined by the type of ingredients used, their concentrations and the pH of the formulation.