USA news reports FDA warning on at home chemical peels
Background
As the weather gets colder, we are entering chemical peel season in the northeast USA! Chemical peels and cosmetic lasers are the most powerful tools to resurface and rejuvenate the facial skin. Skin damage accumulates over time due to sun exposure and natural aging. A chemical peel is a great way to reset the skin and turn back the clock. Chemical peels work by causing a controlled injury to a certain skin depth which stimulates the skin to regenerate and lay down more collagen and elastin. As a result peels can reduce facial wrinkles, help to even skin pigment/tone, improve skin texture, and reduce acne and clogged pores. However, not all chemical peels are created equal. Stronger chemical peels penetrate the skin more deeply, and generate more powerful wrinkle reduction, but have a higher risk of side effects such as skin pigment changes or scarring.
Why did the FDA file a warning on at-home chemical peels?
The FDA warned consumers that they had identified certain chemical peel products containing high potency acid and other potentially dangerous ingredients that are being marketed for at-home use without the direction of a qualified dermatologist or facial plastic surgeon. The full list of companies that were issued warning letters for offering potentially dangerous chemical peels can be found here, but includes retail giants such as Amazon and Walmart.
Are these products ever safe?
Yes!! When used correctly! Chemical peels are some of the most common treatments for wrinkle reduction and skin rejuvenation and can certainly be delivered safely when offered by a qualified medical professional. In fact, chemical peels are effective in destroying precancerous skin lesions and studies suggest chemical peels also prevent the development of skin cancers. Treatment with a chemical peel is a great choice for many patients, especially those with sun damaged skin. The key to a safe and effective chemical peel is a precise application with a tested medical grade product to allow the skin injury to occur at an exact depth. Then, the skin must be allowed time to regenerate and rebuild because this is where we see all the benefits. When patients come to our office with issues after at-home chemical peels, it is usually because the peel was either applied too deeply, not evenly, or sometimes multiple peels were applied too quickly. The time between chemical peels will vary based on the strength, but when Dr. Urban performs a series of medium depth peels in the office, he usually recommends patients wait 3 to 4 weeks between treatments – although each individual varies. Deeper peels have a longer downtime and a deep peel is usually only recommended once every few years, while lighter peels can be used for maintenance more frequently.
Who normally performs chemical peels?
The main reason for this warning by the FDA is that patients could potentially injure themselves by self-performing chemical peels with these products. Chemical peels performed by a well-trained dermatologist or facial plastic surgeon are not without any risks (of course), but are generally very safe. Dr. Urban recommends patients at least seek a consultation with an experienced doctor before turning to any at-home treatments and stay away from at-home use of any of the strong acids that have warnings from the FDA.
Are all chemical peels the same? How do I know which chemical peel to choose?
The type of chemical peel has a huge impact on both the results and the recovery and downtime. The table below gives examples of some of the most common peels sorted by depth.
Lighter (also called superficial) peels May only result in some redness or very light peeling of the top layers of the skin. These peels can be a good choice to treat pigment in the top layers, help with texture, and pores or acne.
Medium depth peels result in more skin tightening and wrinkle reduction in addition to the benefits of superficial peels. Medium depth peels tend to have a longer downtime, usually about 7-10 days of mild swelling, redness, and peeling. Medium depth peels can be used in a series and provide a very powerful combination of impressive results without prolonged downtime. See results and day-by-day healing for our patient who was treated with just one medium depth peel in the office. Note the improvement in skin quality, reduction and wrinkles, and improvement in skin pigment and pores with just one superficial to medium depth peel.
*This result was obtained through our customized peel technique which is designed for deeper penetration in targeted problem areas, which is then gently blended with the rest of the face.*
Deep peels are the most powerful collagen producers, and result in the most impressive skin rejuvenation and wrinkle reduction. Many patients will look more than 5-7 years younger after just one deep chemical peel performed by an expert. However, deep chemical peels have a longer recovery and almost always require some type of sedation or anesthesia. There is also a higher rate of complications, such as skin pigment changes or even scarring, if these are not carefully performed and monitored. Our patients who undergo a deep chemical peel are seen very frequently post-procedure for skin checks and provided detailed instructions for exactly how to make sure their skin heals with the best cosmetic outcome.
How much does a chemical peel cost?
The cost of a chemical peel varies widely depending on the strength. Stronger peels are often more expensive to purchase and administer and generally cost more. See our chemical peels page for our current price ranges.
Disclaimer: This blog does not constitute medical advice and no doctor-patient relationship is formed by reading it. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Additional facts or future developments may affect subjects contained within this blog post. Before acting or relying upon any information within this newsletter, seek the advice of a medical doctor.
Sources
- https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2024-08-01/fda-warns-of-danger-from-at-home-chemical-peels
- https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-warns-against-purchasing-or-using-chemical-peel-skin-products-without-professional-supervision
- Sidiropoulou P, Gregoriou S, Rigopoulos D, Kontochristopoulos G. Chemical Peels in Skin Cancer: A Review. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2020;13(2):53-57.
- Lee, K. C., Wambier, C. G., Soon, S. L., Sterling, J. B., Landau, M., Rullan, P., & Brody, H. J. (2019). Basic chemical peeling: Superficial and medium-depth peels. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 81(2), 313–324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2018.10.079