A chemical peel can restore a more youthful appearance to wrinkled, unevenly pigmented, sun-damaged, or blotchy skin. However, a peel cannot reverse the aging process or completely remove deep scars. Wrinkled skin that is loose and sagging may also require a face-lift, laser resurfacing treatment, or a combination of procedures for best results.

All chemical peels involve applying a chemical solution to remove the outer layers of skin so that a smoother, more evenly pigmented, glowing layer of skin can appear. There are three basic categories of chemical peels: light, medium and deep. Each type works differently, and produces different results. Your doctor may choose from three types of chemical peel, or he/she may tailor the treatment to the needs of your skin. Generally, the stronger the chemical the deeper the peel and the more impressive the results. However, the deeper the peel, the more pain you're likely to experience and the longer the recovery time will be.

Recovery time: The recovery period for chemical peels is different according to the type of peel used. In general, the stronger the chemical, the deeper the peel, which often reveals the most dramatic results- but comes with the drawback of longer recovery time.