Not all chemical peels are the same.

Chemical peels run a range of different types of products that can be used, and there’s a big difference in how deeply the chemical that’s being applied affects the skin,

There are three types of chemical peels when people refer to chemical peels -Light superficial medium and deep.
 
Light peels (sometimes referred to as “lunchtime peels”). These are the mildest of the bunch, as they require little downtime. You may experience some redness for 20 minutes to half an hour afterward, and you may experience some dryness or flaking over the course of a few days, but otherwise, you can get back to business as usual. Typical acids used in superficial peels include glycolic, salicylic, kojic acid and malic acid, Superficial peels are good for treating fine lines and wrinkles, large pores and dark spots, and to help tighten the skin.
Recommended
If you have a big event, doing a light chemical peel a few days before is spectacular.
Recovery None


Medium-depth peels generally use trichloroacetic acid at concentrations of 35 percent or less, these types of peels usually use a pure form of the acid that isn’t neutralized, and they are typically available only for Medical Aestheticians and Doctors. Medium-depth peels can help treat skin that has a significant Color or texture correction need.
Recommended Photodamage, sun spots, mild to moderate acne scars, crepey skin under the eyes or dark circles.
Recovery The downside is the recovery period, which runs anywhere from five to seven days.


Deep peels  targets more serious skin issues such as severe acne scars, excessive sun damage or looseness of the skin, also uses trichloroacetic acid, though at concentrations starting at 50 percent to 70 percent, or phenol acid, deep-depth peels may not be suitable for those with darker skin tones, as they could result in scarring or hypopigmentation. 
Recovery
Typical downtime is about seven to 10 days, but could even last more than two weeks.
These peels should be preformed by a doctor only.

 
For those who regularly get peels, the strength of each peel can be increased each time. As a result, the person’s tolerance increases, and over time, patients are able to get stronger peels with decreased downtime.
 

How is the peel done?
Before the actual peel, your doctor or Medical Aesthetician will clean the skin to remove any makeup, sunscreen and oil if there is oil on your skin, it “acts as a barrier and prevents the acid from getting in deeply.
An ointment is applied to the skin around areas like the eyes, nose and mouth, where you don’t want the peel to pool. And the peel solution is applied to the skin.
The length of time the acid stays on the face depends on the strength and type of peel. If it’s mild, it will neutralize itself in a period of time, and then the patient/Client is able to wash it off. If the peel is stronger, it requires a neutralizing agent to stop the acid from working.
During the peel process, the chemicals cause a reaction with the skin and dissolve the outer layers of dead skin to help even the skin tone and texture and promote the building of collagen.
The treatment causes a small safe injury to the skin, which allows it to not only build new collagen, but to “regenerate itself and revile fresh new glowing skin.
At home skin chemical peels are effective, but the results are minimal.
As you may expect, the strength of a peel you can buy over the counter is going to be much lower than what’s administered by your Doctor or Medical Aesthetician. The effect of an at-home peel is similar to using a physical exfoliant or facial scrub. Still there is a benefit to using them.
When we get over the age of 40 and our skin starts to age more and lose a lot more collagen, elastin and oil, most people, unless you have very significantly oily skin, should change from a physical scrub to a chemical scrub because it’s more delicate on your skin .There’s a lot less pulling and irritating of the skin.
If you’re interested in having a chemical peel, or perhaps wondering whether a peel is even right for you.  Consult a Doctor or Medical Aesthetician who can advise you with their expertise.
In simple terms, chemical peels use acid (there are different types) to break down the top layer, or layers, of skin to help diminish the look of fine lines, wrinkles and uneven skin tone. 
Turns out chemical peels can actually deliver certain skin benefits—like reversing melasma and breakouts better than high-tech devices.
A spotless, lineless, flawless complexion is lying just beneath the surface of your skin—and doctors have found that a classic treatment is the fastest way there.
When glycolic peels got really popular in the '90s, they where far from painless and left skin raw," But acid formulas have been refined. Our goal now isn't so much to cause visible peeling as it is to infuse the skin with ingredients that diminish lines, build collagen, and improve tone.

Here are  more reasons to book a peel—and help your skin make a radical comeback.

 
Peels can make your skin—and skin-care products—work better. In minutes, acids lift away dead cells and trigger a lovely chain reaction: "As that topmost layer is shed, signals are sent to the living cells below to multiply and move up, to increase collagen production, to make more hyaluronic acid—to act younger,
 
They are low-risk, and  can be customized . There are chemical peels that are safe to use on every skin color without risk of hyper-pigmentation (usually a worry with darker complexions). "We now know that using low percentages of multiple acids gives a better outcome with less irritation than a single acid at a higher strength.
 
Nothing controls melasma better. There isn't a permanent cure for the recurring sun-triggered dark patches brought on by hormonal surges (like those caused by pregnancy and birth control ), but chemical peels (paired with at-home bleaching creams, high-SPF sunscreen, and strict sun avoidance) offer the best results.