Chemical peels use controlled acid injury to exfoliate and remodel the skin at depths ranging from the stratum corneum to the mid-reticular dermis. Choosing the wrong acid or depth for your Fitzpatrick skin type can cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, prolonged downtime, or scarring.
This calculator cross-references eight clinical peel protocols with your skin type and concerns to recommend the safest, most effective option, including the concentration range, number of sessions, expected downtime, and collagen remodelling timeline.
Chemical Peel Selector
Peel Depth & Acid Selector
Type 2 — Fair, burns easily
Full peel reference (all types)
| Acid | Depth | Conc. | Fitz max | Downtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glycolic Acid | Superficial | 30–50% | I–VI | 0–3 days |
| Salicylic Acid | Superficial | 20–30% | I–VI | 1–3 days |
| Lactic Acid | Superficial | 10–30% | I–VI | 0–2 days |
| Mandelic Acid | Superficial | 22–50% | I–VI | 1–3 days |
| TCA | Superficial–Intraepidermal | 10–25% | I–IV | 3–5 days |
| TCA 35% (Medium) | Medium | 30–40% | I–III | 7–14 days |
| Jessner's Solution | Superficial–Medium | Lactic 14% / Sal 14% / Res 14% | I–IV | 3–7 days |
| Phenol / Baker-Gordon | Deep | 50–88% phenol | I–II | 14–21+ days |
Best match for your profile
Recommended peel
TCA
10–25% · TCA superficial
Penetration depth
Superficial–Intraepidermal
Epidermis
Downtime
3–5 days
Protocol
3–4 sessions, every 4–6 wks
Addresses your concerns
✓ Stimulates collagen remodelling
Results timeline
How the chemical peel calculator works
Each peel in our database is annotated with its acid chemistry (AHA, BHA, TCA, phenol, or combination), typical concentration range, histological penetration depth, Fitzpatrick safety ceiling, and clinical protocol. When you select your Fitzpatrick type and skin concerns, the calculator filters out any peel that is unsafe for your skin type, then scores the remaining options by how many of your concerns they address.
The Fitzpatrick scale (I–VI) matters because deeper peels and certain acids carry a higher risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in darker skin types. Phenol and medium-depth TCA peels are restricted to Fitzpatrick I–III, while mandelic and salicylic acid are safe across all six types.
Peel depth categories explained
Superficial peels (glycolic 30–50%, salicylic 20–30%, lactic 10–30%, mandelic 22–50%, TCA 10–25%) target the stratum corneum and epidermis. Downtime ranges from 0–5 days and 4–6 sessions are typical for visible results.
Medium peels (TCA 35%, Jessner's solution) reach the papillary dermis and stimulate collagen remodelling. Downtime is 7–14 days with 1–2 sessions. These require clinic administration and are not safe for Fitzpatrick IV+ without specialist supervision.
Deep peels (phenol / Baker-Gordon 50–88%) penetrate to the mid-reticular dermis. Downtime is 2–3+ weeks with permanent effect. Physician-only with cardiac monitoring. Permanent hypopigmentation risk restricts phenol to Fitzpatrick I–II.