Treatments · Treatment guide · Skin treatments

Chemical peels in your clinic: records, protocol and aftercare

How a clinic runs chemical peels: the treatment record, screening, choosing acid and depth by skin type, how courses are spaced, and the aftercare sheet clients need afterwards.

Superficial: 0–5 days downtime, 4–6 sessions, 2–4 weeks apart
Medium (TCA 35%, Jessner's): 7–14 days downtime, 1–2 sessions, 6–12 weeks apart
Deep (phenol): Physician only; 2–3+ weeks recovery
Safe across all Fitzpatrick types: Mandelic and salicylic acid

What to record

Peels are progressed from what happened last time, so the record has to be precise: the product, the acid and its percentage, how the skin was prepped, the number of layers, the contact time, whether and how it was neutralised, and the endpoint you reached, whether even erythema or a stated level of frosting.

Put the screening on the same record: Fitzpatrick type, the date of the last retinoid, isotretinoin in the past year, cold sore history, recent sun exposure, and any patch test result. Those are the answers most likely to change what you do on the day.

Chemical peel treatment record →

Chemical peel protocol: acid, strength and depth

Choosing a peel starts with the client's Fitzpatrick type, because deeper peels and certain acids carry a higher risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in darker skin. The figures below are the ones our chemical peel calculator uses. Follow your product's instructions and your medical director's protocol.

Superficial peels (glycolic 30–50%, salicylic 20–30%, lactic 10–30%, mandelic 22–50%, TCA 10–25%) act on the epidermis.
Medium peels (TCA 35%, Jessner's solution) reach the papillary dermis and stimulate collagen remodelling. They are restricted to Fitzpatrick I–III in the calculator.
Deep peels (phenol) reach the mid-reticular dermis and are physician-only, restricted to Fitzpatrick I–II because of permanent hypopigmentation risk.
Fitzpatrick V–VI: mandelic, salicylic, or lactic acid only.
AHAs (glycolic, lactic, mandelic) must be neutralised; salicylic acid is self-neutralising. Record which you used.

Chemical peel calculator →

Course of treatment

Course length and spacing follow depth. The visible peeling timeline follows it too, which is what clients most want to know in advance.

Superficial AHA or BHA: 0–3 days, with possible mild flaking; a course of 4–6 sessions 2–4 weeks apart.
TCA 10–25%: 3–5 days of visible peeling.
Medium-depth TCA 35%: 7–14 days; 1–2 sessions 6–12 weeks apart.
Deep phenol: 14–21+ days of recovery, a single session with permanent effect.

Aftercare you send

A day-by-day peeling timeline is what clients search for, and it is what stops them picking. The aftercare sheet should say what to expect and when, what to use (gentle cleanser, moisturiser, SPF), what to avoid (picking, sun, exfoliants, retinoids until you clear them), and what is not normal. Because timelines differ by peel depth, the sheet leaves a line for the peel used and the restart dates.

Chemical peel aftercare instructions →

Running this in Zdrovia

In Zdrovia, peel type, depth, and downtime sit on the client's chart, so the next appointment starts from what you actually did. Attach the aftercare sheet to the peel service and clients receive it after their visit through their portal or by message.

See how Zdrovia is set up for aestheticians and med spas.

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Frequently asked questions

How do you choose a peel for a client's Fitzpatrick type?

Fitzpatrick I–II can use any peel. III–IV should avoid phenol and need hydroquinone pre-treatment before TCA, per our calculator. V–VI should use mandelic, salicylic, or lactic acid, which have the slowest penetration and the lowest hyperpigmentation risk.

How long does peeling last after a chemical peel?

Superficial AHA or BHA peels flake for 0–3 days, TCA 10–25% peels visibly for 3–5 days, medium-depth TCA 35% for 7–14 days, and deep phenol peels take 14–21+ days to recover.

How many chemical peel sessions make a course?

Superficial peels: 4–6 sessions 2–4 weeks apart. Medium-depth TCA: 1–2 sessions 6–12 weeks apart. Deep phenol: one session.

What should peel aftercare cover?

What is normal and for how long, not picking or peeling the skin, gentle products and daily SPF, sun avoidance, when to restart retinoids and exfoliants, and signs that mean call the clinic.

This guide summarises published figures and common documentation practice for clinics. It is not clinical or legal advice. Dosing, depth, and device settings are decisions for the treating practitioner, the manufacturer's instructions, and your medical director's protocol, and scope of practice varies by province and profession. Confirm anything you rely on with your regulatory college.