The oldest known chemical peel dates back to 1560 B.C. when sour milk was applied to the face to reduce wrinkling, according to the Baylor College of Medicine. Today, a variety of acids are used for chemical peels, including glycolic, lactic and citric acid peels designed to improve skin's tone and reduce wrinkles. Chemicals are mixed in varying percentages, depending on the desired results. Because chemical peels essentially burn off a top layer of skin, they do have the risk of complications.
Changes in Pigment
When a chemical peel is applied to the skin, it is possible to damage or destroy melanocytes on the skin. Melanocytes are the materials responsible for giving skin its color, therefore damage to them can change the color of the skin after chemical peel applications. Hyperpigmentation can cause an area to appear darker or lighter than the skin surrounding it.
Scarring
While most common in patients who undergo medium or deep peels, it is possible for scarring to occur, according to DocShop.com. While patients should be asked several questions to assess the potential for scarring before undergoing a chemical peel, deeper peels sink down to the deeper layers of the skin and can cause the development of keloid scars. Keloid scars occur due to excessive proliferation of scar tissue. If this occurs, treatments, such as silicone gel sheeting or microdermabrasion, are available to reduce scarring. Those who most commonly develop keloids should consider receiving a mild to medium peel.
Skin Infection
Because chemical peels can cause skin to crust or peel, it is possible for skin to have open sores following a chemical peel. For this reason, skin infections sometimes occur following treatment. Examples of bacteria that can infect the skin after a chemical peel include E. coli, candida, staph and streptococcus, according to Baylor College of Medicine.
Cold Sores
Those prone to experiencing cold sores due to the herpes simplex virus may find themselves experiencing an outbreak of a cold sore--also known as a fever blister--following a chemical peel application, according to the University of Virginia Health System.
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