A question, I am often repeatedly asked is – ‘Can black skin have chemical peels?’
Whilst there have been a lot of myths and misconceptions over the years, the short answer is yes – darker skin tones can have chemical peels, but with caution.
In this article, I will take you through the ins and outs of chemical peeling, different types of peel agents, what skin conditions chemical peels are suitable for and the precautions that you need to follow to ensure a successful skin peel experience.
Simply put, it’s the application of an acid solution that sloughs off old, scaly, dull and poor performing skin cells to improve the appearance of the skin and hasten skin regeneration.
Used at its simplest a chemical peel will lift and brighten the tone of your skin. But you can have a chemical peel for any number of reasons – fading age spots, improved texture and smoothing rough skin, fading scarring, hyperpigmentation and imperfections, evening out and unifying your skin tone, tackling early fine lines and wrinkles, rejuvenating ageing skin and reducing outbreaks of spots and acne.
Peels are classified in four levels, starting with superficial peels which target the top layers of skin (epidermis), medium peels affect the dermis and deep peels penetrate right through the dermis.
For most skin concerns, a course of superficial peels is ideal. They have very little down time, the skin heals quickly and it is easier to control the outcome. Medium peels tend to be too aggressive for black skin, whereas deep peels are wholly unsuitable due to the risk of severe scarring.
With so many different types of chemical agents available, it’s important to know something about how they work and what they can be used for. Most peels will have an alpha-hydroxy (AHA) or beta hydroxyl (BHA) base, though sometimes peels agents are used singularly in a pure form or in combination with each other.
This is a gentle peel derived from soured milk and good for sensitive skin types. Lactic acid is also found naturally in the skin and is a natural humectant, so not only will it remove afore mentioned dullness but it will also help your skin draw and retain moisture, leaving it smooth and plumped out.
What is it good for? – Mild skin ageing, early onset wrinkles, mild hyperpigmentation, refining the skin texture, rosacea.
This has gentle surface action and is both anti bacterial and anti inflammatory. It is derived from bitter almonds, so nut allergy sufferers beware.
What is it good for? – Oily and congested skin, superficial to medium acne, superficial hyperpigmentation.
Great for oily and congested skin types. It is a mild anti-inflammatory peel that can deep cleanse pores to remove debris and built up oil. It also contributes to the effective shedding of old skin cells. If you’re allergic to aspirin, then beware of salicylic acid as they are from the same chemical family.
What is it good for? – Deep cleansing the skin prior to other peels, controlling oil production, reducing pore size.
One of the original chemical peeling solutions made from sugar cane. A highly efficient, high performance work horse for many aestheticians.
What is it good for? – Mild to severe ageing skin, loose skin, lines/wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, sun damage, acne and associated scarring.
Derived particularly from oranges and lemons. It creates a mild peeling effect but is often added to other peels as a gentle booster for its antioxidants, plumping and brightening effects.
What is it good for? – Light pigmentation, smoothing and reconditioning skin and brightening.
One of the primary concerns for black skin when having any skin treatments, including peels is the potential to develop Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation. That is, instead of clearing the hyperpigmentation the treatment does the opposite and creates more hyperpigmentation, dark marks and scarring.
Therefore, it is important to ensure your skin is properly prepped and primed in the weeks leading up to the peel. This could be in the form of a preparatory peel or using home-care products with similar ingredients to the peel.
It is also important to leave adequate time between treatments to allow skin to heal. Ten to fourteen days is ideal, though some peel treatments can require up to four weeks.
It is also important that a full medical history is disclosed including discussing your propensity to scar. If you’ve suffered from keloid scarring in the past, then peels are not advisable.
Are you applying sunscreen on a daily basis? If you want to have peels, then it is a must to wear sunscreen of at least SPF 30 everyday to prevent further damage to your skin and post treatment inflammation.
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This article was so helpful and gave me a much clearer understanding of chemical peels for darker skin tones. Before reading, I wasn’t sure if chemical peels were safe for black skin, but now I understand that with the right precautions and products, they can be very effective. I really appreciated how the article explained the different types of peels, like lactic acid and glycolic acid, and what skin concerns they can treat. I also learned how important it is to be cautious about hyperpigmentation and to make sure the skin is properly prepped before getting a peel. The advice about sunscreen and waiting between treatments really stood out to me. Overall, this article made me feel more confident about the process and the steps needed to ensure a successful experience. Great job!
Loved this article great informations and helped in gaining lot information
Thanks for sharing this great content, I will also share with my friends & family. it help us a lot once again thanks.
Nice Article for black skin ones, this will help them for getting out of them.
I wholeheartedly love the article as a newbie in the esthetics craft, I’ve been doing my research and diving into how to heal the appearance of skin as a melanated carbon being so I understand hyperpigmentation is a common issue, so, I was looking for to a great chemical peel to appease my audience? Especially a product chemically compounded to affect the result of melanated skin.
Just trying to see if these comments are from real ppl
Your comment made us smile – no actually, laugh!
Yes, they are from real people.
Regards,
The BBH Team
Thanks for the great content. I will also share with my friends & once again thanks.
Hi I would love your advice.
I'm currently struggling with hypopigmentation around my mouth nose and between my eyebrows. All because I used a Japanese product when I ran out of my daily cleanser. I used that product twice and am going on 2 years with no real improvement. The dermatologist just tells me to wait. Would a chemical peel be a good option for me?
Great information. Thank you.
Hello, I had acne and I touch all my face and now I have dark marks and hyperpigmentation. I live in Europe and there aren't dermatologists who know the treatment for me. Please help.
Hi where do you live in Europe ?