What You (and your Clients) Should Know about a Phenol Peel: Risks and Expected Outcomes

Many of your clients probably use chemical peels to improve the texture of their facial skin. Most use light AHA or alpha hydroxyl acid peels which have a very low recovery time and are made from naturally occurring ingredients like milk and citrus fruit. The phenol peel is the deepest type of chemical peel that can be performed. These peels should only be offered by a licensed and highly experienced aesthetician, usually in a medical spa setting under the supervision of a physician.

Phenol Peel Means Phenol and Croton Oil

A phenol peel is actually a carrier for another active component, croton oil. Phenol used alone produces only a light peel, and when people refer to a phenol peel they actually mean a phenol croton oil peel. The effects are long lasting, still noticeable up to 20 years after the procedure is performed for many patients. The improvements in the skin can be very dramatic, and one treatment usually produces the result desired.

Phenol Peels Are Effective and Can Have Permanent Effects

Phenol peels are used to smooth out coarse and deep wrinkles, remove precancerous growths on the skin, and to correct blotches and imperfections caused by aging or by excessive exposure to the sun. Phenol peels can permanently remove freckles on the face, can cause permanent skin lightening through a reduction of the ability to produce pigmentation, and in some cases they can pose a risk for those patients who have heart problems. Also phenol peels can take several months to heal with some patients and the patient may require increased sun protection for years, or for life.

Phenol Peels Can Be Painful

Patients should also be aware that phenol peels can be painful. Most practitioners utilize general anesthesia administered by either an anesthesiologist or a nurse anesthetist. Sometimes the procedure is done using very heavy sedation, intramuscular or intravenous, but that is a less desirable method.

Good Candidates For A Phenol Peel

Proper candidates for a deep phenol peel should be those who are psychologically stable, are in good physical health, don’t smoke, understand the procedure, want to look young and more refreshed, and have realistic expectations. They should be free of skin infections including most acne, are informed about the effects of the chemical used, and not taking Accutane. They also should understand the limitations of the healing process and the time involved as well as the need to avoid sun exposure.