1. Skin prep
Two to four weeks of barrier-friendly home care before the first peel — sunscreen, gentle cleansing, possibly a low-strength retinoid. We don’t peel onto unprepared skin.
Service
Chemical peels
Last reviewed
The right peel, at the right strength, on the right week.
Chemical peels at SkinWise — glycolic, mandelic, salicylic, lactic and low-strength TCA — are picked by skin tone, concern and response, not a fixed protocol. A typical course is 4–6 sessions over 3–4 months for visible brightening, pigmentation control or active-acne support, paired with home care that holds the result between sessions.
Chemical peels are simple in theory: a controlled exfoliation that resurfaces skin and stimulates renewal. The clinical decision — which acid, which strength, which week of your treatment plan — is everything, especially on Indian skin.
Done well, peels brighten dull skin, soften acne marks, ease melasma and improve fine texture. Done at the wrong time or strength, they cause exactly the pigmentation they were meant to treat.
We use a small set of well-understood peels (glycolic, mandelic, salicylic, lactic, low-strength TCA) and pick conservatively. Most plans involve a course of 4–6 peels spaced 3–4 weeks apart.
Good for:
- Dull skin, uneven tone, mild fine lines
- Post-acne marks (PIH) on calm, non-active skin
- Mild melasma (gentle peels only)
- Comedonal acne and oily skin (salicylic)
- Pre-event skin prep — a light freshening peel 2 weeks before
- Body peels — back acne, dark inner thighs, underarms
Not the right time if:
- You have active inflammatory acne or an eczema flare — we calm the skin first
- You have used oral isotretinoin in the past 6 months
- You are pregnant — most peels are paused; lactic in select cases
How we approach peels
2. Test patch where useful
On sensitive skin, the first session is a small test patch to confirm tolerance before treating the full area.
3. Conservative start, slow escalation
Session 1 is always conservative. We escalate strength only after seeing how your skin responded to the previous session.
4. Strict aftercare
Daily sunscreen, no retinoids for 5 days, no scrubs or hot showers for 3 days. We send you home with a small post-peel kit.
What to expect
Session
20–30 minutes in clinic per session.
During
Mild tingling or warmth during application; calmed instantly with neutraliser and cool compress.
Day 1–3
Mild dryness or light shedding for medium peels (sometimes nothing visible for gentler peels).
End of a 4–6 session course
Visibly brighter, more even, more refined skin — sustained for several months with home care.
Frequently asked questions
Will I peel visibly afterwards?
For most light peels, no — just mild dryness. Medium peels (TCA) may produce 2–3 days of light flaking, which we plan around your week.
Can I do a peel on my wedding week?
Not the same week. A light freshening peel 2–3 weeks before is ideal, planned to your timeline.
Are peels safe on darker Indian skin?
Yes, when chosen at the right strength. We start gentle and escalate based on how your skin responds.
Will my skin be sensitive afterwards?
For 3–5 days, yes. No retinoids, scrubs or hot showers; strict sunscreen.
Can I combine peels with lasers?
Often, with careful spacing. We design the order so the skin isn’t doing too much in any one week.
Related reading and services
Conditions we treat with chemical peels
Chemical peels by neighbourhood
Area-specific notes on what we see and how we treat for patients from each part of the south-east Bengaluru corridor:
Ready to start with a consult?
Most plans at SkinWise begin with a focused 15-minute consultation. We map the concern, talk through what you’ve tried, and only then suggest what comes next — no oversell.