All chemical peels cause irritation, stinging and redness. These symptoms usually disappear within a few days. With the TCA and Phenol peels a person is advised to avoid sun exposure in order to protect the new skin as it appears.
Most peels carry only slight risks; however the phenol peel has the greater risk factor to people with heart disease.
Peels can last six months to a year and this is determined by the type of acid used and the area treated. Treatment for acne scars will need additional treatments at a rate of every three months.