Does Chemical Peel Remove Scars?

Yes,‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ they are capable of greatly changing the look of some types of scars, but they don't make the scars disappear entirely.

By far, the most popular method to a chemical peel involves application of a specialized acid solution onto the skin, which causes a controlled injury. Due to this destruction the cells in the outer, most damaged layers of skin die off and new ones are grown from the underlying layers which are not damaged; the new cells also contain more collagen which is being stimulated.

Collagen is the main component of the skin that keeps it firm; by growing more of it in the skin the hollow parts that are the nature of scars get "filled in" and become smoother.

How Chemical Peels Tackle Different Scar Types

Chemical peels are very potent but the condition of success depends on the kind of scar you have. They usually are a good choice only for those scars left after acne that have affected skin color and texture.

Which Peels are Best for Scar Reduction?

When talking about real texture-changing scars (atrophic scars), the only way to solve the problem is by using a peel that is strong enough to reach the middle skin layers (dermis) to get the collagen production to maximum level.

Medium Peels (TCA - Trichloroacetic Acid):

TCA peels are a perfect solution for moderate acne scarring. TCA penetrates longer than light peels and thus light peeling is observed for few days and over the time the collagen is restructured significantly. Deep Peels (Phenol): These are very limited and used only when the situation of the skin is tragic. With most substantial results, they also come with a very long recovery period and have to be done in a strict medical environment only.

The Realistic Takeaway

You can achieve a very smooth skin texture, lighten the areas where the shadows of the superficial scars fall, and very much reduce the look of the discolorations by a course of professional medium chemical peel treatments. However, these treatments should be seen as a 'magic trick' which are not capable of removing the scars out of sight. In case of very deep or severely damaged scarring of the skin caused by ice pick scars, your dermatologist will most probably advise a combination approach including microneedling or laser therapy along with peels for the best effect.

Quick FAQ

How many sessions are needed to treat scars? 

Generally, 3 to 6 medium peels spaced several weeks apart are needed to produce visible scar improvement.

Will it create new scars?

 If a chemical peel is done correctly by a trained professional, followed with the proper aftercare (especially sun protection) and in a controlled manner, new scarring should not ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌occur.