Types of chemical peels

Depth	Agents
Very superficial	Glycolic acid, 30 to 50% applied for one to two minutes
	Jessner (resorcinol, salicylic acid, lactic acid, ethanol) solution applied in one to three coats
	Low concentration resorcinol, 20 to 30% applied for 5 to 10 minutes
	TCA 10% applied in one coat
Superficial	Glycolic acid, 50 to 70%, applied for two to five minutes
	Pyruvic acid, 40 to 50% applied for three to five minutes
	Jessner solution applied in 4 to 10 coats
	Resorcinol, 40 to 50% applied for 30 to 60 minutes
	TCA, 10 to 30%
Medium	Glycolic acid 70% applied for 3 to 15 minutes
	Pyruvic acid 60% applied for three to five minutes
	TCA, 35 to 50%
	Augmented TCA (carbon dioxide and TCA 35%; Jessner solution and TCA 35%; glycolic acid 70% and TCA 35%)
Deep	Phenol 88%
Deep	Baker-Gordon phenol formula (88% phenol, distilled water, Septisol, croton oil)

TCA: trichloroacetic acid.

Source: Fabbrocini G, De Padova MP, Tosti A. Chemical peels: what's new and what isn't new but still works well. Facial Plast Surg 2009; 25:329.

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