A medical peel is a controlled chemical exfoliation. At IN Eternity Clinic, Dr Sin Yong chooses the acid and depth for your concern and your skin type, with pigment safety in Asian skin as the first rule.
WhatsApp to Enquire →Key facts ↓A medical chemical peel applies a measured acid to the skin to loosen and shed its outer layers. Superficial peels such as salicylic, glycolic or mandelic acid suit acne, congestion and dullness with little visible peeling. Stronger peels reach deeper but carry more pigment risk in Asian skin, so the acid is chosen for your skin type.
Peel depth is set by the acid, its strength, how long it stays on, how many layers are applied, and how the skin has been prepared. Superficial peels remove part or all of the outer epidermis and give light flaking or none at all. They are repeated as a series. Medium-depth peels reach the upper dermis, cause visible peeling for about a week, and are used selectively.
Deeper is not automatically stronger in a useful sense. In darker skin types the risk of pigment change rises with depth, so most plans at IN Eternity Clinic use a series of superficial peels and keep medium-depth work for specific, assessed indications. Focal high-strength TCA for ice-pick scars (TCA CROSS) is a different procedure covered under acne scar treatment.
| Acid | Suits | Visible peeling |
|---|---|---|
| Salicylic | Oily, congested, acne-prone skin | Light flaking |
| Glycolic | Dullness, fine texture, mild pigment | Little to light |
| Mandelic / lactic | Sensitive skin, first peels | Usually minimal |
| Low-strength TCA | Selected texture and pigment needs | Peeling for several days |
Salicylic acid is oil-soluble, so it reaches into blocked pores and calms inflammation, which is why it suits acne and is well studied in darker skin. Glycolic acid has a small molecule that penetrates evenly. Larger-molecule acids such as mandelic penetrate more slowly and gently. A salicylic and glycolic acid step is also built into Hydrafacial for people who want exfoliation without peeling.
“Visible peeling is not the measure of a good peel. In Asian skin, the measure is that no new pigment appears afterwards.”
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, brown marks after irritation, is the complication that matters most in Singapore. Preparation reduces it: daily sunscreen for at least two weeks beforehand, pausing retinoids and exfoliants for several days before a peel, and sometimes a pigment-calming cream as a primer. A first peel may be done on a lower strength or a test area.
Melasma needs particular care because irritation can darken it; peels may play a supporting role but are rarely the main treatment (see melasma treatment and laser toning vs chemical peel).
Most superficial peels cause tingling, warmth or stinging for one to three minutes, which a cool fan eases. Salicylic acid can briefly feel hot and then numbs the skin slightly. Medium-depth peels sting more intensely for a few minutes. Numbing cream is not usually used, because it can alter how the acid penetrates; instead the time and layers are controlled and the peel is neutralised or removed on schedule.
Day 0. Cleanse, degrease, timed acid application, then neutralise or remove. The skin may look pink or slightly frosted in spots. Sunscreen is applied before you leave.
Days 1–3. Tightness and mild redness after superficial peels; light flaking may begin on day two or three. After medium peels, skin darkens and feels tight before peeling.
Week 1. Superficial flaking settles within days. Medium-depth peeling is usually complete by about day seven. Do not pull flakes.
Weeks 2–4. Fresh skin is more sun-sensitive; strict sunscreen continues. The next superficial peel is usually two to four weeks later.
Review. Change in congestion, tone and texture is judged after a series rather than after one peel.
Often not, or only lightly, after superficial peels; some people see fine flaking for a day or two. Medium-depth peels cause clear peeling for about a week, with tightness and darkening first. You will be told what to expect for your specific peel so you can plan work, travel and social commitments around it.
Superficial peels are usually repeated every two to four weeks as a series of several sessions, then less often for maintenance. Medium-depth peels are spaced months apart because the skin needs longer to recover. The exact interval depends on how your skin responds and is adjusted after each session.
Superficial peels help acne marks, congestion and fine texture but do not lift true depressed scars. Ice-pick scars may respond to focal TCA CROSS, while rolling and boxcar scars usually need subcision, RF microneedling or CO2 laser, often in combination. Dr Sin Yong identifies the scar types before recommending any of these.
Sometimes, with caution. Irritation can worsen melasma, so gentle acids, careful skin preparation and strict sun protection are essential. Peels are usually one supporting part of a wider melasma plan that may include topical treatment, oral medicines and gentle laser, rather than the main treatment on their own.
Generally peels are deferred during isotretinoin and for a period afterwards, because the skin is more fragile, slower to heal and more prone to irritation. Dr Sin Yong will advise on timing based on your dose, how long you have been taking it and when the course ended, and will suggest gentler options in the meantime.
It depends on the acid used, the area treated, the depth of the peel and how many sessions the plan contains. A series of superficial peels is planned differently from a single medium-depth peel. IN Eternity Clinic explains the recommended series and its cost at consultation, before any peel is done.
IN Eternity Clinic, 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza, Singapore 228210. By appointment with Medical Director Dr Sin Yong. Monday to Saturday, 11am to 8pm. WhatsApp or call +65 8815 3008.
These sources describe mechanisms and general evidence. They are not a promise of any individual result; suitability is decided at an in-person assessment.