Chemical Peels — VI Peel

Aura Skin Spa San Francisco offers the VI Peel and general chemical peel treatments to resurface the skin, reduce pigmentation, and smooth fine lines. VI Peel contains trichloroacetic acid, salicylic acid, phenol, vitamin C, and tretinoin — suitable for all skin types including Fitzpatrick IV–VI. Sessions take approximately 30 minutes and skin peels over five to seven days following treatment. Available at the Jackson Square clinic under physician supervision.

Chemical peels at Aura Skin Spa San Francisco include the VI Peel as a cornerstone offering — a medium-depth chemical resurfacing system formulated to deliver consistent results across all Fitzpatrick skin types, including darker complexions that are often poor candidates for stronger resurfacing modalities such as phenol peels or ablative lasers. The VI Peel proprietary formulation combines five active agents: trichloroacetic acid (TCA) as the primary resurfacing agent that penetrates to the papillary dermis; salicylic acid (a beta-hydroxy acid) that loosens desquamating cells and has anti-inflammatory and comedolytic properties; phenol that enhances penetration and provides additional depth to the TCA component; vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that acts as an antioxidant and brightening agent; and tretinoin (a retinoid) that accelerates cellular turnover and enhances collagen remodelling in the weeks following the peel. The combination allows the VI Peel to address a wide range of skin concerns in a single treatment: hyperpigmentation and melasma, actinic damage, fine lines and surface wrinkles, acne-prone skin and post-acne marks, rough skin texture, and enlarged pores. The inclusion of salicylic acid makes it particularly effective for patients with active acne, as the comedolytic action clears congested pores while the other agents resurface and brighten. At the Jackson Square clinic, the peel is applied in approximately 30 minutes. The solution is left on the skin (not neutralised) and patients leave wearing the peel until they wash it off at home four to six hours later — or the following morning. Over the next five to seven days, the skin undergoes a visible peeling and renewal process, with the most significant shedding typically occurring on days three through five. Patients emerge from this process with noticeably brighter, smoother, and more even-toned skin. For optimal results, a series of three peels spaced four to six weeks apart is typically recommended. Patients managing active melasma or darker Fitzpatrick types receive specific pre- and post-peel skincare protocols to manage the post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation risk. The physician-supervised setting at Aura Skin Spa ensures that peel depth and formulation are matched to each patient's skin type and condition.