Chemical Peel

Chemical peel treatments at PURE Medical Spa in Chicago's Gold Coast, addressing uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation, acne, enlarged pores, and surface texture. PURE offers a range of peel formulations appropriate to different skin types and concerns, administered by clinically trained staff. Light-to-medium peels involve minimal downtime; deeper peels require 5–7 days recovery.

PURE Medical Spa offers chemical peels at its Gold Coast Chicago location as part of a comprehensive skin health menu that spans both device-based treatments (HydraFacial, Venus Viva, IPL) and topical resurfacing protocols. Chemical peels work by applying an acidic solution to the skin surface, disrupting the intercellular bonds that hold corneocytes together in the outermost layers of the epidermis, triggering controlled exfoliation and, at deeper depths, partial destruction of epidermal and upper dermal tissue to stimulate regeneration and collagen synthesis. The depth of peel effect is determined primarily by the active acid, its concentration, pH, application method, and the number of passes applied. Light peels (superficial) — such as alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) solutions (glycolic, lactic, mandelic acid) and low-concentration salicylic acid — target the stratum corneum and upper epidermis. These are appropriate for general brightening, mild texture improvement, acne congestion, and gradual pigment correction. Downtime is minimal — mild flaking over 2–5 days. Medium peels — such as TCA (trichloroacetic acid) in the 20–35% concentration range or Jessner's solution combinations — reach the full epidermis into the upper papillary dermis, offering more significant correction of solar damage, melasma, moderate acne scarring, and fine lines. Downtime is typically 5–7 days of active peeling and erythema. At PURE, peels are selected and applied by trained clinical staff under physician oversight, with formulation tailored to the client's Fitzpatrick skin type (darker skin types require more cautious acid selection to reduce post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation risk), skin concern, and tolerance. Pricing based on regional aggregator data is estimated at $100–$150 for standard peels; pricing confirmed at booking.