Even tone and smoother texture, one layer at a time.
A chemical peel applies a controlled acid solution to the skin to remove damaged outer layers and prompt fresh, more even skin to replace them. Peels range from superficial to medium depth, and at Naiva the depth and acid are chosen by a clinician for your skin type and goal.
The change is in tone more than lines: sun spots on the cheekbones, a darker patch on the upper lip or forehead that comes and goes with the season, marks from old breakouts that faded but did not leave. Year-round Miami sun and heat push skin toward blotchiness that vitamin C and retinoids slow but rarely reverse on their own.
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Where you want to be
A peel removes damaged outer layers in a controlled way so the skin rebuilds with more even pigment and smoother texture. Superficial peels (glycolic, lactic, mandelic or salicylic acid) treat dullness, mild pigment, congestion and texture with little visible peeling. Medium-depth peels (TCA or a Jessner combination) reach the upper dermis for established sun damage, deeper pigment and fine lines, with several days of peeling.
Skin type matters as much as the acid. Darker skin tones are more prone to post-inflammatory pigmentation and need gentler acids, preparation and a slower series. Most patients start with a superficial peel, sometimes after weeks of home preparation, and go deeper only if the skin tolerates it and the goal warrants it. We do not perform deep phenol peels.
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What to expect
Your provider cleanses and preps the skin, applies the peel in layers while watching how it takes, then neutralizes it at the right moment. You leave slightly flushed and tight, as after a day in the sun, and daily sun protection afterward is essential.
The visit
30–45 minutes. Cleanse, prep, layered application, then neutralize, soothe and protect.
First days
Light flaking to a week of peeling, by depth. Superficial peels may leave pinkness for a few hours and light flaking; medium peels darken and shed from day three to seven.
Results
More even tone within one to two weeks. Pigment keeps lightening and texture keeps refining over the following month.
Longevity
Months, with daily sun protection. Many patients repeat a lighter series each year in the cooler months.
Who it tends to suit
Uneven tone from sun exposure, sun spots or marks left behind by old breakouts
Mild to moderate melasma, managed with a careful acid choice and home preparation
Rough texture, dullness or fine surface lines, particularly on the cheeks and forehead
Congested, acne-prone skin that benefits from salicylic-based superficial peels
Patients willing to commit to sun protection and a short series rather than a single event
Not suitable during pregnancy, for those on isotretinoin within the past six months, with active cold sores or open wounds, or for anyone unable to avoid sun exposure for the following weeks
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Who performs it
Your skin type, pigmentation history, current skincare and recent treatments are reviewed before an acid and depth are recommended. Your provider may start you on home preparation, schedules the series and coordinates it with other treatments so the skin recovers from one thing at a time.
Superficial peels feel warm and tingly for a few minutes, and a fan keeps them comfortable; no numbing is needed. Medium-depth peels sting more sharply during application, which lasts only a few minutes and is followed by a cooling step.
How many sessions do I need?
Superficial peels are usually done as a series of three to six, spaced two to four weeks apart, because the results build. A medium-depth peel may be a single treatment repeated once or twice a year. Your provider maps the series based on how your skin responds to the first treatment.
How much does it cost?
Cost depends on the type and depth of the peel, whether it is a single treatment or a series, and any preparatory products your provider recommends. Pricing is set at your assessment.
Will my skin actually peel?
Not always, and visible peeling is not a measure of whether the treatment worked. Superficial peels often produce light flaking or none; medium peels shed over about a week. Your provider will tell you what to expect so you can plan around it.
Are chemical peels suitable for darker skin?
Yes, with the right choices. Darker skin tones are more prone to post-inflammatory pigmentation, so we favor gentler acids such as mandelic or lactic, prepare the skin for a few weeks and progress slowly. Problems arise with aggressive peels on unprepared skin, which is what a clinician-led assessment avoids.
How long do I need to stay out of the sun?
Strict sun avoidance and daily broad-spectrum sunscreen for at least two weeks after a superficial peel and four weeks after a medium peel. New skin pigments easily, which is why many patients schedule their series between November and March.
