Medical grade chemical peels in Chatsworth.
A controlled removal of the outer skin so what grows back is more even. The strength is chosen for your skin and your concern, which is what makes it medical rather than retail.
- Appointment
- 30 to 45 minutes
- Downtime
- None to about a week, by depth
- Protocol
- Superficial peels usually run as a series
- When it shows
- Once peeling finishes
Depth is the whole decision.
A chemical peel applies an acid solution for a controlled period, loosening the bonds between skin cells so the outer layer sheds. What grows back is newer, more evenly pigmented and smoother. Superficial peels use agents such as glycolic, lactic, salicylic or mandelic acid and work within the epidermis. Medium depth peels reach the upper dermis and produce visible peeling over several days.
The distinction that matters is depth, and a stronger peel is not simply a better peel. Each step deeper buys a result at the cost of downtime and risk. A superficial peel improves dullness, congestion and mild uneven tone, asks almost nothing of your schedule, and needs repeating to accumulate. A medium peel does more for pigmentation in one sitting and has you visibly peeling for most of a week. Neither tightens loose skin and neither replaces volume. A peel resurfaces. It does not lift.
Skin type drives the choice as much as the concern does. Deeper skin tones carry a higher risk of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, where the skin answers injury by making more pigment, and that can outlast the original problem. There the safer route is a gentler agent applied more often, with priming beforehand, rather than one aggressive session.
Whether this is the right treatment for you.
Worth booking if
- Dull, congested or rough skin that needs a reset
- Uneven tone or sun induced pigmentation, with the right agent and depth
- Mild acne and clogged pores, where salicylic peels do well
- Early fine lines related to surface damage rather than muscle movement
- You will protect the skin from sun afterward, without exception
Probably not if
- Loose skin or deep folds, which a peel cannot address at any depth
- Active infection, open lesions, dermatitis or a current cold sore
- Recent isotretinoin use, which requires a waiting period
- A recent sunburn or an active tan
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding, which restricts which agents can be used
- You cannot be visibly peeling in the week ahead
What happens in the room.
Assessment and prep
Your skin type, pigmentation history and recent products are reviewed, because a retinoid you used last week changes how the same solution behaves. The skin is cleansed and degreased so the acid meets the surface evenly, and the eyes are protected. Some plans involve priming your skin at home for weeks before this appointment.
Application and timing
The solution goes on in layers with a brush or gauze while the clinician watches the skin and the clock. You feel warmth, stinging and tightness that builds then plateaus. A handheld fan helps more than people expect. The clinician watches for the specific change that signals the intended depth and stops there, not at a fixed time.
Neutralize and walk out
Depending on the agent the peel is neutralized or self terminates, then a bland barrier product and sunscreen go on. You look flushed. After a superficial peel you go back to your day. After a deeper one you will tighten, darken slightly and start flaking within a couple of days. You leave with written aftercare and instructions not to pull at anything.
Who performs this at Chatsworth.
Narine Chilyan
DNP, AGNP-C
Over a decade in healthcare, from ICU critical care to functional medicine. MSN from Chamberlain University, DNP from Charles R. Drew University. Created the Ten Top Tips for Transforming Health - a habit-based program for lasting weight loss and vitality. Her mission at KAYU: redefine beauty and wellness as one.
Read the full bioPatients on medical-grade chemical peels.
5.0 average from 29 Google reviews
I had an amazing experience at this medical spa! The atmosphere is absolutely beautiful, calm, clean, and instantly relaxing. I went in for their hydration therapy and skin rejuvenation treatments, and both exceeded my expectations.
Ali Al Masri
November 2025
I booked a facial here and cannot be more happy with my results. My skin looked so glowy and supple and continued to look better as the days went by! Every member of the staff was also so sweet and kind I could not recommend this place enough! So excited to go back
Tiffany Alaverdyan
February 2026
Medical-Grade Chemical Peels questions.
- Does it hurt?
- Heat and stinging that build over the first minute or two and then level off. A fan runs during application and makes a real difference. Deeper peels sting more. Tell the clinician if the burning escalates instead of plateauing.
- Will I actually peel, and for how long?
- It depends on depth. A superficial peel may give a few days of light flaking, and some people barely peel at all, which does not mean it failed. A medium peel usually starts flaking around day two or three and finishes over roughly a week.
- Which peel do I need?
- That is decided at the consult, not by name recognition. Agent and depth come from your skin type, pigmentation history, concern and how much downtime you can take. Two people with the same complaint and different skin tones routinely get different recommendations.
- Is it safe for darker skin?
- Yes, with the right approach. Deeper skin carries a higher risk of pigmentation afterward, so the sensible route is a gentler agent in a series rather than one aggressive session. If someone offers you the strongest peel on the menu without asking about your pigmentation history, that is the wrong clinic.
- What can go wrong?
- Most commonly the skin heals darker than it started, especially with sun exposure. Less often you get lighter patches, and rarely a burn, blistering or a scar. Blistering, severe pain or crusting means call us.
- How soon can I wear makeup or go back to work?
- After a superficial peel, usually the same or next day. After a medium peel you will be flushed and then flaking, so plan around it. Makeup over actively peeling skin looks worse than the peeling does.
- How many will I need?
- Superficial peels are typically a series a few weeks apart, because the effect accumulates. A medium peel does more in one sitting and is repeated far less often. The plan comes from what your skin needs, not from a package you have to finish.
- What do I need to stop beforehand?
- Retinoids and exfoliating acids for several days to a week, depending on the peel. No waxing, no recent sunburn, no fresh tan. Tell us about any recent laser, microneedling or peel, and about isotretinoin in the last several months.
- What does it cost?
- Priced by the peel and by series, since superficial peels usually run as a course. You are quoted at the consult once depth and agent are chosen. Financing is available through Cherry.
The right peel is the one chosen for your skin.
A short assessment settles depth, agent and how many sessions, and rules out the weeks you should not be peeling at all. If a peel is the wrong tool for what bothers you, the consult is where you find out.