Chemical Peel Cost & How it Compares to Other Treatments

• Chemical peels range from $100 – $6,000, depending on the treatment.
• Other treatments are available at a range of price points for comparable results.
• Alternative procedures may require less recovery time.

A chemical peel cost is is determined by the type of chemical peel you receive, where you live and the experience of the professional performing the peel. Chemical peels have similar prices to several other in-office procedures that offer the same anti-aging benefits – often without the downtime and side effects associated with peels.

How Much Does a Chemical Peel Cost?

Chemical peels are categorized into three types: light, medium and deep.

A light peel typically costs $100 – $150. These peels brighten your skin, even out skin tone and can help manage acne. They typically require no or very little downtime.

A medium peel ranges from $1,000 – $3,000 depending on the chemicals used and where and by whom the peel is performed. Medium peels address fine lines, hyperpigmentation and acne scars. They may require up to two weeks of downtime.

A deep peel, which can treat deep wrinkles and extensive sun damage, can cost up to $6,000. This procedure requires sedation, can take more than 1 month to fully heal and can change your skin’s color and ability to tan.

Type of Peel	Cost	Overview
Light	$100 – $300	Brightens skin tone; little to no downtime
Medium	$1,000 – $3,000	Reduces acne scars, hyperpigmentation, fine lines; 1–2 weeks downtime
Deep	$2,500 – $6,000	Treats deep wrinkles and sun damage; several weeks or months of downtime; permanently changes skin properties

Do the more expensive peels provide superior benefits?

More expensive peels generally provide superior results. Less expensive, lighter peels provide a fraction of the benefits of stronger peels at a far lower price point. 

However, this does not mean that deeper peels are the best choice for everyone. A light peel may be sufficient for your skin’s needs if you don’t have significant sun damage or aging to address.

Light Chemical Peels Cost

Light chemical peels are appropriate for those wanting to simply brighten and smooth their skin and for people managing recurring acne.

Light peels are typically performed with glycolic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) derived from fruit sugars. Gentler alternatives for sensitive or darker skin include lactic acid and mandelic acid. A common peeling agent for acne management is salicylic acid.

Superficial peels cannot treat deeper wrinkles or severe sun damage. They require no prepeel regimen or post peel downtime and have relatively few side effects.

Cost comparison to similar treatments

The effects of a light chemical peel are comparable to that of several microdermabrasion or hydradermabrasion sessions. Microdermabrasion uses a diamond-tipped mechanical device to buff away the top layer of skin cells; hydradermabrasion accomplishes the same task using water and oxygen.

Because the results of a light chemical peel are temporary, you may want to repeat the peel as often as every month. Similarly, both dermabrasion techniques require multiple sessions to see noticeable improvement and require upkeep to maintain.

Treatment	Cost	Overview
Light chemical peel	$100 – $300	Brightens skin, reduces acne; minimal redness or peeling
Microdermabrasion	$75 – $200	Reduces acne, scars, fine lines, hyperpigmentation; no downtime
Hydradermabrasion	$150 – $300	Evens skin tone, reduces pores, fine lines and acne; no downtime

Medium Chemical Peels Cost

A medium chemical peel uses trichloroacetic acid (TCA) or a combination of acids known as Jessner’s solution to target hyperpigmentation, acne scars and fine lines. Although significant improvement to the skin may be seen after only one treatment, many people opt for a series of peels to achieve the desired result or to maintain the peel’s effects.

Cost comparison to similar treatments

Medium peels provide similar outcomes to laser treatments or microneedling. While an individual laser treatment or microneedling session is less expensive than a single medium-depth peel, these peel alternatives typically require multiple sessions to achieve the same results; in the long term, you may end up paying the same amount for the same results.

Treatment	Cost	Overview
Medium chemical peel	$1,000 – $3,000	Reduces hyperpigmentation, acne scars, fine lines and wrinkles; 1–2 weeks recovery time
Microneedling	$100 – $700	Treats minor scarring, stretch marks, large pores, age spots, fine lines and wrinkles; 0–2 days recovery time
Ablative laser skin resurfacing	$2,000 average for full-face treatment $200 – $500 for spot treatments	Treats scars, fine lines and wrinkles; 1–2 weeks recovery time
Nonablative laser skin resurfacing	$1,000 average for full face	Treats acne, rosacea, sun damage, scarring, spider veins; no recovery time

Deep Chemical Peels Cost

Deep chemical peels can address deep wrinkles and extensive sun damage. A deep chemical peel is a medical procedure requiring sedation, multiple weeks of downtime and several follow-up visits with your doctor to oversee the healing process.

Deep peels are the costliest type of peel, running from $2,500 up to $6,000. Due to the extreme changes in your skin caused by a deep peel, only one single treatment can be performed in your lifetime.

Cost comparison to similar treatments

Alternatives to deeper peels include less invasive treatments such as laser therapy and fillers. These require comparatively little downtime but do require upkeep—fillers, for instance, only last 9–12 months—or a series of treatments to achieve what one deep peel can accomplish.

Treatment	Cost	Overview
Deep chemical peel	$2,500 – $6,000	Treats deep wrinkles and sun damage; requires 1 month or longer of recovery time; permanently alters skin
Fillers	$300 – $1,500 per syringe	Treats fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin; minimal downtime
Ablative laser skin resurfacing	$2,000 average for full-face treatment $200 – $500 for spot treatments	Treats scars, fine lines and wrinkles; 1–2 weeks recovery time
Nonablative laser skin resurfacing	$1,000 average for full face	Treats acne, rosacea, sun damage, scarring, spider veins; no recovery time

How Much Does a Chemical Peel for Acne Cost?

Light chemical peels using glycolic acid or salicylic acid are commonly recommended to treat frequent breakouts. Not only do these acids exfoliate skin to remove the debris and buildup that leads to clogged pores and acne, but they reduce the production of oil in your skin and kill Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes), the bacteria that causes acne.

These peels typically cost $100 – $300. After multiple sessions, your skin will be able to tolerate higher concentrations of the solution for longer periods of time, so you’ll then receive a stronger peel for the same price.

How much does a chemical peel for acne scars cost?

Mild acne scarring can be treated with a series of light peels. For more severe scarring, a medium peel costing $1,000 – $3,000 may be a more efficient means of reducing hyperpigmentation and unevenness due to scars.

If you have deep atrophic scars (known as ice pick or boxcar scars), you may opt for a procedure known as the CROSS technique. This application technique delivers TCA directly into individual scars to break up and reconstruct the tissue, evening out your skin. 

The CROSS technique usually requires multiple treatments spread out over a period of six months.

Are Chemical Peels Covered by Insurance?

Chemical peels are considered cosmetic procedures and are not covered by health insurance. However, if a peel is being performed in order to remove a precancerous growth, there is a possibility of it being covered.

Cost of Maintaining Chemical Peels

While chemical peels can provide lasting change to your skin—a medium peel’s effects may last up to ten years—a certain amount of maintenance is involved.

Many people choose to get chemical peels on a regular basis, such as monthly or annually, to maintain the peel’s effects. 

Another element to consider is the anti-aging skin care products you may purchase to maintain the results of a peel. While the peel itself may be only a one-time cost, the additional products you purchase to maintain it can significantly add to the overall amount of money you spend on your skin.

Chemical peel frequency

Light peels can be performed as often as every four weeks. Medium peels can be repeated every three to six months. 

A deep peel can only be performed once in your life as it permanently alters the properties of the treated skin.

At-home Chemical Peels Cost

At-home chemical peels can be self-administered for substantially less cost than in-office treatments performed by a dermatologist. While these products use the same chemicals as professional treatments, the acids are in far lower concentrations: 2% instead of 20%, for instance. 

Drugstore products require several weeks or months of usage to achieve the same results as a single light peel. An advantage of this slower process is that it creates no side effects or downtime – when used as directed. It is important to note that even lower concentrations of chemical solutions can cause irritation if left on the skin too long.

It is possible to buy chemical solutions in higher concentrations from online sources such as Amazon. However, these are advised against as the likelihood of damaging your skin with them is high without professional guidance. 

Takeaway

The cost of a chemical peel is determined by the type of peel you receive and the results you are looking for. You may opt for several light, relatively inexpensive peels to achieve a desired effect or you may commit to one stronger peel for a higher up-front cost and longer downtime, but more long-lasting and dramatic results.

An additional factor to consider with the cost of the chemical peel is the cost of upkeep, as you may require chemical peels on a regular basis to maintain their effects.

Alternatives to chemical peels include microdermabrasion, hydradermabrasion, microneedling and laser therapy. Like chemical peels, these vary widely in terms of price point.

Another option is at-home peels, which require consistent use to see results, can only address minor skin issues, but do cost less overall.