ABSTRACT
GENERAL REMARKS We must humbly accept the fact that there is no magic formula that even the most experienced practitioner could use on all skin types without taking precautions and without risk and whose results would be both spectacular and permanent. Some formulations are of course simpler and less dangerous to use than others, but there is no guarantee of automatic success and complete safety. The practitioner must follow the rules of application for each peel; be aware of its limitations, risks, and indications; and know how to avoid and treat any complications. “Artistic” improvisation usually leads to disastrous results. It is vital to read the instructions for use for each peel before applying it. A thorough knowledge of the symptomatology and physical and chemical mechanisms of peels is essential for the practitioner to be able to work confidently, safely, and efficiently. It is child’s play for any competent doctor to apply liquid to a patient’s skin, but the true skill lies in anticipating the complications, being able to prevent them, and, if prevention fails, being able to treat them. Patients deserve to be treated conscientiously, with respect and optimum safety, by true professionals. Any peel, even a superficial one that is neutralized quickly and even in the most experienced hands, can lead to complications that are not necessarily serious or permanent, but that are more than what a particular patient is prepared to put up with. The deeper a peel penetrates, the sooner it is effective and the greater the risk of serious and permanent complications.
