Chemical Peels
Tier 3 Medical Chemical Peel
Medical-grade. Full exfoliation cycle. Reserved for the right concern, the right skin type, and the right point in your protocol.
What it does
A deeper peel with a fuller recovery window.
Tier 3 reaches deeper than lighter peels and produces a complete exfoliation cycle.
A Tier 3 peel penetrates to the lower epidermis and upper papillary dermis, triggering a renewal response lighter peels cannot reach. Cell turnover is comprehensive. The surface shed is full and visible over 5 to 7 days.
At this depth, the treatment can address pigmentation, photodamage, active acne, and textural irregularity more significantly. It is also more demanding on your skin and your schedule. Tier 3 peels are prescribed and supervised under medical director oversight at 512 Skincare.
What it addresses
Reserved for concerns that justify the depth.
Moderate-to-severe PIH
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation that has not responded to lighter correction.
Photodamage
Moderate sun-induced discoloration and surface damage.
Persistent acne
Active acne where lighter chemical exfoliation has not produced adequate control.
Texture
Post-acne irregularity, thickened surface, and resistant roughness.
Fine to moderate lines
Surface laxity and lines that warrant a stronger exfoliation cycle.
What to expect
A visible peel with real planning.
The peel is visible while it is happening.
Application is performed in-office with careful layering and timing. Sensation is stronger than lighter peels: significant tingling, warmth, and possible stinging are expected.
After treatment, redness and tightness can last 24 to 72 hours. Skin begins to darken and tighten around day 2. Peeling and shedding are significant from days 3 through 6 or 7. New skin is visible underneath by day 6 to 7, with some residual pinkness and sensitivity for several additional days.
Plan for 5 to 7 days of reduced social commitments.
Preparation and aftercare
Depth narrows the margin for improvising.
Before
Stop retinoids and active exfoliants 10 days before treatment.
Sun
Avoid sun exposure and tanning for 3 to 4 weeks before treatment.
Medical review
Medical history review is required before treatment.
During recovery
Gentle cleanser and post-care moisturizer only for the full peeling phase.
No picking
Do not pull peeling skin. The risk of PIH is real and avoidable.
Follow-up
We assess your healing and plan the next step after recovery.
After your peel
Keep it gentle and let the shedding happen on its own schedule.
Gentle cleanser and a hydrator
Cleanse gently and keep your skin comfortable. We'll send you home with an aftercare plan matched to your peel level.
Know your level
Tier 1: a pink flush for a few hours and mild dryness for a day or two, usually no visible peeling. Tier 2: redness for a day or two, then light flaking days 3 to 5. Tier 3: visible shedding days 3 to 7, with possible tightness for up to 10 days.
Strict SPF
SPF every single day for at least two weeks, no exceptions. Add a hat and shade through the full recovery window.
Don't rush the shed
When the flaking starts, leave it completely alone. It comes off when it's ready.
What to avoid
Newly resurfaced skin is fragile and pigment-prone. Give it room.
Picking, pulling, or exfoliating
Do not pick, peel, or scrub. Let your skin shed on its own. Helping it along is how you trade a peel for a scar or a dark spot.
Sun
Strict sun avoidance, especially after deeper peels. Sun on freshly peeled skin is the fastest route to post-treatment hyperpigmentation.
Actives
Pause retinoids, AHAs, BHAs, benzoyl peroxide, and hydroquinone until your skin is fully healed.
Heat and sweat
Skip hot showers, saunas, and hard workouts while you're actively peeling. Heat and sweat irritate raw skin.
Healing, and your next peel
Recovery tracks with your tier. A Tier 1 peel and you'll look normal in public the whole time. Tier 2, light flaking days 3 to 5 that most people work right through. Tier 3 is real recovery, so plan around it: visible shedding days 3 to 7 and possible tightness and sensitivity for up to 10 days. Your skin should feel progressively better as it goes, not worse.
Most clients see real change across a series of 3 to 6 peels, spaced 2 to 4 weeks apart depending on the level. Tier 3 is usually 1 to 3 treatments, spaced further apart. We'll book your next one once your skin has fully recovered, and we'll tell you when it's safe to bring your actives back in. If you notice blistering, spreading redness, or anything painful, that's outside the normal range, so message us.
Is this for you
Tier 3 is not a first yes.
We discuss the outcome, the recovery, and the aftercare before recommending it. If it is not right for your skin, we will tell you.