Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol March-April 2005 Vol 71 Issue 2 87 INTRODUCTION The chemical peel produces a controlled partial thickness injury to the skin. Following the insult to the skin, a wound healing process ensues that can regenerate the epidermis from the surrounding epithelium and adnexal structures, decrease solar elastosis, and replace and reorient the new dermal connective tissue. [1-3] This procedure thus can restore sun-damaged, wrinkled, blemished, acne-scarred or blotchy skin to its original youthful appearance. The results are normally a smoother, more even toned How to cite this article: Bari AU, Iqbal Z, Rahman SB. Tolerance and safety of superficial chemical peeling with salicylic acid in various facial dermatoses. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2005;71:87-90. Received: June, 2004. Accepted: August, 2004. Source of Support: Nil. Study Tolerance and safety of superficial chemical peeling with salicylic acid in Tolerance and safety of superficial chemical peeling with salicylic acid in Tolerance and safety of superficial chemical peeling with salicylic acid in Tolerance and safety of superficial chemical peeling with salicylic acid in Tolerance and safety of superficial chemical peeling with salicylic acid in various facial dermatoses various facial dermatoses various facial dermatoses various facial dermatoses various facial dermatoses Arfan Ul Bari, Zafar Iqbal*, Simeen Ber Rahman* Arfan Ul Bari, Zafar Iqbal*, Simeen Ber Rahman* Arfan Ul Bari, Zafar Iqbal*, Simeen Ber Rahman* Arfan Ul Bari, Zafar Iqbal*, Simeen Ber Rahman* Arfan Ul Bari, Zafar Iqbal*, Simeen Ber Rahman* Department of Dermatology, *PAF Hospital Sargodha, Military Hospital Rawalpindi, Pakistan Address for correspondence: Squadren Leader. Dr. Arfan ul Bari, Consultant dermatologist, PAF Hospital, Sargodha, Pakistan. E-mail: albariul@yahoo.com ABSTRACT Background: Chemical peeling is a skin-wounding procedure that may have some potentially undesirable side-effects. Aims: The present study is directed towards safety concerns associated with superficial chemical peeling with salicylic acid in various facial dermatoses. Methods: The study was a non-comparative and a prospective one. Two hundred and sixty-eight patients of either sex, aged between 10 to 60 years, undergoing superficial chemical peeling for various facial dermatoses (melasma, acne vulgaris, freckles, post-inflammatory scars/pigmentation, actinic keratoses, plane facial warts, etc.) were included in the study. Eight weekly peeling sessions were carried out in each patient. Tolerance to the procedure and any undesirable effects noted during these sessions were recorded. Results: Almost all the patients tolerated the procedure well. Mild discomfort, burning, irritation and erythema were quite common but the incidence of major side-effects was very low and these too, were easily manageable. There was no significant difference in the incidence of side-effects between facial dermatoses (melasma, acne and other pigmentary disorders). Conclusion: Chemical peeling with salicylic acid is a well tolerated and safe treatment modality in many superficial facial dermatoses. KEY WORDS: Superficial chemical peeling, Salicylic acid, Facial dermatoses textured skin. The skin will look younger, tighter and fresher than before although it cannot remove all facial flaws. Deeper lines, wrinkles and other flaws may require additional treatments or techniques. [4,5] The chemicals normally used for this are glycolic acid (GA) and salicylic acid (SA) for more superficial lines, blemishes, acne, etc. and trichloroacetic acid (TCA) or phenol in various concentrations for medium depth and deep peeling. [1,4-8] Depending upon the type of peel, there may be a mild to severe sun burning sensation. Persistent redness may also occur and can last for months. There is a chance of reactivation of herpes