Baseline Skin — Layers & Irregularities
Skin starts as four stacked layers with visible surface irregularities.
- 4: Skin Layers Mapped (corneum to reticular dermis)
- ~20: Pigment Irregularities (spots across surface)
- Uneven: Baseline Texture (rough, blotchy surface)
- 3: Candidate Peel Depths (superficial, medium, deep)
Skin layer stack
Four layers sit from surface down to dermis.
Surface irregularities
Texture, tone, and fine lines vary across the surface.
Depth of treatment decides which irregularities can improve.
Why depth matters
Deeper layers hold structural collagen and pigment cells.
Peel Selection & Application
Acid type and concentration set how far the peel will travel.
- Superficial: Glycolic / Salicylic (alpha/beta hydroxy acids)
- 20–35%: TCA Concentration (medium-depth peel)
- Baker-Gordon: Phenol Formula (deep peel agent)
- Concentration: Depth Control (sets penetration precisely)
Choosing an agent
Acid family and strength are matched to the goal.
Application technique
Even application controls how deep the acid travels.
Concentration, contact time, and skin prep all shift depth.
Patient selection
Skin type and goals guide the agent chosen.
Peel agent comparison
Controlled Penetration to Target Depth
The acid creates a controlled injury down to the chosen layer.
- Epidermis: Superficial Reach (stratum corneum layer)
- Papillary Dermis: Medium Reach (TCA-level injury)
- Reticular Dermis: Deep Reach (phenol-level injury)
- Controlled: Injury Trigger (wound healing cascade)
Penetration front
Acid advances until buffered or neutralized at depth.
Injury zone
Tissue above the depth line coagulates and will shed.
The exact depth line separates shed tissue from surviving tissue.
Healing cascade begins
Injury triggers inflammation, then rebuilding signals.
Sloughing & Tissue Regeneration
The injured layer sheds while fresh tissue rebuilds from below.
- Days 2–7: Sloughing Onset (necrotic layer separates)
- ~7 days: New Epidermis (superficial peel regrowth)
- Weeks–months: Collagen Remodeling (deeper peels take longer)
- Basal Layer: Regeneration Source (and dermal fibroblasts)
Sloughing
Coagulated tissue lifts away as a crust or peel.
New tissue forms
Basal cells and fibroblasts rebuild the injured layer.
Deeper injury means slower, but more thorough, rebuilding.
Timeline scaling
Regeneration speed scales with how deep the injury went.
Outcome — Effectiveness vs Downtime & Risk
Deeper peels trade longer downtime for more dramatic improvement.
- ~3 days: Superficial Downtime (mild flaking only)
- ~10 days: Medium Downtime (visible peeling, redness)
- ~18+ days: Deep Downtime (extended healing, redness)
- Direct: Depth-Risk Tradeoff (deeper = more risk)
Effectiveness scales with depth
Reaching dermis layers drives more visible improvement.
Downtime and risk scale too
Deeper peels need longer recovery and closer monitoring.
Scarring and pigment risk rise sharply with treatment depth.
Choosing a depth
Balance desired result against acceptable downtime and risk.