Health Risks And Side Effects Of Chemical Peels

Damage To Certain Organs

Perhaps the most serious concern when undergoing a chemical peel is the potential for damage to certain organs. Phenol, the chemical used in deep peels, can actually cause severe damage to the liver, kidneys, and heart muscle. An irregular heartbeat is also a potential side effect of chemical peels. This is because the chemicals, though applied topically, seep into the body through the skin. Organ damage is fairly rare, but when it does occur, it is usually after undergoing a deep peel, during which the chemicals set into the skin for up to several hours. Thankfully, short chemical peels rarely have such dramatic internal effects.