Chemical Peels in Chicagoland

A chemical peel uses a professional-grade solution to gently exfoliate the outer layers of the skin so that fresher, healthier skin can surface. As the treated skin renews, it stimulates your body’s natural repair process, which can improve tone, texture, clarity, and brightness over the days and weeks that follow.

Peels are classified by depth. Light, superficial peels refresh the outermost layer for a healthy glow, while medium-depth peels reach a little further to address more stubborn discoloration and texture. At Express Med Spa, our peels are superficial to medium depth and are performed by licensed medical professionals, a range that delivers visible, meaningful results with manageable recovery.

Rather than overwhelm you with a long catalog of acids, we focus on a curated set of trusted, results-driven peels and match the right one to your skin during your consultation. Peels treat the face and can extend to the body wherever skin renewal is the goal.

VI Peel

The VI Peel is our signature medical-grade peel and the heart of our peel menu, a comfortable, versatile treatment that works across a range of skin tones with a short, predictable recovery. We offer it in targeted formulations:

• Sun & Age Spot VI Peel for sun damage, age spots, and uneven pigmentation. From $325.
• Acne VI Peel for active breakouts and acne-prone skin. From $325.
• Body Chemical Peel (VI Peel) for skin renewal beyond the face. From $450.

Explore our VI Peel resources to find the right VI Peel for your skin.

Glow Peel

The Glow Peel is our light, lunchtime-friendly option for brighter, fresher skin with little to no visible peeling. It is a great choice before an event, for first-time peel clients, and for maintaining results between deeper treatments. From $175.

Understanding peel depth

Light peels refresh the surface and are typically done in a series for gradual, cumulative results. Medium-depth peels reach a bit further to address more noticeable discoloration, texture, and early aging, with a few days of flaking as the skin renews. Your provider recommends the depth and formulation that fit your concern, your skin, and your schedule.

A chemical peel is a quick, in-office treatment that usually takes 20 to 45 minutes. Your provider begins by cleansing the skin, then applies the peel solution evenly across the treatment area. Most clients feel a brief tingling or warmth as the solution works, and this settles quickly.

There are no needles and no anesthesia. You head home the same day with simple, written aftercare instructions, and depending on the peel you may leave the solution on your skin for a set period before washing it off at home. Your provider walks you through every step before you go.

One of the most common questions we hear is how long a chemical peel takes to heal. With a light Glow Peel, most clients see little to no visible flaking and return to normal activities right away. With a medium-depth VI Peel, light peeling usually begins two to three days after treatment and finishes within about a week. It is gentle, controlled, and easy to manage with the aftercare we provide.

Many clients notice brighter, smoother skin within one to two weeks as the peeling completes, with continued improvement over the following weeks. For the best, longest-lasting results, peels are often done in a series and maintained with periodic treatments and daily broad-spectrum sunscreen. Because peels and recovery can be timed around your calendar, including the summer months, your provider will help you plan treatment around events and sun exposure.

Both chemical peels and laser treatments resurface the skin, and neither is universally better. Peels are an excellent, approachable choice for pigment, uneven tone, mild texture, acne, and overall radiance, often with less cost and less downtime. Laser and energy-based treatments may be a better fit for deeper or more stubborn concerns.

If your goals point in a different direction, we may recommend a complementary treatment such as microneedling. The simplest way to know which path fits you is a quick consultation, where your provider reviews your skin and your goals and recommends the right approach.