A VI Peel is a blend of acids applied in layers to the face. It removes the outer layers of skin in a controlled way, and the new skin that replaces them is more even in tone and smoother in texture. Unlike most treatments here, the work does not finish when you leave.
What it treats
Which peel, and why it differs by skin tone
The VI Peel is formulated to be used across all six Fitzpatrick types, and it is one of the more reliable options for pigmentation and melasma in deeper skin. The formulation and the depth are chosen at consultation.
- VI Peel Precision Plus is often preferred for melasma-prone Fitzpatrick IV to VI skin. It targets more resistant pigmentation with a gentler inflammatory profile.
- Fewer layers on a first session in deeper skin, so the response can be assessed before going further.
- Longer intervals between sessions, a minimum of six weeks for Fitzpatrick V and VI.
The peel goes home with you
Most treatments end at the door. This one does not. The peel is left on the skin and keeps working for several hours, and you wash it off yourself, usually four to six hours later, at the time you are given in the clinic.
That means the result depends on you following the timing. Washing it off early cuts the treatment short. Sweating heavily while it is on can make it work unevenly. Plan the afternoon after your appointment around it.
Why the four weeks before matter in deeper skin
A peel works by causing controlled inflammation, and in skin with more active melanocytes, inflammation is also what produces post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. The same mechanism that clears pigment can create it. What decides which one you get is largely the state of the skin when it arrives.
For Fitzpatrick III and above, preparation starts about four weeks out: calming the barrier, stopping irritating actives earlier than standard, daily SPF 50 from four weeks before rather than from the day after, and in most cases a topical that slows melanin production, chosen at consultation. Any active inflammatory acne is treated first, because peeling over inflamed acne is one of the most reliable ways to produce pigment in deeper skin.
This is the part that gets skipped elsewhere, and it is the part that decides the outcome. We wrote about the underlying mechanism in post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and about the specific case of melasma in darker skin tones.
What a session is like
- Sensation
- Tingling and warmth that builds with each layer, then settles.
- Session length
- 30 to 45 minutes in clinic.
- Afterwards
- You wash the peel off at home, usually 4 to 6 hours later.
- Peeling starts
- Day 3, usually around the mouth and chin first.
- Peeling ends
- Mostly complete by day 7.
- Social downtime
- Days 3 to 5 are the visible ones. Plan around them.
- Cadence
- A single peel, or a series of 2 to 3 spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart.
- Maintenance
- Every 3 to 4 months.
A Hydrafacial beforehand is often used to start a peel series on clear, hydrated skin, and a peel is not performed in the same session as laser treatment.
Before, during and after
This is the protocol we follow. Open any of these to read it before booking, or again the week of your appointment.
Common questions
Is a chemical peel safe on darker skin?
Yes, with preparation. The VI Peel is formulated for use across all six Fitzpatrick types and is one of the more reliable options for pigmentation and melasma in deeper skin. The risk is not the peel itself, it is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and that risk is managed in the four weeks before: calming the barrier, stopping actives earlier than standard, daily SPF 50 from four weeks out, a topical that slows melanin production where appropriate, and treating any active acne first. Depth and formulation are also adjusted, with fewer layers on a first session and longer intervals between sessions.
How much will I actually peel?
Peeling usually begins on day three, typically around the mouth and chin, then spreads across the face. Days three to five are the visible window, and it looks worse before it looks better. By the end of day seven it is mostly or fully finished. Plan anything social around that week rather than hoping it will be quick.
What happens if I pick at the peeling skin?
This is the single most consequential instruction on this page. Pulling skin off before it is ready to shed breaks the barrier underneath, and that raises the risk of both scarring and pigmentation, substantially so in Fitzpatrick IV to VI. Let all of it come away on its own, however tempting it looks. Applying the post-peel protectant generously makes the flaking look and feel more manageable.
Why do I wash the peel off myself at home?
Because it is still working. The VI Peel is not rinsed off in the clinic. It stays on the skin for several hours, usually four to six, and you are told exactly when and how to remove it before you leave. Washing it off early shortens the treatment and reduces the result. Use cool or lukewarm water and a gentle fragrance-free cleanser, pat dry rather than rub, then apply the post-peel protectant from your kit.
What do I need to stop before a peel?
Five to seven days before: all retinoids, all exfoliating acids and benzoyl peroxide. Two weeks before: no waxing, threading, laser hair removal or dermaplaning on the area, and no other peels, microneedling or laser. For Fitzpatrick IV to VI, retinoids and acids stop two weeks before rather than five to seven days, to give the barrier longer to recover.
Can I have a peel if I get cold sores?
Yes, but tell us beforehand. A peel can trigger an outbreak, and a preventive antiviral is prescribed before treatment when there is any history of cold sores. In deeper skin tones this matters more than it sounds, because an outbreak during the healing window can leave pigmentation out of proportion to the flare itself, and it is preventable.
Is there anyone who cannot have a VI Peel?
Peels are not performed during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or within twelve months of isotretinoin. Recent sun exposure or an active tan means the appointment is rescheduled, because peeling tanned skin markedly raises the risk of pigmentation. Allergy to salicylic acid or retinoic acid is a contraindication. Active inflammatory acne is treated before the peel rather than through it.
How do I know if I am getting pigmentation afterwards?
Treated pigment often darkens briefly before it sheds, and that is expected. What is not expected is new dark patches appearing after day seven, in areas that were not marked before. If you see that, contact us rather than waiting. Caught early it is very manageable, usually with a topical brightener and a longer interval before the next session.
This page is for general education and is not medical advice. It does not establish a physician-patient relationship, and it cannot account for your individual history, medications or skin. Suitability for treatment is decided at consultation following examination.