Jessner Peel At A Glance
- Best Results2-5 sessions
- Treatment Recovery2-4 days
- Procedure Time15 minutes
- Skin SpecialistDermal therapist, nurse
- Duration of Results6-12 month
- AnaestheticNil, painless
- Back to WorkImmediately
- Cost$
Jessner Peel
This chemical peel is a classic time-tested formulation for the treatment of pigmentation, fine lines, & enlarged pores. Jessner can be used as a stand- alone superficial peel or combined with TCA to give a medium to deep peel.
FactsFacts on Jessner Peel
- This formulation consists of both AHA & BHA peels as well as a keratolytic
- Jessner by definition is a superficial peel with a pH of 1.9
- Combined with TCA, it can turn into a medium depth peel
- This peel can treat pigmentation, melasma, fine lines, enlarged pores & congested skin
- Downtime can be tailored according to the number of coats, typically 2-7 days
What conditions can Jessner Peel treat?
Jessner by definition is a superficial peel. It can address textural and skin quality issues including sun damage, mild pigmentation, fine wrinkles, as well as blackheads & acne. As it contains BHA, namely salicylic acid, this peel can penetrate the oil glands. The AHA component of Jessner (lactic acid), can stimulate dermal collagen as well as provide epidermal hydration.
How long will it take a Jessner peel to peel?
2-5 days depending on the number of applications & pre-peel prep. It can take up to 7-9 days to completely heal. Redness can take an extra week to resolve, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Will I notice results with one peel?
You will notice a visible result with a Jesser peel, however the best results are seen after a series of 3-5 peels, conducted 3-6 weeks apart. It takes time for sun damage & wrinkles to accumulate, it also takes time to reverse it.
What is the difference between Jessner peels compared to other peels?
Peels are classified according to the depth of penetration which is proportional to the downtime.
Very superficial peels include Retinoic acid or VitA peels, AHAs in a cream or lotion base. Salicylic acid 5-8%. Best for congestion, acne prone skin, and general skin care.
Superficial peels include Lactic, mandelic, citric & glycolic acid 20-70% in a low pH solution. TCA up to 10%, and Salicylic acid up to 30%. Best for; sun damage, pigment (including melasma), blackheads, enlarged pores, fine lines & wrinkles. Can be performed monthly as maintenance
Medium depth peels include: Jessner + TCA 20-35%, glycolic 70% + TCA. This is one of my favourite combinations for addressing sunspots, liver spots, pigmentation (not melasma type), fine lines, wrinkles & superficial scars. This is a tactile peel that can be tailored according to clinical findings & downtime. Usual time interval is 2-5 years (it is that good!).
Deep peels include: Modified Jessner + TCA, Phenol Croton Oil, full face, segmental or focal. Best for; deep acne scars including ice pick & boxcar scars, significantly enlarged pores, etched wrinkles, solar elastosis, skin laxity, smoker lines. This peel has a downtime of 8-14 days.

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How do I know if Jessener is the correct chemical peel for me?
@cliniccutis we perform over 25 different types of peels. Based upon your skin type, downtime, clinical examination & expectations, my clinical staff will advise you on the best peel or laser for your skin.
What other types of chemical peels do we perform?
I am of the opinion that safe results is our number one priority, hence why @clinccutis we have an extensive array of peels. We provide over 25 different peel concentrations & combinations ranging from superficial peels to deep peels. My clinical team performs superficial to medium depth peels, I perform deep peels including phenol & modified TCA peels.
Jessner TCA peel, one session
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👉This is a medium depth peel. Occasionally I prep with retinoic acid beforehand, but thin skin like this patient, RA is not needed. I scrub with acetone, then coat with 2-4 layers of Jesser. I then have a cup of coffee then come back to finish off with TCA at 35%
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😁Was having a friendly banter with my mentor & close friend @aprofphilipbekhor last night. Peels vs lasers. Why do I like peels? My chill out time. No loud noises apart from the patient's muffled screams 😱😱(joking). Despite the tech of lasers, I still like looking carefully at end points from peels. It is tactile, much like driving a manual car vs an automatic. Sure the latter is easier, but sometimes it’s the challenge to get the downshift perfectly matched, or the epidermis so evenly gray that the entire sheet slides from the dermis. It’s old school cool
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👊🏻Disclaimer: You do need to watch your peel patients more closely cf. NA laser patients, that is fact💯
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😎Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane🇦🇺
#tca #jessner #jessnertca #chemicalpeels #dermatologist #dermatology #drdavinlim #skinrejuvenation
TCA peels are a simple way to rejuvenate skin. This picture is over a decade old, but I still enjoy peels over lasers (more tactile). It’ much like driving a older vintage car, it’s slower to get to your destination but the drive is more enjoyable🚘
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🔬Skin science: TCA can be applied as a superficial, medium (most common) & deep peel. In this case I employed it as a medium depth peel, to the upper papillary dermis. In some cases I combine it with Jessner for deeper penetration
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👉Downtime: 5- 8 days depending on the strength and coats
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😢Pain: Tolerable with topical application of numbing and skin cooling. I do give oral conscious sedation if deeper peeling
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👍🏻Good for: Skin type 1-2+, pigment, freckles, sun damage, solar keratosis, mild to moderate wrinkles, lentigos/ age spots
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👎🏼Not good for: Darker skin, deep wrinkles, melasma
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😎Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane🇦🇺
#chemcialpeels #TCApeel #jessner #jessnerTCA #skinrejuvenation #skinlightening #skinbrightening #davinlim #dermatology #skinscience
Chemical peels are an excellent way to improve skin texture & quality. A recent publication in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology has shown that deep peels create more collagen than fully ablative CO2 laser resurfacing
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🔬Skin Science: Peels are classified according to the depth. #AHA, #BHA & retinoic acid peels are superfical, #TCA 15-40+% are medium depth as are #Jessner TCA peels. Deep peels include phenol croton oil & super-saturated TCA
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🍌🔫Peels & lasers: I combine medium depth peels with CO2 lasers. This combination improves skin quality and remodels dermal collagen. It reduces the risks of deep lasers & peels. Healing time approximately 8-10 days
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👉Suitable patients; Skin type 1-2, moderate to severe sun damage, solar keratosis, elastosis & wrinkles. Darker skin types best treated with #picolasers, RF, RFM, #HIFU & conservative short PD fractional CO2 lasers
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👍🏻Don’t forget: volume changes. Lasers & peels can stimulate #collagen production, but they do not replace age related fat loss. Dermal fillers or fat transfer indicated, based upon clinical examination
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😎Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
@drdavinlim
Brisbane🇦🇺
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#dermatology #dermatologist #drdavinlim #davinlim #dermatologybrisbane #chemicalpeels #tcapeels #jessnerpeels #laserresurfacing #co2laserresurfacing #fractionallaserresurfacing #skinrejuvenation #jessnertca
One of my favorite procedures are chemical peels, yup, old fashioned Jessner & TCA
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🔬Skin science: Peels are classified according to the depth. Superficial peels include AHAs including lactic, glycolic & mandelic acid peels. BHA & retinoic acid peels are also superficial, TCA can be superficial, medium or deep, depending on the concentration, layering & prep
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👉This Patient: had an acetone scrub, followed by Jessner (lactic, salicylic & resorcinol) then TCA with 2 ish coats at 35%.
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📆Downtime: about a week
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🔫Peels vs lasers: Comparison of super deep peels like phenol croton gives better outcomes compared to even fully ablative CO2. In this patient, the peel is equal to a medium density fractional CO2 laser, the advantage of the peel is that it treats the entire surface of the skin, down to the mid papillary dermis
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👍🏻I like peels because they are tactile, with a wee bit of finesse. Laser are great, but it's seriously watching the dot then stepping on the accelerator. Medium to deep peeling is a dying science & art
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😎Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
@drdavinlim🇦🇺
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#chemicalpeels, #ahapeels #retininoicacid #glycolicpeels #lacticpeels #skinscience #dermalscience #dermatologist #dermatology #skin #cosmeticclinic #drdavinlim #lacticpeels #TCA #TCApeels #jessnerpeels #skinrejuvenation #skinscience
Which is better, microneedling or chemical peels?
Chemical peels generally work best on superficial conditions, while microneedling penetrates deeper to improve more troublesome issues. Many people with acne scars find a combination of microneedling and chemical peels deliver the best results. In reality it is much more complex than this, as medium to deep peels can give much better results than a series of deep microneedling treatments.
What about lasers vs chemical peels?
My approach to skin rejuvenation is based upon best clinical practice. In some cases, lasers are better than chemical peels, for example in the treatment of melasma. In other cases, peels have an advantage, for example, treating deep ice pick acne scars. In other cases, I combine peels & lasers in the same treatment session, examples include laser resurfacing for deep smoker’s lines / perioral wrinkles whilst medium to deep peels are used elsewhere.
Davin’s take on Jessner Peels
Jessner is a classic peel that contains two of the best peeling agents, namely salicylic acid & lactic acid. This peel can be used to address multiple skin conditions including pigmentation, sunspots, freckles, fine lines, open & enlarged pores as well as acne & congested skin. Downtime following this peel ranges from 2 to 7 days, depending on the number of coats, skin sensitivity & pre peel priming.
By itself, Jesser is by definition a superficial peel, however in combination with TCA, this is a medium depth peel. Deeper peeling can address etched wrinkles & moderate elastosis (sun damage). Jesser formulation is my second most frequently used agent, after TCA.
