What type of peel uses chloracetic acid to remove skin layers?

The correct answer is a deep peel. A deep peel typically uses strong chemical agents, such as chloracetic acid, which is effective for penetrating multiple layers of the skin. This type of peel is intended for treating deeper skin issues, such as severe sun damage, prominent wrinkles, or certain types of scarring.

Chloracetic acid, specifically, is a trichloroacetic acid derivative that allows for significant exfoliation. This results in a more substantial improvement in skin texture and tone compared to shallower peels. Since deep peels reach the dermis, they involve more downtime and aftercare, which is important for patients to understand prior to the procedure.

Superficial peels generally involve milder acids, targeting only the epidermis for lighter exfoliation. Medium depth peels use trichloroacetic acids but to a less intense degree than deep peels, affecting the upper dermis. Alpha hydroxy peels consist of naturally sourced acids, like glycolic acid, which are designed primarily for superficial exfoliation. Each of these options serves specific purposes but do not penetrate the skin to the extent that chloracetic acid does, marking deep peels as the most suitable choice for significant skin layer removal.