The short answer
A chemical peel is an acid or other active solution applied to the skin to remove its outer layer, and peels are grouped by how deep they go: light, medium and deep. The deeper the peel, the longer the skin takes to heal and the stricter the sun rules afterwards.
At Unique Persona a face peel is AED 600 at all three salons: Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah. It is booked for twenty minutes at Downtown Dubai and thirty minutes at Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah.
A peel is also one step inside the Signature HydraFacial, which is AED 800 at all three salons. Prices are before VAT, and 5% is added to the final bill.
What is a chemical peel?
A chemical peel uses an acid, or a blend of acids, to loosen and remove dead cells from the surface of the skin. What changes from one peel to another is the acid, its strength and how long it stays on, and together those set how deep it works.
Some of the acids and blends used in peels:
- Glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA).
- Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA). It is oil-soluble.
- Lactic acid is a milder AHA.
- Jessner is a named blend of salicylic acid, lactic acid and resorcinol.
- TCA is trichloroacetic acid.
The vials in the photo above are HydraFacial's GlySal Peel, labelled as a glycolic and salicylic acid peel.
How deep can a peel go?
The American Academy of Dermatology groups chemical peels into three types and gives a healing time for each:
| Type | Healing time | What the skin does |
|---|---|---|
| Refreshing or lunchtime peel | 1 to 7 days | Skin will be red |
| Medium peel | 7 to 14 days | Skin will be red and swollen |
| Deep peel | 14 to 21 days | The area is bandaged |
A deep peel must be performed in a surgical setting, and the AAD says it means recovering at home for two to three weeks. Deep peels are a medical procedure carried out by doctors, and they are not offered at Unique Persona. The salon's face peel is a professional salon peel.
For a refreshing peel, the same source says you may need three to five sessions to get the result you are after.
How much does a chemical peel cost in Dubai?
| Treatment | Downtown Dubai | Dubai Marina | Palm Jumeirah |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face Peeling | AED 600 | AED 600 | AED 600 |
| HydraFacial Signature, which includes a peel step | AED 800 | AED 800 | AED 800 |
The face peel is one price at every branch, with no tiers above it. The menus list it as Face Peeling and do not name the acid, so ask which peel you will have when you book. Prices are before VAT, and 5% is added to the final bill.
How long does the appointment take?
The face peel is booked for twenty minutes at Downtown Dubai and for thirty minutes at Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah. The Signature HydraFacial is booked for ninety minutes at all three salons.
Is a HydraFacial a chemical peel?
A HydraFacial contains one, but it is not only a peel. The Signature runs a full sequence: cleansing and a gentle acid exfoliation, then extraction, then an infusion of serums. The specialist assesses your skin first and sets the peel strength and the serums from what they see.
There is no downtime, and no flaking or peeling phase to work around. The full sequence and the three tiers are in what a HydraFacial actually does.
What does the Dubai sun mean after a peel?
The AAD's aftercare depends on the depth of the peel:
- After a refreshing peel: once the skin heals, apply sunscreen every day.
- After a medium peel: avoid the sun completely until the skin heals.
- After a deep peel: avoid the sun completely for three to six months.
For every depth it adds: no tanning beds and no indoor tanning. In Dubai that makes the timing of a peel worth planning, particularly before a holiday or a beach weekend.
Who should be careful with a peel?
The AAD says people with darker skin tones should see a dermatologist with expertise in using chemical peels on darker skin, because without that expertise they can develop permanent pigment problems.
Tell whoever does your peel about every medication you take and your health history before you start.
What to ask when you book
Which peel you will have, since the menu lists it only as Face Peeling.
Whether it is a light peel, and what your skin is likely to do in the days afterwards.
Whether a peel or a deep cleansing facial suits what you want to change. If you are choosing between several facials, which facial in Dubai compares them, and the face services page has the full menu.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a chemical peel in Dubai?
At Unique Persona a face peel is AED 600 at Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah, before 5% VAT. The Signature HydraFacial, which includes a peel step, is AED 800 at all three.
How long does a chemical peel take?
The face peel is booked for twenty minutes at Downtown Dubai and thirty minutes at Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah.
How long does skin take to heal after a peel?
The AAD gives one to seven days for a refreshing peel, seven to fourteen days for a medium peel, and fourteen to twenty-one days for a deep peel.
What is a Jessner peel?
Jessner is a named blend of salicylic acid, lactic acid and resorcinol. Ask when you book which peel the salon uses, as the menu lists it only as Face Peeling.
Can I go in the sun after a chemical peel?
After a light peel, the AAD says to apply sunscreen every day once the skin heals. After a medium peel it says to avoid the sun completely until the skin heals, and after a deep peel for three to six months.
In short
A chemical peel removes the outer layer of the skin with an acid, and the depth decides the healing time: one to seven days for a light peel, up to three weeks for a deep one. A face peel is AED 600 at all three Unique Persona salons, and the Signature HydraFacial, with a peel step built in, is AED 800. Whatever the depth, the sun is the part to plan around.
Sources
- American Academy of Dermatology, Chemical peels: FAQs
