Modified phenol chemical face peels: recognizing the role of application technique

The use of phenol to achieve chemexfoliation of facial tissue, following the standard Baker-Gordon formula or modifications of that formula, can produce a range of results depending on a variety of factors. This article-based on 16 new cases of modified phenol peels, three human biopsy studies, and one triple-blind study-examines the relative roles of phenol concentration, croton oil concentration, and application technique in the production of the chemical peel result. Results of this data suggest that the application technique is more important than the concentration of phenol or croton oil and underscore the importance of standardizing the application process.