Predictive Factors of Better Patient Satisfaction After Phenol-Croton Peel: A Retrospective Study of 102 Patients

Phenol-croton peels are the gold standard for treating sun-damaged skin and static wrinkles; their long-term outcomes and patient satisfaction rates have yet to be thoroughly investigated.

To evaluate patient satisfaction and both short- and long-term cutaneous side effects in individuals undergoing phenol-croton peels.

This retrospective cohort study analyzed 102 female patients who underwent phenol-croton peels and were followed up until 3 months after the procedure to assess short-term side effects and to identify any long-term side effects that persisted beyond this period. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess patient satisfaction and long-term cutaneous side effects.

Ninety-two percent of patients rated their satisfaction as 4 or 5. Persistent cutaneous side effects were observed in 12% of cases (hypopigmentation: 6, hyperpigmentation: 5, dryness: 1). Despite mild hypopigmentation, five patients expressed willingness to undergo the procedure again. In the univariate analyses, full-face treatment, increasing age, and the absence of cutaneous side effects were significantly associated with higher satisfaction scores (p < 0.05). In the multivariate model, age and the absence of cutaneous side effects remained independently and significantly associated with the outcome. Full-face treatment, although not statistically significant in the final model, showed a trend toward association and contributed to the overall adjustment. Notably, cutaneous side effects decreased at follow-up performed at least 15 months after the procedure compared to follow-up conducted within 3 months post-procedure (p = 0.039).

Phenol-croton peels demonstrated high satisfaction rates despite occasional prolonged cutaneous side effects. However, these side effects significantly decreased at ≥ 15 months post-procedure compared to ≤ 3 months post-procedure. Careful patient selection and expertise in performing this procedure remain crucial for optimizing outcomes.