Modified phenol chemical face peels - Recognizing the role of application technique

The use of phenol to achieve chemexfoliation of facial tissue, following ei ther the standard Baker-Gordon formula or modifications of that formula, ca n produce a range of results depending on a variety of factors. This articl e--based on 16 new cases of modified phenol peels, three human biopsy studi es, and one triple-blind study--examines the relative roles of phenol conce ntration, croton oil concentration, and application technique in the produc tion of the chemical peel result. Results of this data suggest that the app lication technique is more important than the concentration of phenol or cr oton oil and underscore the importance of standardizing the application pro cess.