Enzyme Peel vs. Chemical Peel

Enzyme peels use proteolytic enzymes, typically papain from papaya or bromelain from pineapple, to break down the peptide bonds in dead keratinocytes at the skin surface. The action is biological and surface-limited. Enzymes don't penetrate past the stratum corneum, which makes them a low-risk option for sensitized, reactive, or barrier-compromised skin.

Chemical peels use acid-based solutions, including glycolic, lactic, salicylic, and mandelic acids, that work through chemical exfoliation at varying depths depending on the acid type, concentration, and contact time. At higher strengths and appropriate depths, they trigger active dermal remodeling, not just surface turnover. That's a different mechanism with a different recovery profile.

The choice between them isn't about which is better overall. It's about what the skin can tolerate and what the treatment goal actually is. For a client with an intact barrier looking to address textural scarring or deeper hyperpigmentation, a calibrated chemical peel has more reach. For a client in barrier repair mode who still needs exfoliation, an enzyme is the appropriate tool. Matching the modality to the skin state is the whole point.