Chemical peels might not be the first treatment you think of for acne, but they can definitely help. While studies haven't been able to prove exactly why peels work for acne, doctors believe it has to do with rapidly exfoliating the skin to essentially remove surface acne and speed up cell turnover. They can also temporarily reduce oil production and calm inflammation. Superficial peels are used for visible breakouts while deeper peels are necessary to treat acne scarring.

However, certain types of acne respond better than others. "Adult onset acne does better," explains Dr. Pollei. "Hormonal acne is less responsive, and patients who had acne throughout their teen years are less likely to see a result."

Our peel candidate Audree started breaking out after college, so Dr. Pollei knew she'd see a great result. She was also bothered by scarring and texture, which the peels would treat. "I feel the need to cover up the scaring on my chin every day," says Audree.

Her Rx: 4 PCA Peels, one per month, starting with a Sensi peel -- a gentle solution for sensitive skin types -- to gauge her skin's reaction, and then three Ultra Peels (a moderate to aggressive peel). In addition to the series of peels, Dr. Pollei completely revamped each patient's skin care routine. He had Audree use PCA Skin Acne Gel, a retinol and SPF 45 during the day (you have to be extremely careful about sun exposure while your skin is peeling).

"Audree improved after the first peel, and again with the second, but the fourth was the a-ha moment," says Dr. Pollei.

One of the biggest things Audree learned from her peel experience is how to take better care of her skin overall. "I feel weird if I go outside without SPF on," she says. "The PCA products have opened my eyes to being more diligent about my skincare routine."

If you have melasma -- patches of hyperpigmentation -- you may have heard you should avoid chemical peels because they can trigger flare-ups and make it worse, but Dr. Pollei disagrees. "Often times with melasma, you have this early irritated phase where the melasma might worsen for a couple days or a week," he says. But if you combine the peel with an at-home regimen that contains lightening ingredients like hydroquinone, your skin will continue to even out over time.

Our candidate Blaire was cautiously optimistic. "I know that melasma is very temperamental and have been advised against lasers in the past," she says. "I'm not too concerned with getting the peel; I just hope the melasma doesn't get worse for any reason."

Her Rx: Three PCA Skin peels, one per month, starting with two Sensi Peels and then one Ultra Peel. Dr. Pollei also had her use retinol, SPF and PCA Skin Pigment Gel, which contains 2% hydroquinone.

Blaire was extremely careful about sun exposure, and she avoided hot workouts and showers, which can trigger melasma. While her melasma didn't disappear completely, Dr. Pollei was happy with the results. "A 50-70-percent improvement is a homerun for a lot of patients," he says.

"Overall, I think the peels made my skin feel amazing, and as far as discoloration goes I do see a slight improvements, which is awesome," says Blaire.

By resurfacing the skin, chemical peels can treat fine lines, sun damage, large pores, and uneven texture -- all visible signs of aging. Our anti-aging candidate, CJ, was a serious challenge because -- in addition to being our oldest volunteer -- she also works outside in the sun.

Dr. Pollei wasn't intimidated. "She's in the sun all day every day, but with her Mediterranean heritage, she looks pretty good," he says. "I got the vibe that even doing the peels was more than she'd do under normal circumstances. But as she saw the benefits, she warmed up to it pretty quickly."