Chemical peeling is an effective procedure of external dermatological treatment which has been used by doctors for decades. The objective of chemical peeling is to induce uniform shedding of pathologically altered surface layers of the skin. In particular surface chemical peeling which does not penetrate deeper than the pars papillaris corii and involves therefore only a small risk of serious complications, is developing rapidly. In addition to the traditionally used trichloroacetic acid since the beginning of the eighties also so-called „fruit acids“ are used, in particular glycolic acid. Recently for chemical peeling also salicylic acid is used. Chemical peeling is becoming part of comprehensive treatment of acne and incipient manifestations of ageing of the skin. Medium deep and deep chemical peeling which were formerly used in particular for correction of more extensive manifestations of ageing skin are gradually replaced by laser techniques which in this indication make achievement of more predictable results possible.

        Key words: chemical peeling - glycolic acid - salicylic acid - trichloracetic acid