Skin peels have existed since the time of Cleopatra. This famous queen used lactic acid (found in sour milk)

and tartaric acid (found in wine) to give herself mild chemical peels.

This practice continued through the ‘Middle Ages’ Modern scientists now know that sour milk and wine also contain alpha hydroxyl acids, which are used today in some mild chemical peels. The Development of Modern Skin Peels In the early years of the twentieth century, Americans and

Europeans could receive mild Skin peels from salons who used secret

recipes for their peeling solutions. Modern dermatologists, such as P.G. Unna, supported the practice of Skin peels using salicylic acid,

resorcinol, phenol and trichloroacetic acid. The phenol peel was developed in the 1950s for use on those with deep wrinkles, severe scarring and skin growths. By the 1960s dermatologists were looking for other agents they could use to perform chemical peels.