Chemical peels in some severe cases have been used to treat acne.  After all, you essentially put harsh chemicals on your face, which peel off a layer of your skin, but they also kill any bacteria hiding in the pores.  This is only for extreme cases of acne in the user’s mind, and some would say you should never use them. 

If you choose a chemical peel, its severity can differ depending on your needs.  For example, the most mild form uses benzoyl peroxide, which begs the question why not just use a smaller concentration and get a drying effect that will theoretically kill any bacteria that you would kill with that bacteria.  Another uses glycolic acids, which again have been used in many common acne treatments in smaller amounts, so why not just buy smaller concentrations in your common acne treatments.  Chances are, you may do greater damage with chemical peels, and if it didn’t work in the smaller concentrations, chances are it is not going to work in the amounts used in chemical peels.

Some people using chemical peels in general, no matter the reason, have experienced severe chemical burns and extreme sensitivity to the sun in general.  The FDA therefore requires warnings to each consumer about those effects and additional warnings.  In general terms, you could find the same ingredients in milder acne treatments, and even with those, when you feel a “tingling” feeling, it generally means that it is killing your skin cells along with possible bacteria buildup.