How Long Does It Take To Heal From A Medium Chemical Peel >Treated areas take about seven to 14 days to heal after a medium chemical peel, but redness might last for months. After a deep chemical peel, you’ll experience severe redness and swelling. You’ll also feel burning and throbbing, and the swelling may even make your eyelids swell shut.
There are a few factors that play into how your skin heals after a chemical peel. First, let’s talk about the type of peel you had done. There are three main categories of chemical peels: light, medium, and deep.
Light peels are typically done for rejuvenation purposes and do not remove much skin at all. This can be done by either having an aesthetician apply the acid with a cotton swab or by making your own at home with things like lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. Medium peels can range from superficial to deep depending on what kind of treatment you’re getting done and how long you leave it on your face before rinsing off. Deep peels are almost always done in a doctor’s office—and they remove all layers of your skin down to the dermis (or second layer). Deep peels require weeks of recovery time because they involve healing from an open wound due to their deep penetration into the skin layers. read more on Are Chemical Peels Safe/Light Chemical Peel Recovery Time.
How Long Does It Take To Heal From A Medium Chemical Peel?
Depending on what kind of chemical peel you get, there can be different levels of healing time. In general, it takes about one week to heal from a medium-depth chemical peel.
The healing period varies depending on the depth and severity of your chemical peel; however, most people can resume their normal activities within a few days after their treatment. You should not exercise or strain yourself too much for about two weeks after your treatment because your skin will be sensitive and prone to irritation during this period.
You may experience some redness, swelling and itchiness during the first few days after getting a medium-depth chemical peel but these symptoms are usually temporary and they will go away in several days.
If you have very oily skin, your skin may only need to be left on for 5 minutes before being neutralized with water. For dry skin, this time may be doubled or tripled. The length of time you leave the chemical peel on your skin will also depend on how thickly you apply it.
A chemical peel can be done in one session or in several sessions, depending on the severity of your skin. The average time for a single session is 30 minutes. If you have several areas that require treatment, it may take longer to complete your entire treatment plan.
Are Chemical Peels Safe
Superficial and medium peels are usually safe, as long as they’re done correctly. These type of peels are not permanent and they need to be repeated. Deeper peels are more risky. They’re longer-lasting and do not usually need to be repeated.
You should understand that all chemical peels carry some risks and uncertainties.
A chemical peel is usually a very safe procedure when performed by a qualified and experienced board-certified plastic surgeon.
While very rare, infection or scarring are risks of from chemical peeling treatments.
How you prepare
Choose a doctor with knowledge of the skin and procedure — a dermatologist or dermatologic surgeon. Results can be variable and depend on the expertise of the person doing the peel. Improperly done, a chemical peel can result in complications, including infection and permanent scars.
Light Chemical Peel Recovery Time
Before the procedure
A chemical peel is usually done at an office or in an outpatient surgical facility.
Pain relief isn’t typically needed for a light chemical peel. If you’re having a medium peel, you might receive a sedative and painkiller. For a deep peel, you might have a sedative, something to numb the treatment area and fluids delivered through a vein.
During the procedure
During a light chemical peel:
- Your doctor will use a brush, cotton ball, gauze or sponge to apply a chemical solution typically containing glycolic acid or salicylic acid. The treated skin will begin to whiten.
- You might feel mild stinging while the chemical solution is on your skin.
- Your doctor will apply a neutralizing solution or wash to remove the chemical solution from the treated skin.
During a medium chemical peel:
- Your doctor will use a cotton-tipped applicator or gauze to apply a chemical solution containing trichloroacetic acid, sometimes in combination with glycolic acid. The treated skin will begin to whiten.
- After a few minutes, your doctor will apply cool compresses to soothe treated skin. You might also be given a hand-held fan to cool your skin. No neutralizing solution is needed, however.
- You might feel stinging and burning for up to 20 minutes.
During a deep chemical peel:
- You’ll be given intravenous (IV) fluids, and your heart rate will be closely monitored.
- Your doctor will use a cotton-tipped applicator to apply carbolic acid (phenol) to your skin. Treated skin will begin to turn white or gray.
- To limit your exposure to phenol, your doctor will do the procedure in portions at about 15-minute intervals. A full-facial procedure might take about 90 minutes.
After the procedure
After a chemical peel of any depth, your skin will be red, tight, irritated or swollen. Follow your doctor’s directions for sun protection, cleansing, moisturizing and applying protective ointments to your skin. And avoid picking, rubbing or scratching your skin. It may take several months before your skin color returns to normal and you can see the full results of the peel.
After a light chemical peel, treated skin will be red, dry and mildly irritated — although these effects might be less noticeable with each repeat treatment. Your doctor might apply a protective ointment, such as petroleum jelly, to soothe the skin. You can usually wear makeup the next day if you wish.
Treated areas take about one to seven days to heal after a light chemical peel. New skin might temporarily be lighter or darker than normal.
After a medium chemical peel, treated skin will be red and swollen. You’ll feel stinging. Your doctor might apply a protective ointment, such as petroleum jelly, to soothe the area and prevent dryness. After five to seven days, you can use cosmetics to cover any redness.
As swelling decreases, treated skin will begin to form a crust and might darken or develop brown blotches. Treated areas take about seven to 14 days to heal after a medium chemical peel, but redness might last for months.
After a deep chemical peel, you’ll experience severe redness and swelling. You’ll also feel burning and throbbing, and the swelling may even make your eyelids swell shut.
Your doctor will apply a surgical dressing to treated skin. He or she might also prescribe painkillers. You’ll need to soak the treated skin and apply ointment several times a day for about two weeks.
Treated areas will develop new skin within about two weeks after a deep chemical peel, although redness might last for months. Treated skin might become darker or lighter than normal or lose the ability to tan.
You might prefer to remain at home while you’re healing from a chemical peel. You’ll likely need several follow-up visits soon after your treatment so that your doctor can monitor your healing.
Light Chemical Peel Recovery Time
A chemical peel is a skin exfoliation treatment that provides powerful skin rejuvenating benefits. Chemical peels come in different strengths to treat a range of skin concerns, including acne scarring, fine lines and wrinkles, large pores, discoloration, and uneven tone and texture. These blemishes exist at varying levels of depth within the skin, and the strength of each chemical peel determines how deeply it penetrates. The depth of penetration also affects the healing process, so if you want to rejuvenate your skin in time for an important day, you may need to plan pretty far in advance. Here’s a brief overview of what you can expect from the chemical peel healing process day by day.
CHEMICAL PEEL HEALING PROCESS DAY BY DAY
Every person is different, and their healing time will differ as well. In general, the deeper the peel, the longer the healing process. A chemical peel is a procedure you want to plan for well in advance of any special event, as it can take months for the full results to settle. Depending on the type of peel, expect to take some time off work. A superficial peel may not necessitate any more time off than the day of the procedure, but certain medium and deep peels may warrant up to 2 weeks of downtime.
DAY 1
. Depending on the depth of your peel and your skin’s sensitivity, you may either feel some mild skin irritation, a sunburn-like sting, or even a throbbing sensation. You will be given instructions for minimizing the pain. These may include ice packs and prescription medications.
DAYS 4-7
Flaking and peeling will continue. Discolorations or imperfections may become more noticeable, but this is normal. Depending on instructions from your chemical peel professional, you may begin to use a gentle skin cleanser and a strong hydrating moisturizer.
DAYS 7-14
For light chemical peels, the flaking and peeling should be complete within a week or so. In the days following, the new, healthy, supple skin will begin to grow. Some pinkness or discoloration can last for a month or longer before the skin settles to its new radiance. For medium or deep chemical peels, the swelling should disappear within two weeks, but the redness can remain for up to three months.
HOW YOU CAN HELP THE CHEMICAL PEEL HEALING PROCESS
Your skincare practitioner will provide you with post-peel instructions for taking care of your skin. It’s important that you follow them closely so you can get the most out of your chemical peel treatment. Here are some things your practitioner will likely recommend for your skincare during the post-peel healing process: