What To Expect After Mild Chemical Peel

What To Expect After Mild Chemical Peel

Do you want to know how your skin will look after a light chemical peel? This is just one of many questions that our team of professionals is prepared to address. Safe and effective, chemical peels smooth out the skin’s texture, lessen the look of fine lines and wrinkles, and brighten the overall complexion. Chemical peels provide long-lasting benefits when performed by a trained specialist.

This blog post will explain everything from what to expect during your consultation to how long it will take for your skin to heal if you’re thinking about getting a light chemical peel for yourself, or if you’ve already had one and want to know what to expect following your treatment.

Chemical peels are the most advanced skin rejuvenation techniques. These types of chemical treatments help in correcting dark spots, wrinkles, fine lines and other signs of aging. Chemical peels can also be used to remove scars, treat acne and lighten age spots. A qualified dermatologist usually performs chemical peels. However, it is possible for patients to get chemical peels as DIY treatments by getting products from over-the-counter. Read on to learn more how to treat breakouts after chemical peel/ no peeling after chemical peel.

What To Expect After Mild Chemical Peel

A chemical peel is a procedure in which a chemical solution is applied to the skin to remove the top layers. The skin that grows back is smoother. With a light or medium peel, you may need to undergo the procedure more than once to get the desired results.

Chemical peels are used to treat wrinkles, discolored skin and scars — usually on the face. They can be done alone or combined with other cosmetic procedures. And they can be done at different depths, from light to deep. Deeper chemical peels offer more-dramatic results but also take longer to recover from.

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Why it’s done

A chemical peel is a skin-resurfacing procedure. Depending on the issues you’re addressing with the procedure, you’ll choose a chemical peel in one of three depths:

• Light chemical peel. A light (superficial) chemical peel removes the outer layer of skin (epidermis). It’s used to treat fine wrinkles, acne, uneven skin tone and dryness. You might have a light peel every two to five weeks.
• Medium chemical peel. A medium chemical peel removes skin cells from the epidermis and from portions of the upper part of your middle layer of skin (dermis). It’s used to treat wrinkles, acne scars and uneven skin tone. You might need to repeat the procedure to achieve or maintain the desired result.
• Deep chemical peel. A deep chemical peel removes skin cells even deeper. Your doctor might recommend one for deeper wrinkles, scars or precancerous growths. You won’t need repeat procedures to get the full effect.

Chemical peels can’t remove deep scars or wrinkles or tighten sagging skin.

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Risks

A chemical peel can cause various side effects, including:

• Redness, scabbing and swelling. Normal healing from a chemical peel involves redness of the treated skin. After a medium or deep chemical peel, redness might last for a few months.
• Scarring. Rarely, a chemical peel can cause scarring — typically on the lower part of the face. Antibiotics and steroid medications can be used to soften the appearance of these scars.
• Changes in skin color. A chemical peel can cause treated skin to become darker than normal (hyperpigmentation) or lighter than normal (hypopigmentation). Hyperpigmentation is more common after superficial peels, while hypopigmentation is more common after a deep peel. These problems are more common in people with brown or black skin and can sometimes be permanent.
• Infection. A chemical peel can lead to a bacterial, fungal or viral infection, such as a flare-up of the herpes virus — the virus that causes cold sores.
• Heart, kidney or liver damage. A deep chemical peel uses carbolic acid (phenol), which can damage heart muscle and cause the heart to beat irregularly. Phenol can also harm the kidneys and liver. To limit exposure to phenol, a deep chemical peel is done a portion at a time, in 10- to 20-minute intervals.

A chemical peel isn’t for everyone. Your doctor might caution against a chemical peel or certain types of chemical peels if you:

• Have taken the oral acne medication isotretinoin (Myorisan, Claravis, others) in the past six months
• Have a personal or family history of ridged areas caused by an overgrowth of scar tissue (keloids)
• Are pregnant
• Have frequent or severe outbreaks of cold sores

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.

Before you have a chemical peel, your doctor will likely:

• Review your medical history. Be prepared to answer questions about current and past medical conditions and any medications you are taking or have taken recently, as well as any cosmetic procedures you’ve had.
• Do a physical exam. Your doctor will inspect your skin and the area to be treated to determine what type of peel you might benefit from most and how your physical features — for example, the tone and thickness of your skin — might affect your results.
• Discuss your expectations. Talk with your doctor about your motivations, expectations and potential risks. Make sure you understand how many treatments you might need, how long it’ll take to heal and what your results might be.

Before your peel, you might also need to:

• Take antiviral medication. Your doctor might prescribe an antiviral medication before and after treatment to help prevent a viral infection.
• Use a retinoid cream. Your doctor might recommend using a retinoid cream, such as tretinoin (Renova, Retin-A) for a few weeks before treatment to help with healing.
• Use a bleaching agent. Your doctor might recommend using a bleaching agent (hydroquinone), a retinoid cream, or both before or after the procedure to reduce the risk of side effects.
• Avoid unprotected sun exposure. Too much sun exposure before the procedure can cause permanent irregular pigmentation in treated areas. Discuss sun protection and acceptable sun exposure with your doctor.
• Avoid certain cosmetic treatments and certain types of hair removal. About a week before the peel, stop using hair removal techniques such as electrolysis or depilatories. Also, avoid hair dying treatments, permanent-wave or hair-straightening treatments, facial masks, or facial scrubs in the week before your peel. Don’t shave the areas that will be treated beginning 24 hours before your peel.
• Arrange for a ride home. If you’ll be sedated during the procedure, arrange for a ride home.

What you can expect

Before the procedure

A chemical peel is usually done at an office or in an outpatient surgical facility. Before the procedure, your doctor will clean your face, protect your hair, and cover your eyes with ointment, gauze, tape or goggles.

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.

Use ice packs for comfort. Over-the-counter pain-relieving medication, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve, others), may help reduce any discomfort. You’ll likely schedule a checkup soon after your treatment so that your doctor can monitor your healing.

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.

Once new skin completely covers the treated area in about two weeks, you can use cosmetics to conceal any redness. Use sunscreen every day.

Results

A light chemical peel improves skin texture and tone and lessens the appearance of fine wrinkles. The results are subtle but increase with repeated treatments. If you have a medium chemical peel, treated skin will be noticeably smoother. After a deep chemical peel, you’ll see a dramatic improvement in the look and feel of treated areas. Results may not be permanent. Over time, age and new sun damage can lead to new lines and skin color changes.

With all peels, the new skin is temporarily more sensitive to the sun. Talk with your doctor about how long to protect your skin from the sun.

How To Treat Breakouts After Chemical Peel

Apply moisturizer at least twice a day to promote the healing process and protect the skin. Even if you typically have oily skin and only use a light moisturizer, you may need to use a good, thick moisturizer as your skin recovers following a chemical peel.

Don’t Skip the Sunscreen!

Sunscreen is a must every day, but following a chemical peel, sun protection is even more essential. The skin is more sensitive to damage from the sun’s UVA/B rays. You should avoid exposure to the sun immediately after your treatment, and apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher before going outdoors. Immediately following your chemical peel, you should not use chemical sunscreens. Instead, use a physical sunblock to avoid an adverse response to the ingredients in some chemical sunscreens. Additionally, keeping the treated area physically shielded from the sun by wearing hats, scarves, or other protective coverings may be recommended after your chemical peel.

8 – Avoid High Temperatures & Overexertion

To combat potential side effects like redness, tingling, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, you need to keep your skin cool. That means limiting time outdoors, taking cooler showers or baths, and avoiding overexerting yourself during exercise. In most cases, you can return to your regular routine after the first two weeks.

9 – You Might Break out

Many patients receive chemical peels to help improve the appearance of acne scars or combat the symptoms of adult acne, so when they hear that they may break out after their chemical peel, it’s upsetting. Unfortunately,  the combination of larger amounts of dead skin and inflammation from the procedure can lead to pimples. We know how frustrating it can be, but after this initial breakout, the skin should clear up within just a few days and look healthier.

Chemical peels can be used to treat a variety of skin conditions, from acne to hyperpigmentation. But the process can be painful and inconvenient, as it requires weeks of recovery time and no peeling or flaking.

Some chemical peel procedures require the patient to refrain from using certain products on their face for several days or weeks after treatment. The standard procedure involves applying a topical solution or gel over the entire face, which is then washed off after about 20 minutes.

However, patients who receive microdermabrasion treatments may experience some light flaking at first but this tends to settle within a few days.

Chemical peels are typically performed by dermatologists or plastic surgeons in an office setting under local anesthesia (injecting anesthetic around the treatment area). Some types of chemical peels can also be performed at home with kits sold over-the-counter or by prescription in pharmacies and health food stores.

Chemical peels remove layers of dead skin cells and help stimulate new cell growth beneath the surface of the skin — revealing younger looking skin. They are used to treat fine lines and wrinkles, sun damage, acne scars, age spots and other blemishes caused by aging.

A chemical peel is a mixture of chemicals that forms gel-like consistency. It’s applied to the face in order to smooth the surface of the skin, remove the appearance of fine lines and remove blemishes. There are three types of chemical peels: mild, medium-depth and deep. Each have their advantages and serve different purposes.

What Are the Advantages of a Mild Chemical Peel?

• Chemical peels help to smooth dry skin
• Can help with pigmentation problems
• Controls acne
• Removes blemishes
• Less recovery time
• Helps with mild sun-damage
• Reduces mild blotchiness
• Fresher and younger looking appearance

What Are the Advantages of a Medium-Depth Chemical Peel?

• Thin facial lines are removed or the appearance is less noticeable
• The medium-depth reduces facial birthmarks
• The pigmentation in the skin is improved
• Helps with dry skin and old acne scarring
• Helps with sun-damaged skin
• Improves blotchy skin
• Younger looking overall appearance

What Are the Advantages of a Deep Chemical Peel?

• Ability to remove pre-cancerous growths
• Deeper acne scar emanation
• Long lasting effect
• Eliminates deeper lines on the face??
• Controls acne
• Helps with deep or course wrinkles
• Age spot removal
• Only a single treatment is necessary
• Smoother skin, younger appearance
• Long-term results are very good when the peel is specifically for acne scarring

The advantages of chemical peels are many, and all three help with different issues. The deep chemical peels are reserved for those with the worst types of skin problems, including serious acne, scarring and birthmarks. Some disadvantages of chemical peels need mentioning.

What Are the Disadvantages of a Chemical Peel?

• Excessive peeling normally happens more with the medium-depth peel and particularly with the deep peel
• Stinging sensation when initially applied
• Redness appears. Again, this is particularly so with the deep and medium peels. The light peel normally results in peeling like a sunburn.
• Temporarily may feel a bit of numbness
• Deep chemical peels can cause a crusting or scabbing after the treatment, as the deep dead skin cells are sleuthing off. This is temporary.
• Sensitivity to the sun ? you will need to stay out of the sun for a short time after the peel as your skin is more sensitive
• Costs can also be a disadvantage for some, since the average chemical peel cost $500 for each treatment

While some disadvantages do exist for chemical peels, the advantages do outweigh them particularly for those suffering from severe skin problems, such as acne or acne scarring. Even with the disadvantages, most people that have had them report they would have it again because of the overall improvement of their skin’s surface and the younger fresher look the entire chemical peels bring about. The discomforts often associated with a chemical peel are temporary and subside rather quickly.

No Peeling After Chemical Peel

Chemical peel not peeling at home following treatment? No worries! It doesn’t mean the peel’s not working. In fact, the healing process will vary from person to person and day to day.

A chemical peel is a cosmetic treatment that uses a chemical solution to peel away old and damaged skin cells, allowing healthier and more youthful skin to emerge. It can help address a number of issues including wrinkles, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation. 

Some of the great benefits of this skin rejuvenation treatment include: 

• Improves the efficacy of your skin care products 
• Heals discolouration and scars on the skin 
• Exfoliates away dead cells and increases cell turnover for healthy, glowing skin 
• Results in a more even-toned complexion

7 Reasons to Consider a Chemical Peel

Chemical peels come in varying strengths and they can accomplish a great deal — whether you simply want a gentle exfoliation or you require treatment for more ingrained dermal problems. During a consultation, your skin care specialist can assess your concerns and skin type to determine which type of chemical peel is safest for you. 

Customized Chemical Peels at our Edmonton Medical Spa 

At our Edmonton med spa, our highly trained team of aestheticians creates customized chemical peel treatments to eliminate fine lines, wrinkles, and even acne scars. We also offer minimally invasive anti-aging treatments including Botox, Juvederm, and IPL photorejuvenation to address any skin concerns you might have and help you achieve all your aesthetic goals. 

Want to know how we can help you achieve healthy, glowing, and more youthful-looking skin? Contact Our Edmonton Medical Spa.