Using a chemical peel to enhance your skin is like giving your face a much-needed spa treatment. It’s quick and easy, it can be affordable, and it’s not unlike getting a facial—except you don’t have to leave your house! As long as you follow proper care instructions and follow them well, you should see the same benefits that any salon treatment offers: smoother skin without acne or wrinkles (or even age spots).
Read on to learn more about Is Chemical Peel Post Caring For Skin, Benefits Of Chemical Peel
Is Chemical Peel Post Caring For Skin
Chemical peels are customized for each patient depending on their skin type and skin concern. The treatments vary in intensity and depth of penetration, resulting in different aftercare recommendations for each patient.
Your medical provider will explain how to treat your skin post-treatment to help it heal safely and to maximize the effects of the procedure.
The following tips are universal and apply to all chemical peel patients.
Dos: 5 Things to Do After a Chemical Peel
1. Listen to Your Chemical Peel Provider
Choose a board-certified medical professional for the treatment because chemical peels use acid solutions to penetrate the skin. It requires medical knowledge and experience. To ensure the safety of the treatment, follow your medical provider’s instructions on how to care for your skin after the treatment. They know best what’s been done to your skin and how to ensure the effectiveness of the chemical peel.
2. Wash Your Skin with Lukewarm Water
The skin is very sensitive after a chemical peel. Cold or hot water may feel uncomfortable and aggravate your skin. To avoid any skin irritation, use cool or lukewarm water when you rinse your face.
Resurfaced skin after a chemical peel is more sensitive to UV rays. If you expose it to the sun, it may cause inflammation. Sunscreen is always an essential skincare product, but is a must after a chemical peel because it protects the skin while its natural skin barrier is still weak. Make sure you use it whenever you go outside or spend time near a window.
We recommend a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Elta MD UV Pure is a great choice for patients after a chemical peel treatment because it checks all the boxes as a highly protective sun-blocking product for all skin types, including sensitive.
4. Use Gentle Skincare Products
In line with the above recommendations, use skincare products that won’t irritate and additionally dry out your sensitive skin. Go for soap-free cleansers and water-based moisturizers without harsh ingredients. Avoid retinol, exfoliating agents, and other abrasive components.
Your medical provider may recommend a gentle cleanser and moisturizer to use after the treatment to ensure your skin stays clean and well hydrated. The Vibrant Skin Bar team suggests SkinMedica’s Facial Cleanser because it doesn’t strip the face of its natural oils. The cleanser’s soothing and calming properties are suitable for all skin types.
5. Moisturize
Skin is dryer than usual after a chemical peel, and you need to hydrate it. Your medical provider may recommend a heavy-duty ointment after a deep peel. After light or medium peels, Replenish Hydrating Cream is a great choice because it thoroughly hydrates and soothes sensitive skin.
A moisturizer improves your skin’s natural protective barrier. Apply it several times a day or whenever your skin feels tight and you need to soften it to ease the discomfort. If you feel that you need extra hydration, look for gentle hydrating mists that you can spray on your face throughout the day without applying pressure on the skin. Osmosis MD Infuse Nutrient Activating Mist restores moisture while fortifying your skins natural barrier with antioxidants.
Don’ts: 6 Things to Avoid After a Chemical Peel
1. Don’t Touch, Pick, or Scratch
Medical providers warn against applying pressure on treated skin after most cosmetic treatments. Chemical peels not only expose raw, sensitive skin, but they also cause the top layers of skin to peel. This may frustrate patients and tempt them to remove the peeling skin with their fingers.
Peeling, touching, picking, or scratching the skin after a chemical peel can lead to bleeding, infections, breakouts, and scarring. Use a moisturizer instead and let the skin shed off naturally to avoid complications.
2. Don’t Exfoliate
You’ve already exfoliated your skin with a chemical peel. The newly resurfaced skin is free of dead cells, oil, and dirt, so additional exfoliation can only irritate it and cause damage. Wait about one week for light and medium peels or until the skin is fully healed to exfoliate it.
3. Don’t Use Too Many Skincare Products
Swap your usual beauty routine for a minimal skincare regime. After a chemical peel, it’s best to stick to a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. Avoid retinol creams and heavier products with active ingredients and irritants.
After a medium peel, wait about one week to resume your usual skincare routine. After a deep peel, you will have to wait longer for your skin to completely heal.
4. Avoid Other Cosmetic Treatments
To prevent unnecessary damage to sensitive skin, wait about two weeks before you get another cosmetic treatment. That includes facial waxing, Botox, dermal fillers, laser resurfacing, and other potentially abrasive procedures.
5. Don’t Expose Your Skin to Excessive Heat
Avoid exposure to the sun, tanning beds, saunas, hot tubs, and other sources of heat. Excessive heat and sweating can irritate the skin, cause an infection, and extend recovery time after a chemical peel.
6. Avoid Strenuous Physical Activity
Avoid intensive workouts for the same reason you would avoid saunas. Strenuous physical activity causes excessive sweating and increases blood circulation, which can intensify the side effects of your chemical peel and delay recovery.
Benefits Of Chemical Peel
Chemical peels are used to improve the appearance of your skin. A chemical solution is applied to the skin which ultimately makes it blister and peel off. The new skin is typically smoother and has a smoother and more youthful appearance.
A chemical peel can be performed on your face, neck, or hands with the following goals:
- Reduce fine lines under the eyes and near the mouth
- Treat wrinkles from aging and sun damage
- Improve the appearance of mild scars
- Treat some types of acne
- Reduce aging spots, freckles, and dark patches from pregnancy or birth control
- Improve the overall appearance and feeling of the skin
Following a chemical peel, the skin is temporarily more sensitive to the sun. It is important to wear sunscreen daily. The sun screen should be “broad-spectrum”, meaning it protects against UVA and UVB rays and be at least SPF 30 or higher. Limit time spent in the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Patients should wear a wide-brimmed hat to help protect your face from the harmful sun rays.
Chemical Peel Candidates
Generally, patients with fair-skin and lighter-hair are better candidates for chemical peels. Patients with darker skin can also have good results, but are also more likely to have an uneven skin tone after the procedure.
Chemical peels do not work well to treat sagging skin, bulges, and severe wrinkles. Other cosmetic surgical procedures such as laser resurfacing, a facelift, brow lift, eyelid lift, or soft tissue filler may work better for these conditions. Schedule an appointment with a dermatologic surgeon to discuss the best type of treatment for your skin.
Chemical Peel Procedure
Chemical peels can be performed in a doctor’s office or in a surgical center. The procedure is considered outpatient so you will be able to go home the same day.
Your skin will be cleansed thoroughly before the procedure begins. The doctor will then apply at least once chemical solutions such as glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, or carbolic acid or phenol. The chemical will be applied to small areas of your skin. A controlled wound is created where the new skin will regrow.
Most people feel a burning sensation during the procedure which should only last five to ten minutes. This is followed by a stinging sensation. A cool compresses can be placed on the skin to help ease the discomfort. A pain medication may be used for a deeper peel.
Chemical Peel Recovery
Depending upon the type of chemical peel you receive (light, medium or deep), your skin will react in a similar way to a sunburn. The peeling usually involves redness which is followed by scaling which usually lasts for a few days to a week. Mild peels can be repeated after two to five weeks to maintain your desired results.
Medium and deep chemical peels may result in some swelling or blisters which can break, crust, turn brown, and peel off. This process usually takes place over one to two weeks. Medium peels can be repeated after three to nine months. Deep peels should only be performed once.
It is important to avoid or protect your new skin from the sun for several months after a chemical peel as the skin is quite fragile.
Potential Complications
People with a darker skin tone are more likely to develop a temporary or permanent color change following a chemical peel. There is also a low change of scarring some areas of the face. If scarring does occur, it is typically treated using antibiotics or a steroid.
For people who have a history of herpes outbreaks, there is a minor risk of reactivating cold sores. Your doctor can prescribe a medication to help prevent or treat the cold sores.
How Long Does Chemical Peel Last
What Is The Goal Of A Chemical Peel?
Chemical peels work by resurface the skin. This is done by inducing a controlled wound and therefore removing the superficial top layers of the skin. Chemical peels promote a healthy, new top layer of skin and improve skin issues such as hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, uneven texture and skin impurities.
What To Expect During A Chemical Peel?
Procedures will vary based on which type of chemical peel is being used. The skin is prepared and cleansed with a medical grade degreaser to ensure the treated area is free from any oil. The chemical agent is then applied and stays on the skin for 3 to 5 minutes. Most patients report feeling a mild stinging which typically only lasts a few minutes. Some peels are designed to self-neutralize and can stay on your skin for up to four hours.
Will There Be Visible Peeling?
The success of the peel should not be determined by the amount of peeling you experience. Patients should focus on the end results. The amount of peeling can vary on the condition of the patient’s skin and the depth of the peel being performed. The skin is still re-growing at an accelerated rate, which will result in an improved skin tone, texture and an improvement of fine lines and uneven pigmentation.
How Long Will A Chemical Peel Last?
The lasting effects of a chemical peel will depend on the type of peel (light, medium or deep) and the patient’s skin type. Light chemical peels usually lasts about 2-5 weeks and medium chemical peels typically last about 3-9 months. Deep chemical peels should only be performed one time.
What To Avoid Before A Chemical Peel?
The following should be avoided:
- Avoid waxing, electrolysis, deploritory creams, and laser hair removal one week before a peel
- Discontinue the use of any topical prescriptions two to three days before the peel. This includes Retin-A, differin or Tazorac, and any products which contain retinol, alpha hydroxyl acids (AHA), beta hydroxyl acids (BHA) or benzoyl peroxide.
- Patients who have recently had medical cosmetic facial treatments or procedures such as Laser treatments, cosmetic fillers or other surgical procedures should wait until the skin has completely healed before undergoing a chemical peel.
When Should A Chemical Peel Be Avoided?
You should not have a chemical peel if you any of the following conditions apply:
- Active cold sores, herpes simplex or warts in the treatment area
- Extremely sensitive or sunburned skin
- Ese Accutane within the past 12 months
- Have recently undergone chemotherapy or radiation
- Aspirin allergies
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Vitiligo
- History of an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, lupus, or multiple sclerosis. Chemical peels should not be used by patients who have any condition which may compromise the immune system
What Should I Expect After A Peel?
Your skin will feel tighter and be red immediately following the peel. Your skin may feel slightly tacky and have a yellowish or orange tinge which will subside within a few hours of treatment. This happens from the Retinoic acid which is applied to the skin. This is a self-neutralizing peel and the face should not be washed for at least four hours after the procedure.
When Does The Skin Start To Peel?
Peeling typically begins about 48-72 hours following the treatment and can last for 2-5 days. It is important to not pick off any of the peeling skin. The peeling should be minimal and easily controlled through the use of a good moisturizer. Prematurely peeling of the skin will result in dry, cracked, raw and painful skin which may turn into hyperpigmentation.