How Long After A Chemical Peel Can I Wear Makeup
Chemical peels are a great way to refresh and rejuvenate your appearance. But, if you’ve never had one before, you may have some questions about what to do before and after your peel. One of the most common questions we get is, “Can I wear makeup after a chemical peel
More intense chemical peels require more time before reuniting with your makeup bag. The AAD states that you can wear camouflaging makeup five to seven days after a medium peel while those who receive deep peels need to wait a minimum of 14 days before applying makeup. read more on what happens if you wear makeup after chemical peel and can i wear makeup after a glycolic peel.
How Long After A Chemical Peel Can I Wear Makeup
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By now, you’ve likely heard about chemical peels, the different options there are, and the wonders they can do for an array of skin concerns. But no matter how much research you’ve done on how this form of chemical exfoliation can benefit your skin, it’s a good idea to brush up on your chemical peel aftercare know-how before you commit to this particular beauty treatment. Read on to for the eight things you should know about chemical peel aftercare. Skin care lessons are in session!
1. GOOD THINGS TAKE TIME
We’re sure you’re familiar with the saying, “good things take time,” and it applies to your post-chemical peel mindset. The type of chemical peel treatment you get determines how long your healing process will be. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), a refreshing peel can heal within one to seven days, a medium peel can heal within seven to 14 days, and a deep peel can heal within 14 to 21 days. That being said, the initial healing process is only part of the battle, as additional redness, scabbing, swelling, and blistering can occur after the initial range, depending on the treatment you receive. No one said chemical peel aftercare was pretty!
2. YOU CAN WEAR MAKEUP
No, you don’t have to say goodbye to your precious foundation, blush, and highlighter while you’re recovering. Once again, the amount of time you have to wait before wearing makeup depends on the type of peel you receive. If you get a refreshing peel, you can wear makeup immediately after or the next day, per the AAD. More intense chemical peels require more time before reuniting with your makeup bag. The AAD states that you can wear camouflaging makeup five to seven days after a medium peel while those who receive deep peels need to wait a minimum of 14 days before applying makeup.
3. IT’S NOT ALWAYS ONE AND DONE
Remember that saying about good things taking time? Well, it holds true in more ways than one. According to the AAD, to achieve your desired results, you may need to have three to five refreshing peels, repeated every two to five weeks. Don’t expect to walk in, receive one treatment, and then be done!
4. AT-HOME CARE IS A MUST
As you can probably imagine, it’s important to take care of your skin after a chemical peel. The AAD states that refreshing peels call for a lotion to be applied daily until the skin heals, medium peels call for daily soaks and ointment application, and deep peels call for four to six daily soaks, as well as ointment and thick cream application.
5. HYDRATION IS KEY
Keeping your skin hydrated post-peel is a must. Dermatologists advise to use moisturizer as directed to keep your skin moist and supple since skin that is dry and cracking can scar.
6. TANNING IS A NO-NO
As much as you may dream of being a bronzed goddess, tanning is against the rules post-chemical peel—at least until your skin heals. The AAD notes that tanning beds and other types of indoor tanning can prevent your skin from properly healing.
7. THERE ARE POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS
By now, you probably get the picture—chemical peels are a big commitment. On that note, there are potential side effects that can occur as a result of receiving a chemical peel. Possible side effects include lightened skin, temporarily darkened skin, redness that can last for months, and scarring. Make sure you talk to your dermatologist about what side effects you can expect, so you don’t go into the aftercare process blind!
8. NOTHING LASTS FOREVER
When all is said and done, the last thing you should know about chemical peel aftercare is that nothing lasts forever. Since your skin is continuously aging, it’s important to note that the results of a chemical peel aren’t permanent. You can repeat mild and medium peels to renew your results, according to the AAD, however, a person can only have one deep peel.
What Happens If You Wear Makeup After Chemical Peel
It needs time to heal after your procedure. Also, new skin revealed by the peel is susceptible to irritation, and makeup could clog your pores. Note, if you do choose to wear makeup after your peel, you may find it flakes or peels off because your topmost layer of skin is peeling away.
Chemical peels are a great way to refresh and rejuvenate your appearance. But, if you’ve never had one before, you may have some questions about what to do before and after your peel. One of the most common questions we get is, “Can I wear makeup after a chemical peel?”
We’ve got your answer below!
What Is a Chemical Peel?
A chemical peel is an exfoliating treatment for the face that uses a solution containing acids or alcohol to remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. The goal of this procedure is to give the skin a smoother texture and a brighter complexion by removing the top layers of the skin. It’s also used as a preventative measure against future signs of aging such as sun damage, fine lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation (dark spots).
How Does it Work?
The acid or alcohol in the solution penetrates the outermost layer of the skin, where it dissolves the upper layers of the epidermis (outer layer), causing them to slough off. This process takes anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes depending on how deep you want the peel to go. During this time, the area will be slightly red and swollen. After the acid has been applied, the skin will feel tight and dry. You can expect to see results within two weeks.
What Can Chemical Peels Treat?
Chemical peels can treat many different conditions, including:
- Acne
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Hyperpigmentation
- Rosacea
- Sun damage
- Stretchmarks
- Uneven skin tone
How Long Do the Results of a Chemical Peel Last?
After a chemical peel, your skin will look much more even-toned with fewer visible pores and blemishes. Depending on what kind of peel you get, results can last several weeks to a few months. Results of superficial peels can last several weeks, while deep chemical peels may yield results that last several months.
Is There Any Risk Involved With a Chemical Peel?
There is always risk involved when performing any type of cosmetic surgery. We always recommend consulting with our plastic surgeon before having any procedure done. If you’re considering a chemical peel, talk to us about your skin goals and what type of chemical peel is right for you.
Is It Safe?
Yes! A chemical peel is safe for all skin types. There are no known side effects associated with this type of facial treatment. However, there are certain precautions that should be taken when having a chemical peel performed. These include:
- Avoiding direct sunlight exposure for at least two weeks following the procedure.
- Avoiding retinols (Vitamin A derivatives), beta hydroxy acids, alpha hydroxy acids, glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, sulfur and other similar products for at least four weeks prior to and after the procedure.
- Avoiding any over-the-counter acne treatments for at least two weeks prior to and after your procedure.
- Using sunscreen every day after your chemical peel to protect your new skin.
Can You Wear Makeup After a Chemical Peel?
Many people wear makeup as part of their regular routines, but what about after a chemical peel? Yes, you can wear makeup after a chemical peel. In fact, many women choose to wear makeup immediately after their peel because they don’t want to wait until their skin heals completely. However, we recommend that you wait at least 48 to 72 hours after your peel to apply makeup.
Why wait to apply makeup after a chemical peel? We recommend waiting because your skin will still be tender and sensitive for a few days after your peel. It needs time to heal after your procedure.
Also, new skin revealed by the peel is susceptible to irritation, and makeup could clog your pores.
Note, if you do choose to wear makeup after your peel, you may find it flakes or peels off because your topmost layer of skin is peeling away.
How Often Can You Get a Chemical Peel?
How often you can get a chemical peel depends on the strength of the peel you choose. If you’re getting a light peel, every six weeks is fine. For a moderate peel, you may need to schedule treatment every few months. Very strong peels require less frequent maintenance.
Can Chemical Peels Be Combined With Other Treatments?
Chemical peels can be combined with other procedures to achieve more dramatic results. For example, a chemical peel can be done along with a microdermabrasion session to enhance the results. Or, a chemical peel can help prepare your skin for laser resurfacing.
Dermaplaning and chemical peels also make a great combination. Dermaplaning is a skin care procedure that removes dead cells and debris from the surface of the skin while leaving the natural oils intact. Dermal peels remove superficial layers of the epidermal skin and stimulate new cell growth. By combining these two procedures, you can have both an exfoliation and a rejuvenation effect.
Can I Wear Makeup After A Glycolic Peel
During your Chemical Peel aftercare, if you wear makeup, it’s best to take a little break from your usual routine. Products like mascara will be fine, but any topical makeup for your skin like a non-mineral foundation may clog your newly exposed and opened pores.
Whenever you get a chemical peel, always ask your doctor when you can wear makeup again.
The answer you get will depend on the depth and strength of the chemical peel you received, since your skin will peel to varying degrees after a chemical cosmetic treatment, and it’s essential for your skin’s full and safe recovery – as well as to the effectiveness of your chemical peel – to be kept clean while old layers of skin are peeling away and bare skin is exposed as it heals. Applying makeup too soon can cause infections and other complications like irritation.
Again, it all depends on which type of chemical peel you get. If you have a light chemical peel, also known as a ‘lunchtime peel’ with a low-strength glycolic acid, your doctor may say it’s okay to apply your makeup the very next day. Always ask first, though. Your skin may have extra sensitivity that the doctor will see during your treatment, and perhaps advise you to wait an extra few days just to be safe.
With a medium or deep peel, your skin will need extra time to complete the treatment processing – because treatment continues to occur beneath the skin’s surface for some time after your procedure. You’ll need a few days for your skin to complete the peeling and recovering process, and applying makeup while skin is peeling will hinder the effectiveness of the peel you just received. Also, as skin is peeling, that bare skin starting to reveal beneath the old, dead layers the peel is removing must be kept ultra-clean and free of anything that can cause irritation, discoloration, scarring, infection and a delay in seeing those beautiful, fresh results of your chemical peel.
Each individual heals from a chemical peel at a different rate, given skin sensitivity, and also the different chemical peel medications that may be used as part of the treatment. Your doctor may advise you to steer clear of cosmetics for 7 to 10 days after your chemical peel, and you might also be advised to wait even longer. Your skin can only benefit from having extra time to heal and breathe.
Makeup, after all, isn’t very sterile. Your foundation or face powder likely has some bacteria in it, if you’ve been using in for a few weeks or months. Exposing your bare skin to this bacteria can be an infection sure to happen. And makeup with minerals or metals in it also can do harm to healing skin. Even lip gloss which you might think it harmless and essential to your ‘going out of the house’ face can cause an infection in bare, treated skin around your lip line. And don’t forget that the rubbing and tugging of removing makeup from your face also can cause damage to healing skin post- chemical peel.
So be extra-cautious and extra-adherent to your doctor’s orders, to avoid the pain of inflamed skin, as well as the need for additional peels or bleaching cream treatments to fix any discoloration, scarring or damage caused by premature makeup application. Bare skin is very vulnerable. Handle it with care.
That means using makeup with sunscreen in it, which your doctor will recommend. Your doctor may suggest a high SPF factor to keep protecting your face, and also to lengthen the amount of time that your chemical peel results will last