But here’s the thing: you have no idea how to treat your skin after a chemical peel. You know you need to keep it moisturized, but what about other treatments? And should you use a different night cream than your usual one? How much sun protection do you need? What kind of sunscreen should you get? And is there anything else that will help your skin heal faster?
We’re here to help! Read on for our guide to post-peel skincare so you can treat your skin right after your chemical peel and make sure that future treatments go smoothly.
Read on to learn more about How To Treat Your Face After A Chemical Peel, How To Treat Breakouts After Chemical Peel and How To Treat Hyperpigmentation After Chemical Peel
How To Treat Your Face After A Chemical Peel
If you’ve ever been tempted to try a chemical peel, you probably know that they’re not for everyone.
Chemical peels can be pricey and require some down time, but they’re also great for clearing up acne and getting rid of fine lines and wrinkles.
If you decide that a chemical peel is right for you, here’s what happens during the procedure and how to treat your skin afterward.
Chemical peels remove the top layer of skin with chemicals that help unclog pores, lighten dark spots and even out your complexion by stimulating collagen production. There are two types of chemical peels: superficial and medium depth. Superficial peels work on the surface layer of skin (epidermis) while medium depth peels penetrate into the second layer of skin (dermis). The latter can cause more downtime because it’s more aggressive in removing dead skin cells.
After a chemical peel, you will have a slightly red and tingling face. This is normal, and it should last for about 24 hours. After the peel, it is important to follow a daily skincare regimen. To help maintain your skin’s health and appearance, we recommend the following:
Avoid sun exposure for at least one week after your treatment.
Use a gentle cleanser twice a day. We recommend Cetaphil® Gentle Cleanser. You can apply this product with your fingertips or with a cotton ball. Gently rub it on your face in circular motions to cleanse the skin. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and pat dry with soft towel or tissue paper.
Apply an over-the-counter moisturizer twice daily to keep your new skin hydrated. We recommend Eucerin® Aquaphor Healing Ointment because it contains ingredients that help soothe irritated skin and prevent dryness from forming too quickly (which could cause flaking). Apply the ointment gently over your entire face after cleansing with Cetaphil® Gentle Cleanser and before bedtime each evening for best results
Chemical peels are a great way to improve the appearance of your skin. If you’re considering chemical peels, it’s important to understand how to treat your face after a chemical peel.
A chemical peel is a procedure that removes the top layers of skin and exposes new, healthier skin underneath. It’s also called a “lunchtime peel” because it only takes about 30 minutes to perform. Chemical peels can be used to treat acne, wrinkles and sun damage, as well as discoloration and scarring.
The most common type of chemical peel uses alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), which are naturally occurring in fruits such as apples and pears. These acids work by dissolving the glue that holds dead skin cells together so they can be shed more easily.
After a chemical peel, your face may feel irritated or sting for several days. You’ll also have some redness on your cheeks and forehead for up to two weeks after the procedure — but this is normal and will go away on its own without any help from you!
Here are some tips for treating your face after a chemical peel:
Chemical peels are an effective way to treat fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars and hyperpigmentation. However, the process can be intense so it’s important that you follow your dermatologist’s instructions and take care of your skin after a chemical peel.
Post-peel care is also important because it helps your skin heal faster while minimizing scarring and discoloration. Here are some tips on how to treat your face after a chemical peel:
Hydrate your skin with water or moisturizer.
Your skin will be drier than usual after a chemical peel because it has been stripped of its natural protective barrier. That’s why it’s important to use a hydrating cleanser or moisturizer that won’t irritate your post-peel skin. Even if you don’t feel like you need one, using an exfoliator every day can help get rid of any flaky skin left behind by the peel.
Apply SPF during the day, but not at night.
Before your first post-peel appointment with your dermatologist, ask about the best time to wear sunscreen on your face since there’s a tendency for people to overdo it when they’re trying to cover up scars from healing wounds or discoloration from
There are a few things you should do after a chemical peel to ensure the best possible results.
- Don’t wear makeup or moisturizer on your skin for at least 24 hours.
- Apply petroleum jelly liberally to the treated area to keep it moist and help it heal
- Apply ice packs (wrapped in a towel) to the treated area for 15 minutes at a time, several times per day. This will help reduce redness and swelling
- You may experience some mild peeling or flaking of the skin in the days following treatment, but this should clear up within 7-10 days
How To Treat Breakouts After Chemical Peel
A chemical peel is a cosmetic procedure that involves the application of a chemical solution to the skin in order to improve its appearance. The most common types are superficial peels, medium depth peels and deep peels.
Even though there are several variations of chemical peels available, they all have some similar side effects. These can include redness, dryness and irritation. In addition, the use of chemical peels may cause acne breakouts.
Acne is an inflammatory disorder caused by clogged pores. When the pore becomes clogged with dead skin cells and bacteria, it forms a pimple or breakout on your face or other parts of your body.
If you suffer from acne after undergoing a chemical peel, then here are some ways to treat it:
Chemical peels are used to treat acne, hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, and other skin problems.
Chemical peels can be done in two different ways: superficial or deep. Superficial chemical peels only affect the outermost layer of skin, while deep ones penetrate deeper into your skin.
Superficial chemical peels are normally done on people with light to medium pigmentation issues or mild acne scars. On the other hand, deep chemical peels are usually recommended for people who have severe acne or hyperpigmentation problems.
Most people experience some breakouts after getting a chemical peel, but this is normal and should not be alarming if it does not last more than one week.
Redness, peeling, and flaking are all common post-peel side effects. But the worst case scenario is a rash or breakout. This can happen if the peel has been applied too aggressively or if you’re using products that irritate your skin.
Even though chemical peels are non-invasive, they can still cause adverse reactions in some people. If you experience any of these symptoms after getting a peel, it’s important to stop using the product immediately. You should also contact your dermatologist right away so they can examine your skin and prescribe an appropriate treatment plan.
Chemical peels are a great way to rejuvenate the skin and treat acne. However, it’s important to know that there are some side effects of chemical peels that you may not have thought about.
One of the most common side effects is acne breakouts. If you’ve had a chemical peel in the past and started to experience breakouts afterward, it could be due to residual chemicals in your skin.
How To Treat Breakouts After Chemical Peel
If you’re experiencing breakouts after a chemical peel, there are several things you can do to help them go away. Here are some tips:
Wash your face twice a day with warm water and mild soap or cleanser. You may also want to use an exfoliating scrub once or twice a week on your face, but avoid any products with harsh chemicals like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, which could irritate your skin even more.
Apply a topical antibiotic like benzoyl peroxide or clindamycin gel one time per day for two weeks, then stop using it for two weeks before trying again if needed. This will help prevent more breakouts from occurring while helping clear up existing ones.
Use a pimple patch such as Duac
If you have a chemical peel, you will likely experience some redness and peeling. These are the normal side effects of having a chemical peel, and they should go away within 7 to 10 days. If your skin doesn’t clear up within 10 days, contact your doctor.
It’s important that you know what to expect after having a chemical peel. The recovery time varies depending on the type of peel you have and how deep it is. A superficial peel may only require that you avoid direct sunlight for a few days while more invasive options require more serious precautions
If you experience any abnormal symptoms after having a chemical peel, call your doctor immediately. Some complications may include:
Sunburn: Chemical peels cause your skin to be more sensitive to sunlight than usual; avoid going out in the sun for about two weeks after having a chemical peel. If you do go out in the sun during this time, use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and wear protective clothing such as hats and long sleeves.
Swelling: Swelling is common after having any type of procedure done on your face — especially if it involves removing tissue from underneath the skin surface. Swelling typically goes away within three days but can last up to two weeks
How To Treat Hyperpigmentation After Chemical Peel
There are some things that naturally come with getting older that we have to accept, but hyperpigmentation – that is, irregular patches of skin becoming darker – is not necessarily one of them.
Candice Gardner, Education Manager at Dermalogica, often has to deal with concerns surrounding hyperpigmentation and puts this down to two things: “The first is stress. Long term release of cortisol causes the development of hyperpigmentation, commonly seen across the forehead and around the temples and orbital area.
“The second is due to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). Melanin (natural pigment found in the skin) is a natural anti-inflammatory and our skin will produce increased amounts to regulate an inflammatory response. So it is not uncommon to see the skin darken in areas where there has been infection, trauma or irritation,” Gardner notes.
But, what is hyperpigmentation exactly and how can we tackle it?
What is hyperpigmentation?
Whether manifested on the skin as sun spots, age spots or melasma, hyperpigmentation is a common condition in which irregular patches of skin become darker than the surrounding area leading to an uneven appearance in skin colour. It is caused by an excess production of melanin, our natural biological pigment, and can be triggered by a range of factors, according to Gardner.
Not to be confused with melasma, which is a form of hyperpigmentation, the latter is usually found nearer to the surface of the skin anywhere on the face and body and is predominantly caused by external factors such as sun exposure and acne. It usually presents itself as freckle-like spots of different sizes – or clusters of spots that form patches of pigmentation, points out skin specialist and InMode ambassador, Nilam Holmes.
The causes of hyperpigmentation
There are a range of causes for hyperpigmentation, which at times may not be a singular factor, making this condition a tricky one to treat.
“From sun damage and pollution to pregnancy and hormone imbalances, the effects will be visible as areas where skin appears darker. Sun exposure, the best-known trigger for melanin production, is a leading cause of uneven pigmentation. In fact, research also suggests a strong link between airborne pollution and dark spots, where particles become lodged in the skin’s deeper structure leading to low grade chronic inflammation and free radical damage, which results in uneven pigmentation,” says Gardner.
It is worth noting that the deeper your baseline skin colour, the more significant hyperpigmentation will be and the more challenging it can be to treat. Those with a more mature skin type may also be more susceptible to the condition.
Gardner points out, “as we age our melanin producing cells can decrease in number or produce irregularly due to a decline in metabolic function or long-term UV damage. This causes uneven distribution of melanin in the skin, leading to a mottled complexion. However dark spots can add up to 10-20 years to one’s perceived age, and can be as much a concern at a younger age.”