What To Know About Chemical Peel 7 Days A Week

What To Know About Chemical Peel 7 Days A Week

If you want flawless skin without the downtime associated with surgery, consider getting a chemical peel. The face, neck, chest, hands, and legs are all fair game for this treatment. You can get a chemical peel at a medical spa or a dermatologist’s office. To remove dull, lifeless skin, chemical peels target the outermost layer of skin. They accomplish this by using an acid solution to scrape off your skin’s outermost layer. The new skin that eventually replaces the old will be healthier and less prone to wrinkles and spots.

Depending on what type of chemical peel you have, there may be some pain involved after treatment with anesthetic cream applied beforehand. Also, there may be some redness afterward that lasts for several days until it clears up completely (although it could take up to two weeks). You should avoid sun exposure during this time so as not to irritate your skin further or cause more damage than necessary.

A chemical peel is a popular skin treatment that can improve your complexion quickly and easily. In just a few short minutes you can feel the difference. A by-product of a chemical peel is that you can increase collagen in your skin. This will make your skin look fresh and new. Chemical peels are easy to do at home, when used correctly. But keep in mind that not all peels are alike. Before you go ahead with one, check a few things: it is made of the right blend of active ingredients, the percentage is correct. Read on to learn more Light Chemical Peel Recovery Time/No Peeling After Chemical Peel.

What To Know About Chemical Peel 7 Days A Week

They’ve maintained their popularity because they’re so effective, helping to reveal healthy, radiant, youthful-looking skin. But there still seems to be a lot of confusion surrounding how a chemical peel works and what the chemical peel process looks like day by day. 

Here’s what you can expect before, during and after your chemical peel treatment.

What is a chemical peel, exactly?

Chemical peels are non-invasive cosmetic procedures that use a combination of powerful, skin-safe acids. These acids work together to break down the top few layers of the epidermis, exfoliating the skin and leaving behind the healthier layers underneath. 

The chemical peel process takes anywhere from one to seven days, depending on how “heavy” of a peel you have performed. The chemical peel we offer at Skin Pharm is a medium-depth (or TCA) peel. This peel uses a mix of alpha and beta hydroxy acids (AHAs and BHAs, including lactic acid and salicylic acid), retinoic acid and trichloroacetic acid to achieve the final results. 

What concerns do chemical peels tackle?

Chemical peels are excellent for taking on a variety of skin care concerns, including:

• Chronic sun damage
• Hyperpigmentation (brown spots)
• Melasma
• Scarring
• Acne
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Uneven skin tone or texture
• Large, visible pores

While you’ll start to see results after a single chemical peel, the effects are cumulative, meaning maximum benefits are noticeable after a series of peels.

What should I do to prep for my chemical peel?

The prep for a chemical peel starts with timing. We recommend that you schedule your chemical peel at least two weeks before any major events, as the expected side effects are most noticeable during that period. 

You want your skin to be as healthy as possible. A week before your appointment, you should avoid doing anything that irritates your skin. This includes tanning, laser procedures, waxing, using depilatory creams, tweezing and using skin care products with topical retinoids.

If you’re experiencing any rash or viral outbreaks on your face, you may need to reschedule your appointment. Doing a chemical peel with either of those factors can potentially worsen the issue.

How does the chemical peel application work?

Before your chemical peel day-to-day process starts, you’ll need to have your provider apply the treatment. People often have many concerns about what it will feel like to get a peel done and if it’ll hurt. We recommend scheduling a consultation before having a chemical peel to discuss what to expect and answer any questions you may have. 

When you arrive at the clinic, the first step is to wash your face. Washing your face removes any layers of dead skin cells, makeup and other debris (like skin care products) that may still be sitting on your skin. The result is a clear surface, ready to accept the peel without any barriers in its way. 

(Different skin care practices can perform different depths of chemical peels, and the “deeper” the peel, the more discomfort you are likely to feel.) Skin Pharm’s medium-depth chemical peel isn’t uncomfortable, though — most people describe the sensation as “tingling,” “warm” or “tight.” To help with any potential stinging during the treatment, we provide our patients with a handheld fan, too.

Day one post-chemical peel

After your chemical peel is complete and you leave the office, what should you expect on day one?

You’ll leave the clinic with the peel solution still on your face, and you’ll notice your complexion take on a yellow hue throughout the day. (Not to worry — this means it’s working!) After a few hours, you’ll apply the retinol crème your provider sent you home with.

You might notice some redness and sensitivity as the retinol gets to work. Many people describe the feeling as similar to having a sunburn. However, the telltale peeling that comes with a chemical peel won’t start for another day or so.

WHAT TO AVOID THE DAY OF YOUR CHEMICAL PEEL—

While your skin is still healing, keep a few factors in mind. Your skin is incredibly raw and sensitive, and it needs additional protection. To protect it and maximize your results, you should avoid any strenuous exercise or activities that lead to sweating. 

In addition, try to stay out of the sun as much as possible and wear sunscreen (with at least an SPF of 30) if you can’t avoid it entirely. 

You’ll also want to avoid letting your skin dry out. Although applying product to raw skin can feel uncomfortable, it needs moisture to heal. Allowing your skin to dry too much can lengthen the healing process and make it more likely that your skin will scab or even scar. 

Day two post-chemical peel

Day two of the chemical peel process day to day is where you’ll likely start to see your skin peel. The top layers of your skin are beginning to dehydrate and slough off, and you’ll see this more often start between the eyes and in the corners of the nose and mouth. 

Although it may be tempting, resist the urge to help your skin peel manually. Wash your skin gently and follow up with a stronger moisturizer, like Recovery Lotion.

For many people, the redness they experience in the first few days is enough to keep them home from work and social events. Expect that your skin will react this way, and don’t schedule anything significant in the few days directly after your chemical peel. 

If you deal with breakouts, you may experience some “purging” of any blemishes present under the surface before your peel. While this isn’t common, it is possible to start with a new retinol skin care product. 

Day three and four post-chemical peel

Day three and four are when you will likely experience the worst peeling and flaking. Your skin is most likely to feel uncomfortable these days — and it’s also at its most vulnerable. Follow your provider’s skin care recommendations carefully, as they are designed to help protect your skin and assist it with its natural healing process.

Now, more than ever, your skin needs to be protected. You may even want to wear a sun protective hat along with your sunscreen to make sure your skin stays safe and doesn’t burn. Doing that keeps your healing process moving forward.

Don’t be surprised if you notice more peeling in certain areas of your face than in others. This is normal and doesn’t indicate any problem with your skin’s healing process. 

Day seven post-chemical peel

A week after your chemical peel is performed, you’ll finally be able to start seeing your results. This is where all of the flaking, peeling and redness starts to pay off. (Professionals consider the results of a chemical peel permanent, so enjoy that new skin you’re starting to see!)

Depending on how well or quickly your skin is healing, you can usually return to your normal skincare routine a week or so after your chemical peel. 

Make sure that your skin is completely done peeling before using any harsher or more abrasive skin care products, as the skin may still be sensitive. When your skin stops feeling as tight and dry, you should be ok to switch back. 

Our post-chemical peel skin care routine is excellent for helping your skin to heal, but it isn’t meant for long-term use for most of our patients. Unless you have dry, sensitive skin, prolonged use can lead to breakouts or oily-looking skin. 

One week post-chemical peel (and beyond!)

Your skin is far less flaky and sensitive by this point in your chemical peel journey. However, because your skin has gone through a process meant to safely “damage” your skin so that it looks better than ever, there may still be some noticeable healing going on. 

More sensitive areas of your skin may start to crust and scab or even have a noticeable color change. Usually, this process is complete around two weeks after your chemical peel. However, some redness may persist for months, especially in hotter weather or when you exercise. 

How soon can I get another chemical peel?

Once you start to see results from your chemical peel, you’ll probably be ready to book your next appointment! However, you need to make sure to give your skin enough time to heal before you subject it to other chemical peels. If you have another peel too soon, you risk damaging your skin instead of helping it look its best. 

We recommend waiting at least four to six weeks between treatments. On average, most of our patients need between four and six treatments total for optimal results. 

To wrap things up…

Knowing the chemical peel process day to day can help you understand what to expect if you decide to perform this game-changing cosmetic treatment. While it may take slightly longer to heal than other cosmetic treatments, the results are permanent and often even more impressive than people expect! 

Light Chemical Peel Recovery Time

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

• Botox is used as a therapeutic treatment for many conditions, including for prevention of migraine headaches, and Botox Cosmetic is used for aesthetic purposes to lessen wrinkles like crow’s feet or forehead lines.
• Botox and Botox Cosmetic are prescription medicines that both contain the active ingredient onabotulinumtoxinA, but they come as separate products.
• Originally when Botox was first approved for wrinkles, doctors found it all also helped patients with migraine headaches. It was eventually approved by the FDA for migraine prevention in 2010.
• Both treatments are given as injections into the muscles of the face, neck or head, depending upon the use. You will need more injections per session for migraine prevention than for wrinkle treatment.
• Botox (for the treatment of chronic migraine) and Botox Cosmetic are for use in adults only.

Learn More: Compare Botox vs Botox Cosmetic

In addition to prevention of chronic migraine headache in adults, Botox is also approved to treat:

• overactive bladder
• leakage of urine (incontinence) in adults with overactive bladder due to neurologic disease
• muscle spasticity
• cervical dystonia (abnormal head position and neck pain)
• certain types of eye muscle problems or eyelid spasms
• severe underarm sweating

Botox Cosmetic is approved for adults to temporarily help improve the look of moderate to severe facial wrinkles:

• forehead lines
• crow’s feet lines
• frown lines between the eyebrows.

Botox Cosmetic is supplied in different unit vial sizes from Botox.

• Botox used for migraine comes in 100 and 200 unit single-use vials, while Botox Cosmetic for wrinkles comes in 50 and 100 unit single-use vials.
• Reconstitution and dilution instructions in the package insert vary between these two products.
• Potency Units of Botox Cosmetic or Botox are not interchangeable with other preparations of botulinum toxin products.

Botox dose for migraine: The recommended total dose for chronic migraine is 155 Units, as 0.1 mL (5 Units) injections per each site divided across 7 head/neck muscle areas, for a total of 31 individual injections. These areas include the forehead, bridge of the nose, the temples, the neck, the back of the head, and just above the shoulder blades in your upper back.

Botox Cosmetic dose for wrinkles: The recommended dose for wrinkles varies based on wrinkle type and typically ranges from 20 to 24 units per wrinkle area. The units per injection site will vary by patient and can be determined by a qualified injector for optimal results.

Can I get Botox and Botox Cosmetic at the same time?

Yes, you can receive Botox and Botox Cosmetic for different uses at the same time as long as the total dose received of onabotulinumtoxinA does not exceed 400 Units administered in a 3 month period for adults.

You may also receive Botox Cosmetic treatment for treatment of different wrinkle areas at the same time. It is not known if Botox Cosmetic is safe and effective for use more than once every 3 months.

The dilution and the resulting units per 0.1 mL (as noted in the package insert) are different between Botox and Botox Cosmetic. Health care providers should see the specific instructions for reconstitution and administration of each product.

Warnings: Botox and Botox Cosmetic may cause serious side effects that can happen hours, days, or weeks after an injection and can be life threatening. These include:

• Problems breathing or swallowing
• Spread of toxin effects (leading to symptoms of a serious condition called botulism)

Call your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of these problems after treatment.

According to the manufacturer, there has NOT been a confirmed serious case of spread of toxin effect away from the injection site when Botox has been used at the recommended dose to treat chronic migraine or when Botox Cosmetic has been used at the recommended dose to treat approved wrinkle areas.

What are Botox or Botox Cosmetic side effects?

• dry mouth
• discomfort or pain at the injection site
• tiredness
• headache
• neck pain
• eye problem
• drooping eyebrow
• urinary tract infection and painful urination
• inability to empty your bladder
• allergic reaction
• upper respiratory tract infection

Review these warnings and side effects in this Medication Guide for Botox and Botox Cosmetic. Tell your doctor if you have a side effect that does not go away or that concerns you.

Bottom Line

• Botox Cosmetic is used for aesthetic purposes for wrinkles and Botox is used as a therapeutic treatment for many medical conditions, including migraine headache prevention.
• Botox Cosmetic and Botox come as separate products but are both prescription medicines that contain the active ingredient onabotulinumtoxinA.
• The number of injections needed for migraine prevention are more than the number needed for wrinkle treatment.
• Both products are given as injections into the muscles of the face, neck or head, depending upon the use. You can receive both products as long as the total amount does not exceed 400 Units administered in a 3 month period for adults.

This is not all the information you need to know about Botox or Botox Cosmetic for safe and effective use for migraine. Review the full Botox or Botox Cosmetic information here, and discuss this information and questions with your doctor or other healthcare provider.

How to qualify for botox for migraines

I’ve suffered from migraine headaches since I was in my early teens. Over the years, I’ve missed out on much-anticipated trips, concerts, and family parties as I lay in bed with my head throbbing and the lights off. Migraine makes it nearly impossible to plan in advance and turns you into a flaky friend, which takes a toll on your relationships.

I thought I had tried everything-Advil, beta-blockers, Topamax-but none of them gave me the results I was looking for. Then a few years ago, my neurologist suggested I try Botox to manage my migraines. I knew about the drug’s wrinkle-reducing effects (I watch the Real Housewives franchises and Keeping Up With the Kardashians, after all), but I didn’t know that the same drug is a well-regarded preventative treatment for chronic migraine.

Admittedly I was hesitant about getting dozens of shots injected into my head, neck, and shoulders on a regular basis, but my misery made me open to trying it. Despite my initial concerns, Botox shots have completely changed how I control my migraine attacks. Though I’m still good for one or two migraines each month, Botox has drastically reduced the frequency of these attacks.

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.

If you’re a fellow member of the migraine club, please accept my sympathy, and then read up on these must-know points about Botox for chronic migraine.

 The 14 Different Kinds Of Headaches You Can Get-And How To Treat Each One

Most people believe a migraine is just a bad headache, but it can be more than that. According to the American Migraine Foundation (AMF), a migraine (sometimes just referred to as “migraine”) is a “disabling neurological disease with different symptoms and different treatment approaches compared to other headache disorders.”

It’s also important to note that, while some headaches can be the cause of underlying conditions (those are known as secondary headaches), migraines are usually their own thing. “Migraine is the most common primary headache disorder, which means that it’s not happening because of a tumor or an infection. It’s just how your brain is wired,” Umer Najib, MD, a board-certified neurologist and the director of the headache medicine fellowship program at West Virginia University, tells Health.

“Pain is often the predominant symptom, though many patients have other symptoms that can actually be more bothersome than the pain itself,” says Dr. Najib. Ferhad Bashir, MD, a neurologist with Mischer Neuroscience Center at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center in Texas, goes a step further: “It’s a state of misery,” he tells Health. “During that time period, you’re not yourself. If you’re at work, you can’t produce at your optimum level. If you’re a parent, you can’t enjoy time with your kids.”

Those additional symptoms, aside from often disabling pain, include:

• Sensitivity to light, sound, or strong smells
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Excessive Fatigue
• Language, speech, or balance problems
• Visual disturbances, like seeing zig zags, flashes of light, or blind spots.

It’s not entirely clear what causes migraine, though researchers believe that there’s a genetic component to the neurological condition, according to the US National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus resource. But the condition-which affects more than 37 million people in the US alone-is thought to have quite a few triggers, including stress, anxiety, caffeine (or caffeine withdrawal), and certain medications.

Migraine is also about three times more common in women, per the AMF, which points to a possible connection to fluctuating hormones. “For a lot of women with migraine, menses can trigger an attack,” Megan Donnelly, DO, a board-certified headache specialist and neurologist, and the director of headache and women’s neurology at Novant Health in Charlotte, North Carolina, tells Health. “We also have changes in migraine frequency in pregnancy and postpartum, as well as related to perimenopause.”

There’s no cure for migraines, per MedlinePlus. Instead, treatment mainly focuses on relieving symptoms and preventing or lessening future attacks through a combination of medications and lifestyle changes. This, in some cases, is where Botox-aka Onabotulinumtoxin A or Botox A-comes into play.

 5 Women on What It Really Feels Like to Have a Migraine

How does Botox for help migraine?

Botox is a preventative therapy for migraine, meaning that it can reduce the frequency of migraine, but it won’t stop one once it’s begun. Though Botox has been an FDA-approved treatment for chronic migraine for more than a decade, per the AMF, the science behind how it battles the disease is still a bit of a mystery.

Technically speaking, the AMF says that Botox is injected into the pain fibers in the head, neck, and back that are involved in headaches. That Botox then blocks the release of chemicals involved in pain transmission, which then prevents activation of pain networks the brain.

Why Botox works in this way, however, is still not well understood. “We have animal data that shows that Botox causes a change in a certain type of calcium channel in the meninges, which is the covering of the brain as well as the critical part of the migraine process,” says Dr. Najib. “We think that’s how it suppresses migraine.”

Despite Botox’s efficacy (patients reported that two rounds of shots reduced their headache days by roughly 50 percent, per the AMF), Dr. Najib notes that the drug isn’t a cure-all. “As long as the disease is still active, you’ll have breakthrough headaches,” he says.

Because of that, some patients find that they need another preventative treatment, like an oral medication, in addition to their shots. It’s also common to need a rescue drug, and the risk of drug interaction is minimal.

Choosing a treatment of preventative method for migraine is a highly personal choice that should be done in close contact with your doctor. Here’s more of what I learned about Botox and migraine during my own journey-and what I want those considering the treatment to know.

 This Explains Why You Want to Crawl Into a Dark Closet When You Have a Migraine

It’s only approved for chronic migraine

Botox is FDA-approved to treat chronic migraine in adults, which is defined as more than 15 migraine days per month. It’s not approved for other kinds of headaches, like tension or cluster, nor is it approved for children or adolescents (if it’s used for them, it’s considered “off-label use”).

You’ll have to get dozens of shots

Though migraine symptoms vary from person to person, Botox for migraine is standardized. Every three months you’ll receive 31 shots (yes, you read that correctly) totaling up to 155 units of Botox. This includes injections in specific spots in the forehead, temples, back of the head, neck, upper back, and shoulders.

If you’ve got a particular concern, like muscle spasticity or tightness in the shoulders, your provider may adjust the shot pattern to tackle that specific issue.

If Botox is working for you, there’s no known health risk associated with staying on it indefinitely, though it’s not approved for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding because of minimal studies in these groups.

The risk of side effects is low

“Botox injections can occasionally trigger a headache, muscle weakness and neck pain, but this is rare,” Kerry Knievel, DO, director of the Jan & Tom Lewis Migraine Treatment Program at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, tells Health. “Eyelid and eyebrow asymmetry and droop can happen, but to prevent this we recommend that patients refrain from rubbing their foreheads or wearing a hat for 24 hours after their injections to prevent the Botox from spreading from the area we intend for it to be.”

In fact, Botox’s limited side effects are part of its appeal. “It’s not addicting. You don’t have to take a pill every day. It doesn’t work for everyone, but it does work for a significant amount of people. That’s why Botox is amazing,” says Dr. Bashir.

Your insurance may or may not cover it

Because it’s an FDA-approved treatment, your health insurance may cover all or most of the cost of Botox, though this depends on your specific plan. The drug manufacturer also offers a savings program that can help offset some of the expense.

To get approval, your insurance company may want to see that you’ve “failed” on two or three oral preventatives first. You may also need to keep a headache diary (I track mine in a note on my phone) that shows you’re having 15 or more headache days per month.

Once you’ve started the shots, your insurance will probably require documentation of improvement to continue paying for the treatment. Depending on your plan, you may also need to come for a follow-up visit between shots.

Note, however, that if Botox is used as an off-label treatment (meaning it’s used in a way not approved by the FDA, like in children or adolescents), insurance companies may not cover it, per the AMF.

It can take several months to see results

If you don’t experience relief from migraine right away, don’t swear off the treatment immediately. Dr. Najib recommends trying two rounds of Botox before making a decision about whether it’s working for you. Even if the treatment ends up helping after the first round, he says results typically take two to four weeks to kick in. There’s no taper required to discontinue the treatment.

It’s a little different than the Botox you receive from your esthetician

Though the same drug is used for both migraine prevention and cosmetic purposes, the amount and placement of Botox varies depending on your goals.

You may find some level of relief when you get Botox for cosmetic purposes. However, when you receive Botox from an esthetician, you’re not getting injections in the same spots as you would in a doctor’s office. This means you’ll miss the drug’s full migraine-busting effect.

You can technically get Botox for migraine and for cosmetic reasons at the same time-but you may not want to

This is where it gets a little murky, and opinions vary depending on who you ask. The manufacturer of Botox recommends not exceeding 400 units in a three-month span. Since your neurologist will administer 155 units, technically you have wiggle room if you want to visit an esthetician for Botox, too. However, this can be problematic.

“There is a theoretical risk of developing antibodies to Botox if it’s given more frequently,” explains Dr. Donnelly. If you’d like to do both, it’s best to check with your provider before booking an appointment with your esthetician.

Overall, if you’re finding yourself planning your life around your migraines, you may want to make it a point to chat with your doctor about using this multitasking drug to reduce the frequency of the attacks. I know doing so has drastically changed my life-and it might help you, too.