It doesn’t matter whether you’ve just had a chemical peel or if you’re thinking about getting one, it’s important to know how to care for your skin afterward. It’s best to know what while your skin is shedding so you can avoid any mishaps and enjoy the fantastic benefits of this time-tested skin rejuvenation treatment.
A medical-grade chemical peel can transform your sun-damaged skin into an even-toned, radiant skin presence. The treatment may also reduce hyperpigmentation while leaving the skin visibly smoother and brighter. After a chemical peel, it’s critical to have an excellent after-treatment plan to achieve the best results possible. Here are some tips to follow for safe and effective results.
Hands Off
The goal of a chemical peel is to remove aged and damaged skin and reveal the fresh, radiant underlying tissue. After the dead skin begins to peel, you shouldn’t touch, pick, or scratch off dying skin but let it shed naturally. If you attempt to remove the skin with your fingers, it could lead to scarring.
Pull Back
Keep your hair off your face by pulling it back with a hair tie or band. This practice will allow your skin to peel on its own without contact with your hair as you manage it. If soiled hair or skin contacts the new skin layer while it’s healing, breakouts may occur. If breakouts do happen, don’t self-treat but contact us or leave it alone.
Moisturize
A chemical peel will cause a controlled burn to your skin to initiate peeling. Afterward, the skin will become sensitive. This effect will require you to change your skin care regimen in the treatment area. We offer optimal medical-grade skin products to use for post-chemical peel care. These products will include sunscreen and a moisturizer.
We will recommend a neutral moisturizer for the first few days after treatment and then a moisturizer like Skin Medica’s Dermal Repair Cream.
During application, be careful not to rub or scrub the product on but gently apply a thick layer to the treated skin multiple times each day. Once the peeling process is complete (about a week after a chemical peel), you can return to your regular skincare routine.
Protect Against the Sun
Now that you’ve removed the damaged skin make sure you protect the new skin layer with an active sunscreen. It’s a good practice to wear sunscreen whether it’s sunny outside or not. Also, if you think you will be indoors most of the day, the sun can affect your skin just as much through a window at your office or in your car.
We recommend an SPF 30 or higher; Skin Medica’s Total Defense plus Repair Broad Spectrum Sunscreen is a great product to ensure total protection for overly sensitive skin.
Don’t Exfoliate
Do not remove any dead skin with any exfoliation while your skin is peeling. Avoid all cleansing brushes, acids, and facial scrubs until your skin stops shedding, about a week after the procedure.
Lighten Up
Because dead skin is more visible on dark clothing, you may want to lighten your clothing choices to save embarrassment. Whites and light colors camouflage your shed skin better than those dark suits and blouses.
Let ‘em Know
Let people you will see regularly know about your decision to have a chemical peel. This transparency will let them know why your skin is flaking and save you explaining afterward. They will also get an advanced alert to expect to a bright, glowing skin presence.
To learn more about proper chemical peel aftercare, contact us or call 847-367-8815.