Chemical Peel Facial Facts
For your safety a chemical peel
should only be applied
by a licensed professional.
To prevent skin damage, STOP using topical anti-aging
home products 48 hours before your peel.
Avoid peels during summer months
unless you stay out of the sun.
Peels are a waste of your time & money if you frequent tanning beds.
Chemical peels are used to treat:
- Aging Skin
- Lines
- Surface Wrinkles
- Pigmented Spots
- Clogged Pores
- Dull Skin
- Grade 1 or Grade 2 Acne
- Dry Skin
What are the benefits of a chemical peel?
- improve skin texture
- remove dead skin cells
- increase CRF (Cell Renewal Factor)
- help preserve youthful appearance
- increase moisture retention
- increase intercellular lipids
- improve skin barrier function
- stimulate elastin & collagen
- reduce fine lines & wrinkles
- reduce surface pigmentation
How frequently should I have a peel?
Best results are achieved with a series of peels.
Initially this can be weekly for a maximum of 8 weeks.
Frequency depends on how your skin tolerates AHAs & BHAs.
It is common to feel mild burning & tingling during the controlled wound a peel creates as the natural acid solution dissolves your stratum corneum surface.
After your initial series, a monthly peel will help maintain results along with good home care. For aggressive goals a quarterly series of four weekly peels may be your best choice.
Post-Peel Expectations & Home Care:
- skin will look shiny & tight
- skin may be pink to red
- Avoid aerobic exercise for 48 hours as sweating may irritate your skin
- Avoid scrubs at home for first week after your professional peel
- AVOID sun exposure, UV lights or tanning beds
- skin will be hyper sensitive to UV rays
- You must apply SPF 30 or greater sunscreen for at least 72 hours!
- Skip depilatories or waxing for 48 hours.
- skin may begin to flake & peel 2 or 3 days after treatment
- Avoid rubbing, scratching or pulling at dead skin or you may cause scars
- sun damaged areas first appear darker before they lighten
- repeat exposure to sun speeds sun spots (hyperpigmentation)
- skip using products containing benzoyl peroxide for 72 hours
- avoid products containing exfoliants or glycolic acids for 72 hours
- avoid make up during recovery or only wear mineral make up
- avoid bar soaps
- use a gentle cleanser
- use skin type specific moisturizer daily
Are you getting married in the next two weeks?
Because peels commonly cause dryness for a few days as surface layers slough off, it is not recommended that you receive a peel too close to your wedding date. This can apply to any big event when you need to look your best.
If you are considering a peel before your wedding, please start 6 months prior to the big day. Find out how your skin responds to a peel with enough time for it to heal if you have an adverse reaction.
Is a chemical peel safe for your skin?
Chemical peels are a poor choice for ethnic skin.
Asian skin tends to be the most sensitive skin type. Avoid AHA peels!
Black skin tends to be fragile even though it can be oilier & thicker.
Chemical peels applied to black skin run the risk of causing or bringing out uneven skin tone as hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation (vitiligo) & may initiate keloids.
If you can say yes to any of the following, a chemical peel may damage your skin.
- Do you have sensitive skin?
- Do you burn easily with sun exposure?
- Do you currently have a sunburn or windburn?
- Do you have allergies to cosmetic product ingredients?
- Do you have chronic red skin?
- Do you have inflamed rosacea or inflamed acne (grade 3 or 4 acne)?
- Are you diabetic?
- Do you have an autoimmune disease such as lupus?
- Do you experience keloid scars?
- Do you have a history of herpes simplex?
- Do you have any infectious disease?
- Have you had recent cosmetic surgery?
- Do you have permanent cosmetics?
- Have you had laser resurfacing, a medical peel or dermabrasion?
- Are you taking any steroid medications such as prednisone?
- Have you had recent radioactive or chemotherapy treatments?
- Do you have any open sores or suspicious lesions?
- Are you pregnant or lactating? Are you trying to become pregnant?
- Have you taken or used any of these medications within the last 6 months?
- Accutane® (isotretinoin)
- Absorica, Amnesteem, Claravis, Sotret
(other brand names for isotretinoin) - Azelex® (Azelaic Acid)
- Tazorac® (Tazarotene)
- Differin® (Adapalene)
- Clindamycin®
- Retin-A® (Tretinoin)
- Renova®
- Acyclovir (Zovirax®)
- This is not intended to be a complete list. Consult your pharmacist RE: side effects of any medications you are using to see if they cause thinning or drying of the skin.
