The journey to a great chemical peel starts with finding the kind of peel best suited for you. It ends with ensuring that your skin gets the best care after the peel.
What Is a Chemical Peel
A chemical peel is a way of exfoliating skin using a solution that has a pH of around two. It helps to smooth out the texture of the skin making your face feel fresh. It helps to treat many skin issues like hyperpigmentation, acne, and wrinkles.
Chemical Peel Side Effects
The side effects that you may experience depend mainly on the type of peel used, its strength, and intensity. For light peels, you will have little to no side effects. Usually, you will get a little redness which resolves in an hour or two.
For deep peels, you will have skin peeling in addition to the redness. Other side effects include the change of skin color, heart, kidney or liver damage, infection, and scarring. These effects can last for 7-10 days.
How to Care for Skin
Knowing the above, it is therefore important that you take care of your skin after a chemical peel. For at least 24 hours, it is important to ensure that you do not use products that have active ingredients like:
Alpha Hydroxy Acids.
Beta Hydroxy Acids.
Low pH Serums.
Retin-A or any other Retinoids.
Serums with Vitamin C and Ascorbic Acid.
Any other chemical exfoliates.
Follow a very bland and basic skincare routine. Use a hyaluronic acid product as they help to moisturize, hydrate, and play an important role in wound healing. Look for ingredients like ceramides and cholesterol which function as ingredients identical to those found in the skin. They help to repair damage caused to the moisture barrier.
A good moisturizer to use after a chemical peel is CeraVe. It comes with an addition of four percent niacinamide. Niacinamide is an antioxidant that has anti-aging benefits and helps to brighten skin tone. It also increases the production of collagen by your skin and is great for people with dry skin.
However, a better alternative is Vaseline. Contrary to popular belief, it does not clog pores. It will prevent water loss and keep your skin hydrated. To speed up the healing of your chemical peel, make sure you use petroleum jelly.
In addition to all the above, make sure to use sunscreen as the skin is very sensitive. Do not allow hot water to touch your face as it may cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Benefits of Chemical Peels
The peel sloughs off dull, tired skin cells, allowing for accelerated cell turnover and the stimulation of the cells that make collagen give fresh, brighter, smoother, and healthier skin.
At Handal Plastic Surgery, we will help you know which chemical peel is the best for your skin type. You will also learn how to take care of your skin after the peel to ensure the best results. For more information, on any cosmetic procedure, please contact us at 561-912-9888. You can also visit us in our offices in Boca Raton, Florida.
