Have you heard of a chemical peel but weren’t sure if a treatment like that was for you? What is it? Where do I get it done? Does it hurt? Like you, I had a number of questions before I was familiar. I hope to answer some of these for you below:
What is a chemical peel?
A chemical peel is a method of exfoliation that includes applying an acid on the skin (specific acids vary depending on the peel type). It’s a facial treatment that can be performed alone or with a full facial treatment.
Types of acids in peels can include (but aren’t limited to): lactic acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, mandelic acid
Peels will include different percentages of one acid, or multiple, depending on conditions the peel is designed to treat.
Who performs chemical peels?
You can get a chemical peel in a dermatologist office, at a medspa or at a spa by a licensed professional.
If someone is offering chemical peels and you aren’t sure if they are licensed to perform them, ask them. Chemical peels can vary on specificity, but regardless, they are an acid that is being put on your skin that can cause great damage if not performed correctly. You can be scarred for life. This should scare you away from them, but this should prompt you to ensure your technician knows what they are doing.
What skin conditions can peels help with?
- acne or clogged pores
- wrinkles and fine lines
- hyperpigmentation (aka dark spots or red post-acne scars)
- dull or lifeless-looking skin
- milia
Who isn’t a candidate for a chemical peel?
- Using retinol products (tazarotene, retinol-A, renov, differin, azelaic acid or other)
- Having been on Accutane in the last 12 months
- Current irritated skin (sunburn, rosacea flare, eczema flare or other)
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
What to expect when getting a chemical peel:
Winter/colder months are a great time to get a chemical peel. You want to ensure you can limit your exposure to the sun for 1-3 weeks depending on the treatment.
They may even do a patch test at a previous treatment. I recommend getting a facial 2-4 weeks prior to your chemical peel to “prep” your skin and get to know your esthetician. (I personally will not see first-time clients and give them a chemical peel.) They can apply the patch test at this treatment to ensure you’re all set to get the chemical peel. Patch tests often take place behind the ear – this ensures that if you have a negative reaction it’s only on a small area and not on your whole face.
When you go in for the chemical peel, your esthetician will clean your skin before applying. Each protocol is different depending on the acids, their percentage and other factors. Your esthetician should walk you through the process – if they do not, don’t be scared to ask! You will also feel sensations in your skin, these can be: tingling, heat or other. It might be uncomfortable, that’s normal! Fanning yourself can be a great solution when it’s feeling warm or uncomfortable. If your esthetician isn’t already fanning you, you can ask for a sheet of paper to do it yourself.
You can read about my first chemical peel experience here.
Once the treatment is over, your esthetician will go over aftercare with you. This is crucial! Do not zone out when they are giving you instructions. A chemical peel is controlled damage in your skin cells. You need to take good care of it after the treatment to ensure it heals properly.
Aftercare instructions:
You’ve gotten the peel, now what? What you do at home will be crucial to helping keep your skin healthy and hydrated. Don’t waste the results you’re working toward; follow the right home care.
First and most important, not all chemical peels cause full face peeling. If yours does, DO NOT PEEL IT OFF. It might be tempting to do so, but if you peel any hanging dead skin, you risk scarring yourself permanently and having to then treat that pigmentation. Not worth it – pigmentation is one the hardest skin conditions to treat. The dead skin should come off when you gently cleanse your skin. If not, LEAVE IT.
Your esthetician should also sell you a home-care kit of products, or tell you what products you need to be using during the time of healing. They are not trying to sell you these to make a higher profit – you need to be using light and comforting products to help aid your skin healing. If you continue using the active products in your regular routine, you can affect the healing process AND putting them on your face after a chemical peel may burn. Not a good feeling – I’ve done it.
Other things to consider:
- You NEED to wear sunscreen – 24/7 in general, but ESPECIALLY after a chemical peel. Your skin is much more sensitive to the sun and the sun can cause damage if you do not product yourself from it. Also consider wearing a hat.
- Don’t do a very hot and sweaty workout for at least 3 days. Your esthetician may advise longer depending on the treatment.
- No saunas, steam rooms or other for a few days as well. Remember, you have a chemical burn on your face healing.
- Be careful when you open the oven! We don’t realize how close our face is until we have a sunburn or a chemical peel that makes the heat feel extra hot! (hot tip: this also applies to eyelash extensions – the oven can melt them!)
I recommend getting a facial 2-4 weeks out from a chemical peel. This will help ensure all the dead skin is off, your esthetician can review your results and guide you to next steps – which might be another peel! Peels are often done in a series.
This by no means covers every detail about chemicals, but after reading, you should feel confident in knowing if chemical peels are for you, who to make an appointment with, when you should get them, what to except and how to keep up your results. As always, DM me on Instagram if you have any specific questions!