Chemical Peel Pre and Post-Care Instructions
Pre-Treatment Instructions
Don’t drink any alcohol for at least 24 hours before your treatment. Alcohol can thin your blood and may increase the chance of bruising.
Stop using tanning beds at least two weeks before a chemical peel. Tanning beds can harm your skin, increase the risk of skin cancer, and make you age faster.
Stay out of direct sunlight as much as possible, especially in the 10 days leading up to your chemical peel.
Avoid waxing your face for 7 days before your treatment.
If you’re using acne treatments like Renova, Differin, Tazorac, Avage, EpiDuo, or Ziana, stop using them 5 days before your appointment.
Stop using Retin-A (retinol) and any products with high levels of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) 5–10 days before your chemical peel.
Always wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Avoid going to the gym 24 hours before your chemical peel.
Don’t take aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications (like Advil) for 7–10 days before your treatment.
Post-Treatment Instructions
After getting a chemical peel, your skin will go through some changes before you see the final results. To get the best outcome, it's important to follow the instructions provided for both before and after the peel.
You might notice mild to moderate peeling or flaking. This depends on the depth of your peel and how many layers were applied. Your skin may feel dry and tight. If you had a superficial peel, you might not experience any peeling, as these types of peels usually have little to no recovery time.
You may see small white bumps on your skin. Don’t worry—this is not a breakout.
If you have a lighter skin tone, mild redness is common after a peel.
Avoid picking or peeling the skin yourself. Doing so can lead to dark spots or uneven pigmentation.
Apply the products given by your doctor or skincare professional for 3–5 days, or until the peeling stops. These help reduce side effects and promote healing.
Don’t apply ice or water to the treated areas, and avoid makeup on the day of your peel to let your skin rest and recover.
For the first 48 hours after your chemical peel, avoid activities that make your body heat up or sweat. This includes drinking alcohol, exercising, using hot tubs, steam rooms, saunas, taking hot showers, swimming, or aiming a hair dryer at the treated area. Overheating can lead to dark spots on your skin.
Golden Rule: Avoid direct sunlight and excessive heat after your chemical peel. Be sure to keep using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, just as you did before the treatment.
Keep your skin hydrated by applying a protective moisturizer twice a day, or more often if needed, to help reduce flaking.
For the first five days after your chemical peel, avoid electrolysis, facial waxing, or using hair removal creams.
Do not use retinol or glycolic acid products for 10 days after your chemical peel.
Avoid using retinol or glycolic acid products for 10 days after your chemical peel.
Do not go to a tanning bed for at least two weeks post procedure.
If you’re using an acne treatment, wait 5 days after your procedure before using products like tretinoin, Retin-A, Differin, Renova, Tazorac, Avage, EpiDuo, or Ziana. However, you can start using a vitamin C serum again 5 days after your treatment.
It is extremely important that you DO NOT have another chemical peel until your provider advises you to.
If you notice more redness, dark spots, or crusting on your skin, reach out to your doctor or skincare professional.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate
to give the office a call at (720) 313-1056.
If you need to cancel or reschedule any future appointments, please call our office 48 hours in advance to avoid $150 late cancellation fee. You can also manage your appointment in our patient portal.