What to expect during the procedure?

This outpatient procedure will cause a bit of a burning sensation that will last five to ten minutes, and a stinging sensation will follow up. Before the peel, you should clean your skin thoroughly. The different types of peels are applied to small areas of the skin, which will cause a controlled wound that lets new skin take its place.

What to expect after a Chemical Peel?

For mild peels, the results feel like a sunburn where there will be peeling and redness over the next seven days. Mild peels are typically repeated to give you a look you are after. The medium depth and deep peels will often result in swelling and blisters, as you might get from sunburn. You might see these blisters break and crust over with a brown-colored crust and peel off gradually. Let them peel on their own to prevent scarring. This will take 7-14 days and usually is repeated every six months to a year. After treatment, you might need bandages on the skin for several days to prevent infections. You should avoid the sun or winter breeze as your new skin will be fragile.

Are there possible complications?

Some skin types will have discoloration after a Chemical Peel. If you have a color change on your face during pregnancy or while taking birth control pills, then you might be more likely. There is a very low risk of scarring. However, this might not be the right treatment if you have skin that scars easily. If you get cold sores, you want to inform the medical provider to ensure you get a prescription to help with that.

Who are good candidates for Chemical Peels?

Typically those with fair skin and light hair are good candidates for Chemical Peels as the skin will react best. However, there are treatment options for those with a darker complexion. Severe skin wrinkles, sags, and bulges do not respond well to Chemical Peels. These types of skin situations will need a facelift, brow lift, eyelid lift, laser resurfacing, or soft tissue filler such as college or fat.

What to do before you get a Chemical Peel?

It would be best to discuss things with your medical provider before getting a Chemical Peel, such as your history of scarring. Also, some prescriptions may be offered before the procedure if you have reoccurring cold sores that keep returning. This gives you a better outcome. These are antibiotics, antivirals, Retin-A, glycolic acid, or Renova.