Chemical Peels FAQs

 

Chemical Peels

Frequently Asked Questions

When is a chemical peel appropriate?

Chemical peels are used to treat a number of conditions including:

  • Acne scars
  • Aging skin
  • Crow’s feet
  • Hyperpigmentation
  • Melasma
  • Scars
  • Sun damaged skin
  • Sagging skin
  • Wrinkles

Who is not a candidate for a chemical peel?

A chemical peel isn’t for everyone. Your doctor might caution against a chemical peel or certain types of chemical peels for certain conditions. Generally light-haired and fair skinned people are the best candidates for chemical peel. The procedure does not work as well on dark-skinned patients. The procedure is not recommended for individuals with infections, active skin disease, cut or broken skin, sunburns or active Herpes simplex 1 sores. Other contraindications include patients who:

  • Are nursing or pregnant
  • Have a dark complexion
  • Have abnormal skin pigmentation
  • Have psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis or rosacea.
  • Have a history of frequent or severe outbreaks of cold sores
  • Have a personal history of ridged areas caused by an overgrowth of scar tissue (keloids)
  • Have taken the acne medication Accutane, Isotretinoin (Amnesteem, Claravis, others) in the last six months
  • Have used Retin-A, Renova, prescription skin care products, products that contain ascorbic acid, bleaching or skin-lightening agents or other acid-based products in the last 48 hours.

Precautionary medications

If you decide to proceed with the chemical peel, you might also need to:

  • Take antiviral medication. If you have a history of herpes infections around your mouth, your doctor will likely prescribe an antiviral medication before and after treatment to help prevent a viral infection.
  • Use a retinoid cream. If you’re having a light or medium chemical peel, your doctor might recommend using a retinoid cream, such as tretinoin (Renova, Retin-A, others), beforehand to shorten your treatment time and speed the healing process.
  • Use a bleaching agent. Your doctor might recommend using a bleaching agent (hydroquinone) and a retinoid cream before or after the procedure to prevent skin darkening.

Risks

A chemical peel can cause various side effects, including:

  • Redness. Normal healing from a chemical peel involves redness of the treated skin. After a medium or deep chemical peel, redness might last for several months.
  • Scarring. Rarely, a chemical peel can cause scarring — typically on the lower part of the face. Antibiotics and steroid medications can be used to soften the appearance of these scars.
  • Changes in skin color. A chemical peel can cause treated skin to become darker than normal (hyperpigmentation) or lighter than normal (hypopigmentation). Hyperpigmentation is more common after superficial peels, while hypopigmentation is more common after a deep peel. Changes in skin color are more common in people who have darker skin and can be permanent.
  • Infection. A chemical peel can cause a flare-up of the herpes virus — the virus that causes cold sores. Rarely, a chemical peel can lead to a bacterial or fungal infection.

What you can expect

Before the procedure:

  • Avoid unprotected sun exposure. It’s important to consistently use sunscreen at least four weeks before the procedure to help prevent irregular pigmentation in treated areas. Discuss sun protection and acceptable sun exposure with your doctor.
  • Avoid certain cosmetic treatments and certain types of hair removal. About a week before the peel, stop waxing or using depilatory hair-removal products. Also, avoid bleaching, massages or facial scrubs in the week before your peel.
  • A chemical peel is typically done in an office-based procedure room. Before the procedure, your face will be cleansed and your eyes will be covered with ointment, gauze, tape or goggles.
  • Pain relief isn’t typically needed for light and mid depth chemical peel.

During the procedure:

  • A chemical solution typically containing glycolic acid or salicylic acid will be applied to the treatment site. The treated skin will begin to whiten.
  • You might feel mild stinging while the chemical solution is on your skin.
  • A neutralizing solution or wash will be applied to remove the chemical solution from the treated skin.

After the procedure:

  • After a chemical peel of any depth, follow your doctor’s directions for cleansing, moisturizing and applying protective ointments to your skin.
  •  After a light chemical peel, treated skin will be red, dry and mildly irritated. Treated areas take about one to seven days to heal after a light chemical peel. New skin might temporarily be lighter or darker than normal.
  • After a medium chemical peel, treated skin will be red, tight and swollen. You’ll feel stinging.
  • Use ice packs or the breeze from a fan for comfort. Over-the-counter pain-relieving medication, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve, others), may help reduce any discomfort. You’ll likely schedule a checkup soon after your treatment so that your doctor can monitor your healing.
  • As swelling decreases, treated skin will begin to form a crust and might darken or develop brown blotches. Treated areas take about seven to 14 days to heal after a medium chemical peel, but redness might last for months.

Results

  • A light chemical peel can improve skin texture and tone, as well as decrease the appearance of fine wrinkles. The results will be subtle at first, but will increase with repeated treatments. After a light chemical peel, avoid sun exposure until new skin completely covers the treated area.
  • Chemical peels can’t decrease pore size or eliminate deep scars or wrinkles.
  • If you have a medium chemical peel, treated skin will be noticeably smoother after the procedure. You will be advised to avoid sun exposure for several months.
  • After a deep chemical peel, you’ll see a dramatic improvement in the look and feel of treated areas. You’ll need to protect your skin from the sun permanently to prevent changes in skin color.

Keep in mind that chemical peel results might not be permanent. As you age you’ll continue to acquire lines by squinting and smiling. New sun damage also can reverse your results and cause changes in your skin color.

Request an appointment online or call (240) 686-1222. We will do our best to accommodate you.