How to Reduce Redness After Chemical Peel

The chemical peel process involves a chemical solution that removes the damaged outer layers of skin and improves the skin's texture and clarity. Many people with facial blemishes, scarring or uneven skin pigmentation decide to undergo chemical peels.

Chemical peels are best performed by a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon. After a chemical peel it is common to experience redness and dryness, but there are a number of ways to speed healing.

Instructions

Instructions and Tips

• 1

  Protect your skin from the sun by wearing hats and keeping in the shade. Depending on the strength of the peel you may experience a range of symptoms. An AHA peel (using alphahydroxy acids) is milder and usually just results in flaky skin and redness. A phenol peel is much stronger and removes wrinkles, cancerous growths and freckles--however, phenol peels require a longer time to recuperate from.

• 2

  Follow the doctor's instructions carefully. After a phenol peel, the doctor may prescribe a mild pain medication to help reduce swelling and alleviate pain.

  Have someone take care of you if you've had a phenol peel. Your face may get very swollen--your eyes may even swell shut. Try not to talk too much.

• 3

  Use sunscreen. Sun damage while healing from a chemical peel can permanently scar skin. After two weeks you can wear makeup to hide some of the redness.

• 4

  Avoid toners and exfoliants, anything that can further irritate the skin. Keep skin moist and use a water spray bottle to mist the skin without rubbing.

  Apply moisturizer daily. An AHA chemical peel only needs a light moistrurizer, but stronger chemical peels require a stronger moisturizer.

• 5

  Cleanse skin nightly with gycolic acid-based cleansers--this helps keep pores open and prevents dead skin cells from forming on the skin's surface. Follow doctor's instructions; for some TCA peels, glycolic acid isn't advisable.