How Chemical Peel Care Reddit

Chemical peels are one of the most popular procedures in cosmetic dermatology. They are used to treat everything from acne scars to wrinkles, and they leave skin looking smoother, brighter, and healthier.

If you’ve just had a chemical peel, here’s what you need to know about after-care so that you can get the most out of your treatment and keep your skin looking its best.

Right here on Cosmeticsurgerytips, you are privy to a litany of relevant information on best moisturizer after chemical peel, how to wash face after chemical peel, exercise after chemical peel, and so much more. Take out time to visit our catalog for more information on similar topics.

How Chemical Peel Care Reddit

Chemical peels are customized for each patient depending on their skin type and skin concern. The treatments vary in intensity and depth of penetration, resulting in different aftercare recommendations for each patient.

Your medical provider will explain how to treat your skin post-treatment to help it heal safely and to maximize the effects of the procedure.

The following tips are universal and apply to all chemical peel patients.

Dos: 5 Things to Do After a Chemical Peel

1. Listen to Your Chemical Peel Provider

Choose a board-certified medical professional for the treatment because chemical peels use acid solutions to penetrate the skin. It requires medical knowledge and experience. To ensure the safety of the treatment, follow your medical provider’s instructions on how to care for your skin after the treatment. They know best what’s been done to your skin and how to ensure the effectiveness of the chemical peel.

2. Wash Your Skin with Lukewarm Water

The skin is very sensitive after a chemical peel. Cold or hot water may feel uncomfortable and aggravate your skin. To avoid any skin irritation, use cool or lukewarm water when you rinse your face.

3. Use Sunscreen

Resurfaced skin after a chemical peel is more sensitive to UV rays. If you expose it to the sun, it may cause inflammation. Sunscreen is always an essential skincare product, but is a must after a chemical peel because it protects the skin while its natural skin barrier is still weak. Make sure you use it whenever you go outside or spend time near a window.

We recommend a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Elta MD UV Pure is a great choice for patients after a chemical peel treatment because it checks all the boxes as a highly protective sun-blocking product for all skin types, including sensitive.

4. Use Gentle Skincare Products

In line with the above recommendations, use skincare products that won’t irritate and additionally dry out your sensitive skin. Go for soap-free cleansers and water-based moisturizers without harsh ingredients. Avoid retinol, exfoliating agents, and other abrasive components.

Your medical provider may recommend a gentle cleanser and moisturizer to use after the treatment to ensure your skin stays clean and well hydrated. The Vibrant Skin Bar team suggests SkinMedica’s Facial Cleanser because it doesn’t strip the face of its natural oils. The cleanser’s soothing and calming properties are suitable for all skin types.

5. Moisturize

Skin is dryer than usual after a chemical peel, and you need to hydrate it. Your medical provider may recommend a heavy-duty ointment after a deep peel. After light or medium peels, Replenish Hydrating Cream is a great choice because it thoroughly hydrates and soothes sensitive skin.  

A moisturizer improves your skin’s natural protective barrier. Apply it several times a day or whenever your skin feels tight and you need to soften it to ease the discomfort. If you feel that you need extra hydration, look for gentle hydrating mists that you can spray on your face throughout the day without applying pressure on the skin. Osmosis MD Infuse Nutrient Activating Mist restores moisture while fortifying your skins natural barrier with antioxidants.

Don’ts: 6 Things to Avoid After a Chemical Peel

1. Don’t Touch, Pick, or Scratch

Medical providers warn against applying pressure on treated skin after most cosmetic treatments. Chemical peels not only expose raw, sensitive skin, but they also cause the top layers of skin to peel. This may frustrate patients and tempt them to remove the peeling skin with their fingers.

Peeling, touching, picking, or scratching the skin after a chemical peel can lead to bleeding, infections, breakouts, and scarring. Use a moisturizer instead and let the skin shed off naturally to avoid complications.

2. Don’t Exfoliate

You’ve already exfoliated your skin with a chemical peel. The newly resurfaced skin is free of dead cells, oil, and dirt, so additional exfoliation can only irritate it and cause damage. Wait about one week for light and medium peels or until the skin is fully healed to exfoliate it.

3. Don’t Use Too Many Skincare Products

Swap your usual beauty routine for a minimal skincare regime. After a chemical peel, it’s best to stick to a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. Avoid retinol creams and heavier products with active ingredients and irritants.

After a medium peel, wait about one week to resume your usual skincare routine. After a deep peel, you will have to wait longer for your skin to completely heal.

4. Avoid Other Cosmetic Treatments

To prevent unnecessary damage to sensitive skin, wait about two weeks before you get another cosmetic treatment. That includes facial waxing, Botox, dermal fillers, laser resurfacing, and other potentially abrasive procedures.

5. Don’t Expose Your Skin to Excessive Heat

Avoid exposure to the sun, tanning beds, saunas, hot tubs, and other sources of heat. Excessive heat and sweating can irritate the skin, cause an infection, and extend recovery time after a chemical peel.

6. Avoid Strenuous Physical Activity

Avoid intensive workouts for the same reason you would avoid saunas. Strenuous physical activity causes excessive sweating and increases blood circulation, which can intensify the side effects of your chemical peel and delay recovery.

Best Moisturizer After Chemical Peel

La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5

Best For:

• Faster Recovery
• Improved Healing
• Sensitive Skin
• Dry Skin

Key Ingredients:

• Madecassoside
• Panthenol
• Copper / Zinc
• Manganese
• Thermal Spring Water

Key Features:

• Non-Irritating
• Dermatologist Approved
• Luxurious Texture

If you’re looking for a recovery cream to accelerate and improve your skin’s natural healing process, La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 is hands down the best option.

I personally use this cream for 3-4 days after a chemical peel to soothe my skin and keep it hydrated.

But this is not your average hydrating cream, it’s packed with ingredients that help your skin repair itself like madecassoside (the active ingredient in tigergrass or centella asiatica), panthenol, and copper / zinc minerals.

Meanwhile, the formula is infused with natural prebiotic thermal spring water from La Roche-Posay, France, rich in minerals and micronutrients that nourish your skin.

But most importantly, I’ve found that Cicaplast Baume B5 is super gentle and non-irritating, even when I apply it over freshly peeled skin (because that’s when you need it the most!).

I’ve used lots of good moisturizers and creams, but almost all of them cause stinging or tingling when I apply them after a chemical peel, a telltale sign of skin irritation.

If you consistently use this cream, you’ll experience a definite transformation in your skin’s appearance! In my case, my skin appeared visibly clearer and more “glassy” after a few weeks.

My only complaint is that Cicaplast Baume B5 is a heavier face cream that’s difficult to blend into your skin (I often get bits of white “sheen” leftover, like with a chemical sunscreen).

If you’re looking for something a bit lighter, the same amazing formula is also available in a gel format as La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Gel B5.

My Verdict: For the ultimate post-peel recovery (and best chemical peel results), I recommend La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 as it’s packed with skin healing ingredients, is super gentle and non-irritating, and did I mention that it’s extremely affordable? (under $20)

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer SPF 30

Best For:

• Day Moisturizer
• Sun Protection
• Dark Spots
• Uneven Skin Tone

Key Ingredients:

• Niacinamide
• Glycerin
• Ceramides
• Thermal Spring Water

Key Features:

• Oil Free
• SPF 30
• Made in France

I’m sure you know by now that sunscreen is essential after a chemical peel due to your skin’s increased sensitivity to the sun’s UV rays.

Sunscreen helps prevent photodamage that manifests as dark spots, uneven tone, and signs of aging.

(in fact, many signs of aging are related to sun exposure, such as wrinkles, age spots, and pigmentation)

The problem is, it’s easy to forget (and who has the time?), not to mention that most sunscreens leave behind a tacky white residue that weights down your skin.

That’s where La Roche-Posay comes in! (again 😀)

Their Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer SPF 30 is a lightweight lotion that hydrates and nourishes with niacinamide (vitamin B3), glycerin, and ceramides, while protecting your skin from sun exposure.

The formula is infused with thermal spring water that’s gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin.

With 13,000+ reviews (yes, that right!), La Roche-Posay is one of the bestselling face moisturizers of all time, and unlike premium brands, this one costs under $20 so there’s no reason not to give it a try!

My Verdict: If you frequently “forget” the sunscreen, get a moisturizer with SPF 30+ that you’ll love putting on like La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer.

Planet Eden Antioxidant Recovery Cream

Best For:

• Post-Peel Recovery
• Daily Moisturizer

Key Ingredients:

• Cocoa Butter
• Shea Butter
• Coconut Oil
• And much more!

Key Features:

• Organic Ingredients
• Vanilla Scented
• Rich Creamy Texture

For a little “taste of Heaven”, Planet Eden has what you need: an antioxidant recovery cream loaded with organic ingredients (too long for me to count!).

Some of the key ingredients include cocoa butter, shea butter, coconut oil, beeswax, jojoba oil, rosehip oil, and several essential oils.

I tried this cream as part of a Planet Eden chemical peel kit and I absolutely loved the heavenly vanilla scent along with its light yet rich creamy texture.

This cream is easy to apply and absorbs pretty quickly.

My only complaint is it caused a bit of stinging around my eyes and cheeks, an obvious sign of skin irritation.

If you have sensitive skin, I’d suggest using La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 or Toleriane instead.

Overall, Planet Eden is a fantastic recovery cream to use after a chemical peel and it’s available at a very affordable price (the 2 oz version is the best deal).

My Verdict: if you’re looking for a spa-quality chemical peel experience, add Planet Eden’s Antioxidant Recovery Cream to your post-peel routine for a little “taste of Heaven”.

Platinum Skin Care Essentials Healing Blend

Best For:

• Wound Healing
• Better Recovery
• Aromatherapy

Key Ingredients:

• Helichrysum Oil
• German Chamomile CO2 Oil
• Almond Oil
• Sesame Oil
• And more!

Key Features:

• 99% Organic
• Professional Quality

Essential oils are one of the most powerful remedies for wounds, burns, and injuries, given their unique healing properties and anti-inflammatory abilities.

Platinum Skin Care created a unique blend of healing oils to assist with skin repair and regeneration, including the coveted helichrysum oil (has been used since the times of the Romans) and German chamomile CO2 oil, a more potent version of the traditional steam distillated essential oil with stronger anti-inflammatory qualities.

There’s a dozen more oils in this product like almond, sesame, tamanu, jobjoba, and seabuckthorn (the carrier oils), plus ylang-ylang, manuka, jasmine sambac, and geranium rose oil (the remaining essential oils).

Make sure to apply sparingly (a few drops is enough) and keep the bottle stored in a cool, dark place since essential oils will easily oxidize if not stored properly.

My Verdict: For better recovery results without a traditional moisturizer, try using essential oils like Platinum Skin Care’s Essentials Healing Blend with helichrysum and German chamomile oil.

QRxLabs Peptide Complex Serum

Best For:

• Better Recovery
• Stimulate Collagen
• Smoother Skin

Key Ingredients:

• Peptide Complex
• Hyaluronic Acid
• Chamomile
• Aloe Vera
• Jojoba Oil
• Gotu Kola
• Horsetail Extract

Key Features:

• Professional Quality
• 1,500+ Reviews
• Made in USA

Last but not least, if you want a post-peel serum to accelerate the recovery process and stimulate collagen production, QRxLabs Peptide Complex Serum is the perfect solution!

Featuring a proprietary blend of peptides including arginine, aspartic acid, glycine, and alanine, this serum helps your body rebuild essential structures like collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans in the dermis.

(technically, these are “amino acids”, the basic building blocks for proteins, but QRxLabs calls them “peptides”, which are chains of two or more amino acids)

Meanwhile, a blend of botanicals like chamomile, jojoba seed oil, gotu kola, and horsetail extract assist with your skin’s wound healing process for better results.

Finally, hyaluronic acid and aloe vera help to keep your freshly peeled face soothed and hydrated.

With 1,500 reviews, Peptide Complex Serum deserves a Reader’s Choice award for best post-peel serum.

My Verdict: Stimulate collagen and elastin production with QRxLabs Peptide Complex Serum, a fantastic addition to your post-peel routine for healthier and smoother skin!

Conclusion

Chemical peels are an excellent way to take years off your skin. However, it’s important to stick to best aftercare practices to ensure the treatment’s safety and effectiveness. Most importantly, listen to your medical provider and stick to their post-treatment advice for the best results.