What to Expect After Your Perfect Peel

In Pinky’s own words: “the process of peeling sucks, BUT it’s worth it!”

While typically Pinky, RN, BSN, CANS, advises her clients to expect three days of intense peeling, she experienced five days of peeling after her own Perfect Peel, followed by a second round of flaking. In total, she recommends giving yourself seven days to peel before your newly brightened skin becomes visible.

But don’t be scared by the extra downtime! While this was longer than Pinky had expected, she still felt the outcome was more than worth the wait.

“The Perfect Peel is safe for all skin types and great for pigment issues and texture,” she says. “It’s definitely worth planning for the social downtime, and we [SkinSpirit] will help with the appropriate aftercare.” We also recommend a regimen of medical-grade home care products before a peel to prepare and condition your skin for healing and rejuvenation.

She also recommends planning your procedure for the fall and winter months — so we’ll see you then at SkinSpirit!

What Is a Chemical Peel?

A chemical peel is an exfoliating treatment that encourages old, damaged skin cells to shed and dissolve, revealing the newer, more radiant skin underneath. It can reduce the appearance of almost any imperfection, including acne, texture, sun spots and hyperpigmentation. Essentially, you're giving your skin a do-over by bringing the young, vibrant, hidden layers of skin to the surface.

Regarding skin exfoliation, chemical peels are highly preferred over physical methods for areas with delicate skin, like the face. Though many people balk at the word “chemical” in relation to beauty care, in this case, it refers to the good chemicals that balance and revitalize your skin. Depending on the type of peel you decide on with your consultant, it will likely contain ingredients like salicylic acid, retinoids and glycolic acid — all building blocks in skin formation and protection.

The Benefits of a Chemical Peel

Knowing what to expect after a chemical peel can help you feel more relaxed going into the procedure. Some of the best things you have to look forward to are:

• A fast procedure time: As we mentioned, most of the chemical peeling process will take place outside of SkinSpirit. Your initial treatment shouldn't take more than an hour or two — some of our less involved options take only a few minutes. From there, you can return to your day and wait for the peel to start working its magic.
• A fast healing time: While you may not want to miss out on social events and seeing loved ones, it should take a week or less for you to start feeling more confident in your appearance! The results of chemical peels can last for months, and just like Pinky, the rest of the SkinSpirit team thinks those few days of peeling are well worth the outcome.
• Skin safety: Chemical peels are for everyone! They are safe for most skin types and cause minimal discomfort, unlike physical exfoliation, which can damage the sensitive skin cells of your face and neck.

So What Should You Do During the Peeling Process?

After your chemical peel, your skin will be more sensitive than usual, and you will need to make adjustments in your home care routine accordingly. We recommend sticking to sunscreen (a physical SPF 30+) and just enough moisturizer to be comfortable throughout the peeling process — using little to no moisturizer whatsoever in the first couple of days after treatment.

As always, your SkinSpirit practitioner will provide you with specific post-care recommendations for your chemical peel treatment.

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