Caring For Your Skin After Chemical Peel Treatment
You get various strengths of TCA peels. A 25% solution will give you a medium peel whereas a 12% solution will give you a light peel even if compared to a 30% glycolic treatment. If you are applying something like a 12.5% solution of TCA, there isn’t a need to apply an ointment. However, using a sunblock is absolutely essential. These light peels don’t flake as much as the stronger ones do.
For at least a week or so after the peel, you must ensure that you clean the skin with warm water using a mild liquid cleanser. Use fingertips and not a general cloth to wash your skin since the skin is very sensitive at this time. You can use cotton swabs, but you should be very gentle in the way you go about it. Completely avoid the use of abrasive or exfoliating sponges. After finishing the cleansing routine, pat dry with a clean, soft towel, and then apply ointment to keep the exfoliating skin soft and the new skin protected from the elements.
The skin will probably turn pink or brown, wrinkle up, and crust, quite a bit like bad sunburn. It is the colored outer layer of skin that is in the process of exfoliating itself. Keep it moist daily by applying some ointment. You should not peel, pick, or scratch the exfoliating skin. It can lead to scarring. Various medicines are available and you can take them after consultation with the doctor if the discomfort is a bit too much for you to bear.
You must void sun exposure and this includes tanning beds. This is a vital stage after a chemical peel treatment is done. Sunlight exposure on the skin after a peel can cause brown discoloration of the new skin. The new skin will have a pink color for several days, perhaps even weeks after the peel, depending on strength of the solution and the condition of the skin. For at least a month after the peel, do not have your hair removed in any way. It can cause severe irritation. Make-up application may be resumed one week after the peel, as long as there seem to be no apparent problems. In case there is persistent redness in an area that doesn’t fade after the first few weeks, tell the doctor about it. Persistent redness of the skin can lead to brown discoloration of the red area and eventually scar if it is not treated quickly and efficiently.
It is actually best to stay indoors after to get a chemical peel done. But if needed a sunscreen having SPF 25 or higher should be applied every morning before going out. With TCA peels, scarring and brown discoloration of the skin is not very likely unless you end up going to a tanning salon after having the treatment or end up lying out in the sun. Sunscreen usage must be continued daily to prevent photo problems from cropping up. If you have any problems, please make sure that you call the doctor.