Chemical Peels Pre & Post Care | Skin Wellness Academy

Clinician giving a client a hands-on facial in the treatment room

Every peel and clinical skin treatment at Skin Wellness Academy is customised to your skin, your concerns and your personalised plan within our Skin Transformation System. How you prepare your skin before treatment, and care for it afterwards, can influence your comfort, recovery and results. Your Dermal Clinician will tell you what level of response to expect from the peel or clinical treatment selected for you.

Quick care reminder

Hydrate: keep your skin calm, comfortable and well moisturised.
Keep cool: avoid excessive heat, heavy sweating, saunas and spas while your skin is recovering.
No actives: avoid strong active and resurfacing skincare for a minimum of 5 days, and until your skin has fully healed.
SPF 50+: protect your skin from UV every day.

Before your treatment

For about 3 to 5 days before treatment, unless your Dermal Clinician advises otherwise: avoid retinol, retinal and prescription vitamin A; avoid AHA and BHA exfoliating acids; avoid scrubs, enzymes and home peeling products; and avoid other strong or irritating active skincare.
Keep your skin well hydrated and use SPF every day.
Avoid tanning, sunburn and significant unprotected sun exposure before your appointment.
Avoid waxing, depilatory creams and other procedures that may irritate the treatment area.
Tell your Dermal Clinician if you have a history of cold sores or abnormal scarring, have had recent cosmetic procedures, have allergies or sensitivities, are pregnant or breastfeeding, have changed medication, or notice anything unusual happening with your skin.
If you are being treated for pigmentation, or your skin is prone to post-inflammatory pigmentation, you may be prescribed a skin preparation routine for about 2 to 4 weeks before a corrective peel, to improve barrier health, hydration and pigment regulation. Follow the personalised preparation your Dermal Clinician gives you.

On the day

Depending on the peel selected, you may feel warmth, tingling, prickling or stinging. A fan or cool air may be used for comfort.
Your Dermal Clinician monitors your skin throughout the treatment and neutralises the peel where required.
Immediately afterwards, your skin may look pink or red and feel warm, tight, sensitive or mildly tingly.

After your treatment: the first 24–48 hours

Over the first 24 to 72 hours, redness and warmth should settle progressively. Your skin may feel drier or tighter than usual.
Keep your routine simple, gentle, hydrating and protective. Cleanse with clean hands, using the cleanser your Dermal Clinician recommends and cool or lukewarm water. Avoid harsh washcloths, cleansing brushes and exfoliating devices.
Apply your prescribed hydrating serum, moisturiser or recovery product as directed. You may lightly mist your skin with a clean, clinician-approved hydrating mist to keep it comfortable.
Do not introduce new skincare products while your skin is irritated or peeling.
For at least the first 24 hours, avoid vigorous exercise, heavy sweating, hot yoga, saunas, steam rooms and spas. If your skin still feels warm, red or sensitive after 24 hours, keep avoiding heat and strenuous exercise until it settles.
Makeup: after a very light peel, makeup may sometimes be worn the following day if the skin is calm and intact. If your skin is irritated, actively peeling or compromised, wait until the surface has recovered. We recommend mineral makeup during recovery, applied with freshly cleaned brushes and applicators, without rubbing or scrubbing the skin.

The following days and weeks

Days 2 to 7: dryness, flaking or visible peeling may develop as the skin renews. Do not pick, scratch, peel or manually exfoliate shedding skin. Some light peels cause little or no visible peeling.
A stronger or medium-depth peel can cause more significant redness, swelling, crusting and peeling, and may need about 7 to 14 days of recovery. If you have a stronger peel, your Dermal Clinician's personalised instructions take priority over this general guide.
For a minimum of 5 days, and generally until your skin has fully healed, avoid: retinol and retinal; prescription vitamin A; glycolic, lactic, mandelic and salicylic acids; enzymes; home peeling products; physical scrubs; exfoliating brushes; benzoyl peroxide; strong, irritating acne treatments; and strong pigment-correcting products unless specifically prescribed. Your skin decides when your actives restart, not simply the number of days that have passed.
Avoid unnecessary direct sun exposure while your skin is healing. Use broad-spectrum SPF 50+ every morning, reapply when outdoors, wear a hat and seek shade where possible. Long-term sun protection is one of the most important ways to maintain your peel results.
Avoid waxing, depilatory creams and other irritating hair removal over the treated area for about 14 days, or until your skin has fully recovered.
Unless your Dermal Clinician advises otherwise, allow about 14 days before another intensive treatment over the same area, such as another chemical peel, IPL, laser, Skin Needling, microdermabrasion, other intensive facials or resurfacing, or cosmetic tattoo.
Support your skin from the inside out: stay well hydrated, eat adequate protein, include vitamin C-rich foods, eat a varied, nutrient-rich diet, prioritise sleep and recovery, and avoid smoking. Supplements may be appropriate where there is a genuine nutritional need, but extra supplements do not automatically create a better peel result.
Many clients notice brighter, smoother, fresher-looking skin relatively quickly. Improvements in congestion, pigmentation, texture and overall skin quality develop progressively, and a planned series of peels may be recommended for some concerns.

When to contact us

Some redness, warmth, tightness, sensitivity, dryness and peeling are expected after many chemical peels. Please contact us if you experience increasing or significant pain; redness that is spreading or becoming significantly worse; significant swelling beyond what your clinician prepared you for; blistering; pus or discharge; signs of infection; a severe rash or unexpected reaction; significant burning, itching or swelling; or anything that feels very different from what your Dermal Clinician prepared you for.
If you have severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, rapidly spreading swelling or a high temperature, call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department.

Call us on 0481 300 574 or email info@skinwellnessacademy.com.

Related skin conditions

About this treatment

Read more about Chemical Peels, or see care guides for all our treatments.

Booking

Book or change your appointment through our Phorest booking page. Appointment changes can be made up to 48 hours before your appointment, and Phorest sends you a reminder 72 hours beforehand.

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