Chemical peels are cosmetic skin treatments that can reduce the appearance of acne, fine lines, and sun damage. Peels remove the skin’s top layers to reveal more rejuvenated layers underneath. At Pele Aesthetics, our medical team in the Buckhead/Atlanta area will help you determine which chemical peel is right for you to achieve your desired results for glowing skin.
Let your professional aesthetician know about previous skin treatments, health, and any planned events. If you are using any retinoids or tretinoin products, you’ll want to discontinue them for 3 days before your peel to avoid excess irritation. You should also avoid other cosmetic procedures in the weeks before your peel. Let your provider know if you are planning anything stronger than a facial.
After your procedure, your skin will be more sensitive and prone to sunburn for the first weeks. Since the sun is stronger in the summer months, it is helpful to take simple steps to reduce the risk of irritation or sun damage.
Wear minimal or no makeup to your appointment if possible, especially if you plan to peel the skin around the eyes. It’s not essential, but it will make your prep quicker and easier. Makeup and other products affect the way the peel penetrates and even though your doctor or esthetician will clean and prep your skin, it’s helpful to come with a bare face.
Since you will not apply any products after the peel application (not even SPF), bringing a hat to wear on your drive home or back to the office is a good idea
Prone to cold sores? They’re very common and affect 80% of the population. Chemical procedures can trigger cold sore outbreaks, which is the last thing you want to deal with when your skin is peeling! Be sure and ask for an antiviral to be taken several days before your peel. This makes you less likely to get a cold sore while your skin is already sensitive and may be irritated.
Peels cause a controlled, minor injury to the skin to stimulate the growth of healthy new skin cells. For this reason, avoiding sweating or heating your skin is ideal, as the peel application causes temporary inflammation and you don’t want to make it worse. You can safely practice gentle yoga (no hot yoga!), stretch or take a walk, etc. as long as you don’t break a sweat. Skip the swimming pool, hot tub, and saunas until your skin is completely healed.
We’ve created a protocol that supports your process and results. Please be sure to read each step in the patient take-home booklet and follow the recommendations. It is essential to use both Post Peel towelettes at home. It is equally important to use plenty of SPF beginning day two and to use our special post-peel moisturizer once the peeling begins.
If you’re not sure about something or have any concerns, please call us for advice.
To ensure the best possible results and avoid hyperpigmentation, be extra vigilant with daily use of a broad-spectrum SPF the first-week post peel, and ideally for life. Makeup with SPF added is not adequate protection. This is the single most important thing you can do to enjoy healthy, beautiful skin for life, at any age. Remember to apply a generous amount of SPF 30 or above before leaving the house. We recommend Mineral Perfection SPF 30.
Ask us about adding The Perfect A or The Perfect Bleaching Cream to your daily skin care regimen to help enhance and prolong your peel results.
Monday-Saturday: By appointment only
Sunday: Closed
