Chemical peel: how long the skin peels, and how to prepare it

A peel lifts off the surface layer of the epidermis so that the skin renews itself faster. The only question that really counts before having one ishow deep it goes. Everything else — how long the flaking lasts, the precautions, the risk — follows from that.

Three depths, three daily lives

• Superficial.It stays in the epidermis. The skin feels tight for a day or two, flakes discreetly or not at all. You go back to work the same day. This is the one we carry out here.
• Medium.It reaches the upper dermis. Visible flaking for five to seven days, real social downtime. It belongs in a medical setting.
• Deep.A medical procedure, under supervision, with a long recovery. It is carried out at the doctor's, under supervision.

If you are promised “the results of a deep peel without the aftermath”, the sentence deserves your suspicion.

What to stop beforehand

Skin that is already fragile peels badly and marks. So you stop, generallyfive to seven days before: retinoids and strong acids, mechanical scrubs, waxing of the area, and any exposure to the sun or to tanning beds. A recent laser hair removal session also pushes the appointment back.

Above all, say if you are taking or have taken isotretinoin: the waiting time after stopping is counted in months, not weeks, and it is decided with the doctor who prescribed it.

Afterwards

Let the skin come away on its own. Pulling it off is the mistake that makes marks: the skin underneath still needs a few days, and you then create a loss of pigment or a patch that will stay for months. You hydrate, you protect, you let it fall away by itself.

High sun protection for at least two weeks, including in cloudy weather.

How many sessions

A superficial peel is worked in a series: four to six sessions two to three weeks apart. A single session gives a burst of radiance, not a result on patches.