- Avoid heat, heavy exercise, and anything that causes flushing or sweating
- Wait 4–6 hours before washing your face unless your provider neutralized the peel in-office
- Cleanse gently with a fragrance-free cleanser and lukewarm water; pat dry
- Apply a fragrance-free moisturizer — do not apply makeup, retinoids, acids, or active ingredients
- Apply SPF 30+ before any outdoor exposure
- Cleanse gently twice daily with a mild, non-foaming cleanser
- Moisturize 2–3 times daily — hydration helps skin shed more evenly
- Apply SPF 30+ every morning; reapply every 2 hours if outdoors
- Do NOT pick, scratch, or peel flaking skin — this is the leading cause of scarring and post-peel hyperpigmentation
Avoid
- Strenuous exercise, saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs, swimming pools
- Active skincare: retinoids, AHAs, BHAs, vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide
- Makeup on actively peeling areas
After a Superficial Peel
- Mild pinkness and tightness; light flaking days 2–5
- No open raw areas (contact us if this occurs)
After a Medium-Depth Peel
- Bronzing or darkening of skin in days 1–2
- Sheet-like peeling beginning days 2–3
- Fresh, pink, sensitive skin beneath
- Full color normalization at 10–14 days
- Resume retinoids: at least 7 days post superficial peel; 14 days post medium-depth peel
- Reintroduce gradually — 2–3 nights per week at low strength to start
- Wear SPF 30+ daily for 4–6 weeks minimum — new skin is extremely sun-sensitive
- Avoid tanning beds
- Series spacing: every 4–6 weeks (superficial) or 6–8 weeks (medium-depth)