At Home Chemical Peels - How to Prepare Your Skin For a Chemical Peel at Home and Aftercare

If you dream of flawless skin you are most definitely not alone. An even skin tone and the attention that it attracts can do wonders for your self esteem. If you suffer from acne scars, melasma, sun spots or other hyperpigmentation problems, there are many effective treatments available and an at home chemical facial peel is one of them. At home chemical peels can be very effective in eliminating acne scars, treating hyperpigmentation and reducing fine lines. To obtain the best results without the risk of damaging your skin, there are some precautions that should be taken before you attempt a peel at home and here they are.

Three weeks before your chemical peel, you should stop using any method of hair removal and stop exfoliating your skin with exfoliating pads or sponges. You don't want your skin to be too sensitive when you do the peel as that could cause scarring and discoloration. Two weeks before your peel, it would be beneficial to use a moisturizer that contains mild alpha hydroxyl acids (AHAs). The AHAs will gently exfoliate your skin so that you get a more even result when you do your chemical peel.

If you have used accutane in the last 6 months, your skin is too sensitive to do a chemical peel and you will scar! If you have warts on the area you want to treat, cold sores, keloids or deep scars, are pregnant or breastfeeding then consult your doctor or dermatologist before you do a peel as it may not be suitable for you.

Patch Test

Regardless of the type of acid you use for your peel, you must ALWAYS carry out a patch test with your chosen concentration first. Treat your patch test the same way you would treat a full peel. That means, no exfoliating 3 weeks prior (except for using an AHA moisturizing cream) and use sun screen of a least SPF 25 for several weeks before and after treatment.

Aftercare

After your treatment, you can expect some peeling as dead skin cells are removed. The stronger the concentration of the acid, the more peeling can be expected. For 2 weeks after the peel, use only mild face washes, with your fingertips only - no soaps and no exfoliating scrubs or sponges. No makeup should be worn for 5-7 days after a peel to allow the skin to peel freely and hair removal methods should not be used for at least 3-4 weeks. The skin should be kept well moisturised and you shouldn't try to pick the peeling skin.

Avoid sun exposure for at least 4 weeks and use a high protection sun screen. Sun exposure can cause the sensitive skin to discolor.

Not sure which skin lightening treatment is right for you? Go to Skin Lightening Treatment for details on how you can use at home chemical peels to fade dark marks and lighten your skin tone.

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