Is there a recovery period required with chemical peels?

It depends upon the type of chemical peel. Those done by aestheticians require no recovery although there may be some redness or some flaking in a few days. Chemical peels administered by physicians (usually dermatologists and plastic surgeons) may have a recovery of one to three weeks depending upon the depth of the treatment, which is determined by the degree of deep wrinkling and sun damage that is being remedied.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Most chemical peels don’t require recovery time; however the redness and peeling may make you want to stay inside for a day or two. For more invasive chemical peels, you may need up to two weeks to be able to apply makeup and feel comfortable in public. Following all chemical peel treatments, it is important to avoid direct or indirect sun exposure until all the redness or pinkness of your skin has subsided. Even after that, it is advisable to protect your skin by regular use of sunscreen SPF 30+. It is important to realize that the amount of time it takes for recovery varies greatly among individuals.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

It depends on the type of chemical peel you have as to when you can resume your normal activities. You should discuss this with your doctor.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

The recovery time for a chemical peel varies by the type of peel. The most common type are superficial glycolic or Jessner's peels administered by esthetician's and these have no downtime. Slightly stronger (30% solution) peels used in physicians offices may create some
redness, irritation and even some flakiness for a period of hours or days. Finally, much more invasive peels like phenol peels, which are only administered by physicians for deep wrinkles and/or sun damage may have up to several weeks of recovery time. So, it depends!

Published on Jul 11, 2012