Side effects of chemical peels
After a chemical peel treatment, your skin will get a bit more sensitive to the sun, so you must use a protective ointment as your skin heals.
As with any treatment, chemical peels also have a few side effects; they may differ depending on the type of chemical peel used.
Superficial, light, or lunchtime peel: Your skin may feel a little dry and irritated after a gentle chemical peel. You can usually apply makeup the next day and carry on with your regular skincare routines, like cleansing and moisturizing. Your skin will probably require 1 – 7 days to recover completely.
Medium peel: Common side effects of a medium peel include redness, swelling, and some stinging. You should be able to wear makeup within 5 – 7 days safely. Usually, the healing process takes 7 – 14 days. However, you might have mild redness for several months.
Deep peel: Common side effects of a deep peel include intense redness, swelling, and crusting. The swelling may last up to 14 days, while it may take up to 3 months for the redness to disappear.
Your skin may require up to 14 days to grow back. You will need to take pain medication and wear a surgical covering throughout this period. Once your new skin has grown, you should be able to start wearing makeup again.
In very rare cases, deep chemical peels have been linked to more severe complications and side effects, including:
- bruising
- infection
- delayed healing
- reactivation of herpes simplex virus