What to Avoid After a Chemical Peel: Your Complete Post-Care Guide
A chemical peel can work wonders for your skin — smoothing texture, fading dark spots, minimizing acne, and revealing a radiant, fresh complexion underneath. But what happens after the glow starts to come through is just as important as the treatment itself.
At Bad Skin, located inside Sola Salons in downtown Redwood City, we perform customized chemical peels for all skin types and concerns. While the benefits are impressive, the real magic happens during the recovery phase — when you treat your skin right.
Here’s everything you need to avoid after a chemical peel so your skin can heal properly and your results can truly shine.
🌞 1. Sun Exposure
Avoid direct sunlight for at least 7–10 days post-peel — and use a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher daily, no exceptions.
Your skin is extra sensitive after a peel, and even a few minutes of unprotected sun can lead to:
Hyperpigmentation
Prolonged redness
Slower healing
Risk of burns or scarring
Pro tip: Wear a wide-brim hat and seek shade when outdoors. Sunscreen is essential even if it’s cloudy.
🧴 2. Active Skincare Ingredients
Put away the retinol, AHAs, BHAs, vitamin C, and exfoliants for at least 5–7 days after your peel. These actives can irritate your healing skin, increase inflammation, and cause flaking or redness to worsen.
Instead, switch to:
Gentle cleansers (no scrubs or acids)
Hydrating serums like hyaluronic acid
Barrier-repair creams or recovery balms
Once your skin stops peeling and feels calm, we’ll let you know when it’s safe to resume your routine.
🚿 3. Hot Water and Steam
For the first 48 hours, avoid:
Hot showers
Saunas or steam rooms
Sweating from intense workouts
Heat dilates blood vessels and may lead to increased redness, irritation, or inflammation. Lukewarm water is your best friend for the first few days. Be gentle when cleansing and pat — don’t rub — your face dry.
🧼 4. Over-Cleansing or Scrubbing
Your skin is fragile post-peel. Don’t try to scrub away the peeling skin — this can lead to scarring or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).
Avoid:
Washcloths
Facial brushes
Grainy or exfoliating cleansers
Let your skin naturally shed the old layers. It’s tempting to “help it along,” but trust the process — your results will be better if you let the dead skin fall off on its own.
💄 5. Heavy Makeup
Try to go makeup-free for at least 2–3 days post-peel. Applying foundation or concealer to peeling or inflamed skin can:
Clog pores
Cause breakouts
Disrupt healing
If you need coverage, opt for a non-comedogenic tinted SPF or a mineral-based product that won’t irritate your skin.
🧖 6. Facials, Waxing, or Other Procedures
Avoid any facial treatments, waxing, threading, or injectables (like Botox or fillers) for at least 7–14 days depending on the strength of your peel.
These procedures can:
Trigger irritation or an adverse reaction
Interfere with your skin’s healing timeline
Compromise your results
Let your skin fully recover before layering on additional treatments. We’re happy to guide your timeline if you’re combining treatments at Bad Skin.
🚫 7. Picking or Peeling Your Skin
This one’s important: Do. Not. Pick.
Yes, your skin will peel. It might flake in sheets, patches, or tiny bits — it’s all normal. But picking at it can:
Cause dark spots
Create infection
Lead to permanent scarring
Instead, keep skin moisturized and use a bland occlusive product (like Aquaphor or a peptide-rich cream) to soothe the dry areas. The more hands-off you are, the better your results.
🍷 8. Alcohol (Topical or Internal)
Alcohol in skincare (like toners) or even drinking alcohol can dehydrate your skin and increase inflammation. That glass of wine might feel relaxing, but it could also delay healing and worsen redness.
Stay well-hydrated with water, electrolytes, and hydrating skincare products to help your skin bounce back beautifully.
🛏️ 9. Dirty Pillowcases or Towels
You’re in a vulnerable phase post-peel, so keep your environment clean:
Change your pillowcase every 1–2 nights
Use a fresh, clean towel for your face
Avoid touching your face throughout the day
You don’t want bacteria interfering with your skin barrier during this time of renewal.
💡 Healing Timeline: What’s Normal?
Every skin type responds differently, but here’s a general idea of what to expect:
Day 1–2: Skin may feel tight, red, and slightly warm. No peeling yet.
Day 3–5: Peeling begins. It may start around the mouth and spread outward.
Day 5–7: Flaking continues, skin may look dry and patchy.
Day 7–10: Peeling usually slows down, revealing fresher skin underneath.
Week 2–3: Skin tone looks more even, texture smoother, and a new glow emerges.
Stronger peels may have a longer recovery. We always walk you through expectations at Bad Skin and follow up post-treatment to guide your recovery.
📍 Why Trust Bad Skin for Chemical Peels?
At Bad Skin, we customize each peel to your unique skin goals. Whether you’re targeting acne, hyperpigmentation, aging, or texture, we offer light to medium-depth peels that are medical-grade and results-driven — not one-size-fits-all.
We’re located inside Sola Salons in downtown Redwood City, right across from Philz Coffee, and proudly treat clients from all over the Bay Area, including:
San Mateo, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos, Belmont, Mountain View, Foster City, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Cupertino, San Jose, Fremont, Union City, Hayward, Millbrae, Burlingame, Daly City, Los Altos, South San Francisco, and Oakland.
💬 Final Thoughts
A chemical peel can dramatically transform your skin — but only if you treat the healing process with care and patience. Avoiding these common post-peel mistakes can help you:
Protect your investment
Avoid complications
Maximize long-term results
At Bad Skin, our motto is: be bad, but better. That includes supporting you every step of the way, from your first consultation to your final glow.
✨ Ready to schedule your peel or have questions about your recovery?
Reach out to us for a personalized treatment plan that meets your goals and skin type.
