Home Skincare Skin Looks Worse After Chemical Peel (What Happened?)

Skin Looks Worse After Chemical Peel (What Happened?)

by Gabbi

Getting a chemical peel can be nerve-wracking. The whole idea of a chemical peel is to use a chemical solution to literally remove the top layers of the skin so that fresh skin grows back smoother and brighter.

You go into it hoping for a reduction in fine lines, clearer skin, and a glossier complexion. But the procedure is not for the faint of heart. It’s scary to think that an acid-based solution is eating away at the top layers of your skin. You may even feel some stinging and tingling during the procedure.

Things can get even more worrisome if your skin looks red and irritated after the procedure. The whole idea was for your skin to look better, not worse, right?

So what happened if your skin looks worse after the chemical peel? It could just be that your skin is adjusting and gets worse before it gets better. Or it could be something serious like a real complication.

In this post, we will go over the differences between a normal reaction to a chemical peel and a serious complication so that you know what to expect. Chances are, your skin is just going through a normal healing process that’s causing it to be irritated and breaking out. 

But you should be aware of the warning signs that might mean something serious is going on so you can get proper care before it’s too late. Keep reading to learn how to spot the differences.

What Happens After Chemical Peel

There are different depths of chemical peels that your dermatologist can do, depending on what skin concerns you want to target. Here are the types of chemical peels and what kind of skin reaction you can expect from each one:

Light Chemical Peel

A light chemical peel targets the very top layer of your epidermis and treats fine lines, acne, and skin discoloration. With a light peel, you might need to go through the procedure several times before you see any major results.

The good thing about a light chemical peel is that it has the least side effects. Your doctor will be using a chemical solution containing glycolic or salicylic acids – which you’ve probably used before in other skincare products. 

Your skin might feel a little red and irritated afterward, and you may experience some dryness. But you shouldn’t feel any pain or swelling from this. 

You can expect your skin to be back to normal after 1-7 days. If you’re experiencing anything more serious after a light chemical peel, or your skin takes longer than a week to heal, you might be having some complications.

Medium Chemical Peel

A medium chemical peel goes a little deeper than a light chemical peel. It removes the skin of the top layer (epidermis) as well as some layers of the middle layer (dermis). 

Medium chemical peels are used to target wrinkles and acne scars. You can expect quick results compared to a light chemical peel, although it may still take several rounds of treatment to achieve the results you want.

The acid used for a medium chemical peel usually contains stronger ingredients, such as trichloroacetic acid.

The healing process of a medium chemical peel is a little rougher too. Your skin will be swollen, red, and stinging a little. Your dermatologist will likely use some ointment on it to protect it from getting infected.

The swelling can last up to two weeks. During that time you can use ice packs and anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen to keep the swelling at bay.

Because the chemical peel removed deep skin levels, there is a higher risk of infection, so you’ll have to be vigilant about keeping the area clean and looking out for any signs of infection.

Deep Chemical Peel

A deep chemical peel targets deep wrinkles, scars, or other major skin issues. Deep chemical peels are not common because they are the hardest to recover from.

During a deep chemical peel, you’ll likely be hooked up to an IV to ensure your fluids are stable. Your doctor will be using carbolic acid (phenol), which can be dangerous if left on the skin for more than 15 minutes at a time.

Your doctor will likely apply the phenol in 15-minute increments and give your skin some breaks in between to ensure it’s not getting damaged.

After a deep chemical peel, you can expect to experience a lot of pain and swelling. It’s normal for your skin to feel like it’s burning. Your doctor will instruct you on how to care for your skin, and you’ll have to be diligent about it for at least 2 weeks.

Once new skin begins to grow after the 2-week window, a lot of the pain and swelling will go down, however, you might still experience some redness for a few months.

The biggest thing to look out for with a deep chemical peel is severe scabbing and infection. If you experience those effects, you should go to the doctor.

Does Your Skin Look Worse After Chemical Peel?

As you can see, all types of chemical peels can leave your skin feeling red and irritated, and sometimes swollen, for a few weeks after the procedure. Eventually, they lead to your skin peeling off as it would after a sunburn.

It’s understandable that you might be worried about your skin looking worse immediately after the procedure.

But rest assured, it’s totally normal. Your skin has to go through a healing process before it starts to look better. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to get a chemical peel and immediately walk away with perfect skin!

Things like redness, swelling, stinging, and peeling for 1-2 weeks are normal, and your best bet is to just wait it out. These side-effects are common, but they should go away in a short amount of time.

However, if your skin is experiencing any scabbing, pus, or you’re feeling feverish, that might be a sign of a serious infection, and that’s not a normal reaction to the chemical peel.

Additionally, deep chemical peels can rarely cause issues with the heart and kidneys, so if you had a deep peel it’s important to pay attention to your body’s reaction.

It’s important to know the signs and the difference between normal healing and complications.

Breakouts After Chemical Peel

A lot of people also experience breakouts after a chemical peel. Is this normal, or should you be concerned?

It’s normal for your skin to go through a “purge” after your treatment. A purge is basically a single outburst of new breakouts and pimples a week or two after you get your chemical peel.

Not everyone will experience a purge, but it’s common. 

Here’s why it happens: the chemical peel causes an increase in dead skin cells. This is intentional because skin cells need to die in order to peel off and reveal healthier, smoother skin underneath.

When there is an abundance of dead skin cells on the surface of the skin, they can get mixed in with your natural oils and clog your pores. Clogged pores = breakouts. That’s why non-comedogenic facial products (formulated not to clog pores) are always the best way to go for acne prone skin.

Thankfully, after this initial purge, your breakouts will heal and there will no longer be so many dead skin cells blocking your pores, so your skin will clear up. 

If you’re experiencing breakouts after a chemical peel, it can feel very discouraging. Especially, if you got the chemical peel to reduce acne in the first place!

Just remember to be patient and understand that things will get worse before they get better. This is just a phase, and it will pass.

Are You Having Complications After Chemical Peel?

We talked a lot about what’s normal to experience after a chemical peel.

But what are the red flags you should be looking out for that can signify that you’re having a serious complication?

Here are some of the serious complications that can happen as a result of a chemical peel:

Infection

Because a chemical peel is designed to remove the top layers of the skin, there is a small risk of infection. Your skin becomes more vulnerable just as it would with a cut or a scrape.

Infections can be caused by viruses, bacteria, and fungi. If you have underlying viral infections, such as the herpes simplex virus, the chemical peel can trigger a flare-up.

Here are some signs to look out for that may mean you’re experiencing an infection from your chemical peel:

  • Pain, redness, and swelling that lasts beyond 2 weeks and seems to get worse
  • Fever
  • Pus or oozing from the skin
  • Blisters

Touching the face a lot or trying to peel off the skin can increase the likelihood of an infection, so avoid touching your face, and always wash your hands before you do. Try to keep the area clean while it’s cleaning and avoid putting any unnecessary products on it.

If you had a medium or a deep chemical peel, your doctor will likely give you some ointment and/or bandages to use, so make sure to follow the instructions carefully as this will help you avoid an infection.

If an infection occurs, contact your doctor ASAP. It can be treated with medication. And the sooner you catch it, the less likely you are to develop scarring or serious illness.

Pigmentation Change

Permanent or long-lasting changes in skin color can happen as a result of a chemical peel, and can be really discouraging to go through.

Your chemical peel can cause hyperpigmentation (darkened skin) and hypopigmentation (patches of lighter skin). This is more common in the chin and cheek areas and in people with darker skin.

Thankfully, it can be treated and in most cases will not become permanent. If you’re noticing a darkening or lightening of the skin, especially after two weeks post-treatment, contact your doctor to get treated.

Scarring

Scarring is a rare side-effect of a chemical peel, but happens in some cases. Most of the time the scarring will be in the lower part of the face.

As soon as you notice anything resembling scarring, reach out to your doctor. They can give you steroids and antibiotics that can help smooth out the scars and prevent them from becoming too deep and permanent.

Scarring mostly happens in cases where the peel chemicals were too harsh and when you disrupt the healing process by peeling off the loose skin. Another reason to keep your hands off your face during the healing period!

Allergic Reaction

Allergic reactions to chemical peels are very rare, but they can happen. You’ll usually know if you’re allergic to the peel chemicals immediately after or during the procedure. 

Look out for the following signs:

  • Severe burning
  • Severe swelling
  • Blistering
  • Eyes swelling shut
  • Itching

Make sure to talk to your doctor ASAP. 

An allergic reaction, if not treated by a doctor, can leave permanent scarring on your face. So let your doctor assess the situation and prescribe the right kind of treatment to protect your skin from further damage.

Allergic reactions can be treated with special topical medications or oral medication. Do not try to treat your allergic reaction on your own.

Blisters

Blistering can occur in sensitive areas of the face and is more common with deep chemical peels. Blisters look like bubbles on the skin that are filled with a clear fluid. They can be small or large.

Sensitive areas like the nasolabial folds and the skin around the mouth and eyes are the most likely areas to be affected by blisters.

Blisters can also be signs of other issues like infections and allergic reactions, so it’s important to pay attention to all of the symptoms that you’re experiencing to figure out what’s going on.

If your blisters are accompanied by fevers or other symptoms, you’re likely experiencing something more serious, like an infection.  

Blisters could happen on their own, without an infection. If that’s the case, they might crust over and go away on their own. But if your blisters stick around for longer than two weeks, reach out to your doctor.

Heart And Kidney Issues

It’s very rare that you would experience serious complications with your organs, but it could happen from overexposure to phenol, which is used for deep chemical peels.

Symptoms of acute toxicity include irregular breathing, muscle weakness and tremors, loss of coordination, convulsions, coma, and respiratory arrest at lethal doses. If you experience any of these, call 911 immediately.

Final Thoughts

Getting a chemical peel can be scary, especially if you’re not prepared for the healing process.

The week following your procedure, you might be wondering if you did the right thing. Don’t panic. It’s normal for your skin to get worse before it gets better!

But you should always be on the lookout for concerning symptoms, which is why it’s so important to understand what is normal and what isn’t.

Redness, irritation, and peeling are normal symptoms. As are breakouts, commonly referred to as “purging.” But anything more serious than that might require medical attention. 

The good news is that serious complications are pretty rare. This is why it’s so important to go to a trained and licensed professional for your chemical peel. They can ensure that the procedure is done safely, in a clean environment, and in a way that will keep risks to a minimum.

Another point to remember is that complications are more common with medium to deep chemical peels. If you’re worried about how your skin will handle a chemical peel, consider opting for a series of light chemical peels to see if you can get the desired results with less risk.

Hopefully, this information helps you get some peace of mind after getting your chemical peel. You’ll know what’s normal and what isn’t, and you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of the treatment without serious side effects. 

If you’re looking for some extra information on proper chemical peel aftercare, take a look at this video from Mixed Makeup on YouTube.

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