A skin peel at home can totally transform the appearance of your skin leaving it smoother and softer. This is achieved by removing dead, dry skin cells and exfoliating the surface of your skin. While you can get a chemical peel done professionally in a doctor’s office, there are also home versions, like Medpeel Chemical Peels, that will allow you to achieve professional results at home. Click here to see our daily exfoliators!
Before using a skin peel at home, it’s important that you know that chemical peels can be strong and should not be used everyday or more than once a week.
Here we’ll discuss how to safely apply a skin peel at home. This article is for informational purposes only. We recommend consulting with your primary health professional before doing a chemical peel.
If this is your first time applying a chemical peel, choose the lowest concentration of chemical possible and then gradually increase the strength as your skin builds up tolerance. Medpeel offers a variety of light strength chemical peels designed for sensitive skin and/or new users who are looking to achieve results with minimal to no downtime.
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- Before applying a chemical peel at home, it’s recommended that you stop using tretinoin-based products (like Retin-A or Differin) for at least a week. These products are known to irritate the skin and can affect the results of your peel.
- The day before applying your chemical peel at home, gently exfoliate your skin using a mild facial scrub at least 24 hour prior to your treatment. Medpeel offers a variety of gentle exfoliators designed for daily use and will help to enhance the results of your chemical peel and address specific skin concerns.
- No matter what chemical peel you decide to start with, it’s recommended that you do a patch test before applying it to the desired treatment area.
To do a patch test:
- Start by applying a small amount of the chemical peel on your inner arm or inside of your wrist. We recommend applying with a cotton swab (your fingers may peel if you use your fingers).
- Wait approximately 48 hours to see if your skin has any adverse reactions to the chemical peel.
- Check your skin again after 96 hours to make sure there is no delayed reaction.
- If your skin appears normal, feel free to proceed with your home chemical peel treatment. However, if it looks irritated, either lower the concentration of the peel or do not use it.
- Before applying your skin peel at home, cleanse your face with water and a soap-free cleanser and finish with a mild astringent, like witch hazel, or the prep solution that came with your chemical peel kit.
- When applying your chemical peel at home, you want to make sure to avoid sensitive areas like your nostrils, around your eyes, or the corner of your lips. We recommend using petroleum jelly on these areas to protect them from the chemical peel.
- Using a cotton ball, cotton swab, or small brush apply the chemical peel evenly to your skin. We recommend starting with less sensitive areas like cheeks, chin, or forehead.
- Set your timer and only leave the chemical peel on for the recommended amount of time. Be sure to read the label before applying your chemical peel so you know how long to leave it on. While some burning is normal, If your skin starts to turn pink or starts to burn intensely, wash the peel off right away.
- To remove the peel, sometimes you will need to apply a neutralizing solution to stop the chemicals so they don’t continue to burn your skin. Many kits have a neutralizer, if not, then it may mean it’s designed to stop working as soon as it is washed off. If you like, you can also make your own neutralizer with water and baking soda and apply it after you wash off your chemical peel.
- After your peel, it recommended that you apply moisturizer and masks to keep your skin hydrated. If you peel, whatever you do, do not pick at it! This could cause damage to your skin.
- Since your skin will be sensitive and tender after your home chemical peel, it’s important that you protect your face from the sun by wearing sunscreen.
Are you ready to experience the benefits of doing a skin peel at home?
Visit Medpeel for a variety of safe and effective chemical peels to use at home today!