Chemical peels: what to expect before and after

A chemical peel sounds dramatic, but most feel like a warm tingle and end with a week of glow. The key is matching peel depth to your concern — here's how we think about it.

Before: the prep week

Stop retinoids five days before, skip waxing and scrubs, and tell us about cold sores or recent sun. Well-prepped skin peels evenly and heals faster — this step matters more than the peel itself.

During: 20 minutes

• Light peels (lactic, mandelic): no downtime, mild flaking, instant brightness.
• Medium peels (glycolic, TCA light): 3–5 days of visible peeling, big texture payoff.
• Deep peels (TCA strong, phenol): a week of recovery, reserved for deep scars and wrinkles.

After: protect the reveal

Fresh skin is sun-sensitive: SPF 50, wide-brim hats, gentle cleanser, and bland moisturizer for two weeks. Don't pick at flakes — they fall when ready. Most patients see the full result at three weeks, and a series of three peels beats any single deep one.

Wondering which depth suits you? Our anti-aging consultation includes a peel mapping session.