My Chemical Peel Experience

A tale of do as I say, NOT as I do!

Day 1, Monday
My friend Diane, an aesthetic instructor, and I decided an anti-aging TCA Peel would be best for my skin. Perfect for hydrating my dry, sun damaged, peri-menopausal skin. This is not ‘your mother’s’ aggressive, 'under home-arrest', type peel. It is a kinder, gentler regeneration of new cells at a faster rate than what would normally occur as an adult.

First, she cleansed my skin, twice. Then prepped my skin with a lactic toner, asking if I felt any tingling on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being worst. I felt a slight sensation, maybe a 1 or 2. We waited for the toner to dry and then started with 1 layer of Ultra Peel I, again asking my sensation on a 1 to 10 scale; I felt about a 3. We waited 3 minutes and she applied another layer, same 1 to 10 scale question; I felt slightly more tingling - about a 4. Waiting 3 more minutes, we decided to go for one more layer; 1 to 10 scale came in at about a 5 and that was it. After 3 minutes, she finished the peel off with a layer of Ultra II – a retinol treatment booster, then applied sunscreen and I was finished. My face looked like I used a bronzer and felt slightly tingly and tight, although not uncomfortable. The entire process took about 20 minutes, we were finished by noon. When I left for home I made sure to let the heat out of my car before jumping in, heat can do damage to the skin as well.

This peel should be kept on for at least 5 hours to let the skin process before removing and applying a hydrating balm (only). OR you can leave it on over night. I removed it at 5 hours with Scosh Cleanse and tepid water, patted dry, and generously applied a balm - looked pretty greasy!

Day 2, Tuesday
My skin felt very tight the next morning and I looked a bit puffy. No flaking or peeling. I washed my face with Scosh Cleanse and tepid water at the sink, patted dry and generously applied a balm and sunscreen. Kept the shower spray off my face, carefully washing and rinsing my hair in a tepid shower. Do NOT put your face under the warm shower spray for 5 days post. If in fact, if you can avoid washing your hair on day 2 even better.

Had clients all day so I also applied Scosh Oil Blotting Powder to control shine.

About 5 pm Tuesday (30 hours post peel), I started to feel like I was beginning to peel/ flake around the peri-oral area. Apparently, it is normal for this part of the peel to ‘release’ first as we use our mouth and nose so much throughout the day.

I washed my face at the sink that evening with Scosh Cleanse, patted dry and noticed that I was beginning to ‘sheet’. Rather large pieces of skin were peeling from the mouth, nasal, and cheek areas. Tempting as it was I did NOT peel, tug, or pull at these areas. Hyperpigmentation may result, damaging the skin. So, I applied more balm which made my face look greasy but not ‘peely’.

Day 3, Wednesday
I was sheeting and flaking in the morning. Washed my face with Scosh Cleanse and tepid water at the sink, patted dry and noticed flakes of skin in the wash bowl. Hmmm, kinda weird but funny at the same time! Generously applied balm and sunscreen. Lots of flaking throughout the day.

Home office day, so no powder. Just balm and sunscreen.

Washed my face at the sink with Scosh Cleanse and tepid water in the evening, patted dry, applying a generous amount of balm to stay hydrated.

Day 4, Thursday
I was surprised at how much of the flaking/peeling was gone. Except for the flaking on my forehead, eyebrows, and along the hairline my skin looked clear, tight, and nice.

Did the usual Scosh Cleanse, tried a serum this morning but if felt a bit tingly so I backed off. If it feels tingly, your skin is telling you something. Applied generous amounts of balm and sunscreen.

Put some oil blotting powder on and met my friend Dawn later that afternoon. She was surprised at the clarity of my skin just 3 days post peel.

Day 5, Friday
Then this is where I got cocky, making a HUGE mistake. Pay attention here, as it’s a do as I say NOT as I do moment.

I jumped in the shower without Scosh Cleanse. I decided to use a sample gel cleanser with itty bitty scrubbies in it. I thought would be fairly benign and I really wanted to get the flaking around my hairline. Big Big BIG mistake! I got out of the shower and my face was bright red, and felt warm to the touch. Scared the living heck out of me. I was completely panic stricken calling Diane and my friend Tracy telling them what a bonehead move I had just made and what the heck happened to my skin?

I had clients that morning, so I put on lots of balm and sunscreen, and oil blotting powder and headed off to the studio still feeling warm and looking bright red.

Diane called and talked me down, telling me to look at the ingredient list. Sure enough, half way down the list there it was…Retinyl Palmitate – Retin A – Vitamin A. Under normal circumstances a great cell turnover ingredient, in this case TOO much TOO soon (Maybe I should have made myself fill out the Chemical Peel Consultation Form.). About 5 hours later my skin started to calm down and all turned out OK. My skin looks and feels great and I’m very happy with the results.

BUT this is the perfect example of why you must follow the take home instructions, and use the post-skin care kit + shea butter balm for at least 10 days, twice a day, everyday post peel. Scrubs are NOT allowed no matter how much the flaking makes you crazy. It can absolutely do damage by hyperpigmenting the skin. I know better and I still was non-compliant. Do not follow my example!

Day 6 – 13
Skin looks terrific, with the hairline flakes taking the longest to release. About day 9 I felt really dry and started to flake ever so slightly again on my cheeks and forehead. Kind of a second peel it seemed. Hydrate made it unnoticeable and it was gone by day 11 leaving my skin very soft yet firm.

Day 14
I did a fruit enzyme peel as my final 3 part peel program. My skin is glowing! I’m really happy with the results.