Chemical Peels
Post-op Instructions/Expectations
- Needs meticulous wound care
- Follow-up appointment within 24 to 48 hrs
- Expect desquamation and serous weeping
- Moderate edema
- Shower and remove serous/fibrinous material and desquamated skin with half-strength hydrogen peroxide (use cotton balls and cotton tip applicators); Aquaphor Gentle Wash is a good cleansing agent
- Then apply Bacitracin or Neosporin to cleansed face
- This regimen is followed three times a day
- Patients should continue narcotic & NSAID pain medicines
- By one-week follow-up, re-epithelialization has taken place (new, pink skin appears); wound care is discontinued and liberal use of facial moisturizers is recommended (Aquaphor Ointment is a good moisturizer)
- Cosmetics may be applied 7 – 10 days post-operatively
- Erythema gradually fades over several weeks to 2 months
- Green-tinted base is helpful to mask pink tones of freshly peeled skin
- Coordination with a cosmetic consultant greatly enhances patient's comfort & satisfaction during this period
- Use of sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) and total sun avoidance are critical during the initial 3 months post-op
If there are concerns, please call our offices at 817.292.3605 for Fort Worth or 817.573.1855 for Granbury.