A Few Ways to Prepare for Your
Chemical Peel Treatment
You want your Toronto chemical peel treatment to provide the best possible results — and knowing how to properly prepare for the procedure is essential in achieving this. By following these steps you can ensure that your chemical peel leaves your skin looking refreshed and radiant.
Know What to Avoid
Certain medications should be avoided in the time leading up to your chemical peel. Your physician will take note of your medical history (and which medications you’re currently using) and advise you if any medications should be ceased. In some cases you will only need to stop taking your normal medications for several days before treatment but your clinic may instruct you to avoid them for as long as several weeks. Smoking takes a toll on the skin as well so it’s important to cut back (or, better yet, use the treatment as an excuse to quit entirely) before your peel. Free radical damage from cigarette smoke and nicotine’s ability to slow the skin’s healing properties can interfere with the success of your treatment.
Prepare Your Skin
Many clinics will give patients prescriptions for topical and/or oral medications to be used in the time leading up to a chemical peel. These often include hydroquinone and Retin-A or AHA creams. Using these medications allows your skin to ready itself for treatment by thinning surface layers, giving the peel’s active ingredients the ability to fully penetrate into the skin. Your clinic will let you know how long the prescribed medications should be used and schedule your treatment accordingly.
Consider a Day or Two Off If You Work Directly With The Public
Chemical peels don’t require serious recovery time but the treatment can cause patients to experience changes in their skin. These changes can include temporary skin peeling, crusting, flaking, redness and a mild stinging sensation. Because of this, it might be a good idea to consider taking one or two days off from work in order to minimize any embarrassment during the time it takes for these effects to dissipate if you work in an environment that involves a lot of contact with the public/clients.
Follow Your Physician’s Instructions
The most obvious way to properly prepare for your Toronto chemical peel treatment is to follow the pre-treatment instructions given to you. The majority of doctors, nurses and technicians will address all of the most important preparation points during your consultation but be sure to mention any medications you’re currently taking as well as your medical history. These facts will allow your practitioner to give you the right steps to follow while leading up to your procedure.
Some may also suggest follow-up peels in order to achieve optimal results and, if this is the case, be sure to follow their suggestions and consider further treatments.