Why avoid the sun after a chemical peel?

Understanding the risk factors make for improved chemical peel results

You may have been told a thousand times to avoid direct sunlight following a chemical peel but similarly you may have never been told why. At SAI, we believe that this education will not only help our clients understand their treatments better but also just how their post-treatment actions can positively affect their final results.

At SAI, we openly encourage daily sunblock application regardless of the season and many of our clients follow these protocols as measures post-peel. Although we absolutely recommend daily application of sunblock, we want to explain why exposure to direct sunlight should be avoided altogether post- chemical peel.

NOTE: We offer both SPF daily creams & Oral sunblock options. Also make sure to speak to your therapist about their recommended sunblock & recovery creams.

The Variables

Of course, your skin type & type of pigmentation will influence your chemical peel treatment, which will in turn affect your sun exposure protocols. The deeper the peel the stricter your sun exposure should be for both exposure & duration.

At SAI, your therapist will give you direction based on your exact needs.

The most important aspect is to understand why sun exposure after a chemical peel can negatively impact your final results

Sun Exposure

We understand how UVA & UVB rays damage the skin.

Prolonged exposure to sunlight not only creates uneven pigmentation with the promotion of melanin but the rays of light penetrating your skin also damage the cells at each layer of skin. This translates simply to skin cells not performing correctly, which in turn leads to aged skin, wrinkles & dehydration.

This above example is true for normal skin, without any treatments.

The action of a Chemical Peel

Now imagine the same scenario as above but without a protective layer of surface skin.

In essence, the outmost layer of skin (stratum corneum) is there to protect the optimally functioning skin beneath. Despite this protective layer we still suffer some skin damage due to the differing penetrative wavelengths of UVA & UVB rays.

The initial action of a chemical peel is to chemically remove that outmost layer of skin. When undergoing a chemical peel, you are essentially hastening cellular turnover to reveal new unblemished skin beneath. The deeper the peel the more layers are removed and the increased downtime.

NOTE: Therefore, deeper chemical peels are recommended for individuals with deep wrinkles or deep pigmentation deposits. We need to eliminate the ‘history’ of blemished skin to promote a new visible age. This is exactly why we offer our full three-phase chemical peel specials in the month of July 2017.

Now without a protective layer of skin minimising the harmful penetration of UVA & UVB rays you can imagine how much sun damage could be caused post- chemical peel. Mild chemical peels only remove the outmost layer of skin to reveal young skin beneath but this still means that until normal skin cycles have been resumed your skin is a more-risk than before, and that scale worsens with deeper chemical peels.

Is the risk worth it?

Absolutely yes! As a treatment, there are very few protocols that can achieve the even complexion & skin rejuvenation results as a chemical peel does. The only potential hurdle is the client minimising direct sunlight exposure.

As a client, if you avoid sun exposure irrespective of undergoing a chemical peel & use ongoing daily sunblock you will reduce sun damage immediately. Now apply that same methodology post- chemical peel & you will not only reverse the visible signs of ageing but stop premature sun ageing in its tracks.

Book an Appointment

If you would like to discuss our recovery protocols or Sunblock products to ensure that you minimise sun damage post- chemical peel, please call us on 011 883 3116. If you are keen to turn back the hands of time then read our July 2017 Complete Pigmentation Special Offer filled with fantastic information about how to you can positively affect your final results. Call SAI Sandton on 011 883 3116 today.

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