7 Derm-Recommended Products to Use After a Chemical Peel

A chemical peel can be a life-changing treatment, but how you treat your skin post-peel can make a huge difference in how well it heals. After a chemical peel, you can’t return to your standard skin-care routine immediately and definitely can’t put just any old product on your compromised skin, so you’ll want to do your research on which products are safe to use post-peel.

“We do chemical peels to slough off the surface of sun damage or aged skin, in a controlled manner, and also to trigger a challenge to the tissue to start generating collagen and other anti-aging cell-to-cell communication,” explains Delray Beach, FL, dermatologist Dr. Janet Allenby. She notes that chemical peels have gotten less popular as lasers have taken over, since they tend to have fewer side effects, but plenty of patients still seek out in-office peels.

“Chemical peels, as the name implies, are pretty caustic to the tissue, so wound care after a procedure is very important. The most important things to use after a chemical peel are topicals that don’t irritate and help maintain the skin barrier until the skin is healed,” says Dr. Allenby. Essentially, the affected area is treated as a wound, using topicals that promote healing. We asked experts which products they trust to use on sensitive, post-chemical peel skin and which products to avoid until skin is fully healed.

Featured experts

• Dr. Janet Allenby is a board-certified dermatologist based in Delray Beach, FL
• Dr. Jacob Beer is a board-eligible dermatologist in West Palm Beach, FL

Products to avoid after a chemical peel

Removing potentially irritating products from your routine after a chemical peel is just as important as adding healing products. West Palm Beach, FL dermatologist Jacob Beer, MD recommends avoiding “Harsh cleansers, exfoliators, topical retinoids and brightening creams for the first several days to a week” after your chemical peel. Additionally, Dr. Allenby suggests avoiding anything alcohol-based during the wound healing process.

While it might be tempting to layer a ton of healing products on your skin slugging style, Dr. Allenby says anyone prone to acne or breakouts should avoid overdoing it. The most important thing to avoid? The sun. “Absolutely stay out of the sun for two weeks after your treatment,” says Dr. Allenby and daily sunscreen use is a must.

Dermatologist-recommended products to use after a chemical peel

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This occlusive balm, formulated specifically to soothe, hydrate and protect traumatized, compromised or extremely dry skin, comes recommended for post-peel use by Dr. Allenby. And at such a reasonable price point, you won’t feel guilty slathering it all over your face.

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You’ll want to keep your routine pretty simple after a chemical peel, so stick to a straightforward, derm-approved gentle cleanser. Dr. Beer recommends this barrier-restoring formula from CeraVe.

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Prebiotic oat and calming feverfew take good care of sensitized skin in this soothing Aveeno gel moisturizer, recommended by Dr. Beer. It instantly calms sensitive skin, restores the moisture barrier within two hours of use and keeps skin hydrated for 48 hours.

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Dr. Allenby says this recovery cream is an effective therapy to use as a skin barrier post-chemical peel. A proprietary blend of post-biotics and hydrating and soothing ingredients help restore and rebalance the skin’s microbiome after a peel.

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Dr. Beer recommends this head-to-toe solution for dry, sensitive skin featuring the brand’s iconic La Roche-Posay Prebiotic Thermal Water. The soothing formula helps rebalance the microbiome, restore the protective barrier and replenish lipids.

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Vanicream is another ultra-gentle cleanser option recommended by Dr. Beer. It’s devoid of irritants and super mild to ensure sensitive, compromised skin is safe.

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Dr. Allenby recommends using Plated’s Calm Serum, which features topical exosomes, consistently at home post-treatment, to help promote healing. This product is only available through a provider, so ask your dermatologist if they offer it.