Want to enhance skin texture and appearance? One of the best treatments to improve skin texture, reduce pigmentation, minimize acne scars and reveal a more radiant complexion is a chemical peel. But the results of your treatment depend not only on the peel itself. What you do after is just as crucial and one of the most essential actions you can take in your aftercare routine is to wear sunscreen. Sunscreen isn’t just for sunny days or summer months. After a chemical peel, your skin is much more prone to sun damage no matter what the weather is like. Remember, if you don’t use sunscreen, it can delay healing, reduce your results and even cause new skin problems.
Continue reading this guide to learn more about the importance of using a sunscreen after chemical peel.
Skin Gets More Sensitive After Chemical Peel
Chemical peels work by eliminating unhealthy outer layers of the skin to reveal new, healthier skin underneath. This procedure, while improving your complexion, also temporarily compromises your skin’s innate protective barrier. In the healing phase, your new skin is thinner, more delicate and much more susceptible to ultraviolet (UV) rays. Your skin hasn’t reestablished its full ability to protect itself from environmental damage, so any amount of sun exposure can interfere with healing. Thus, because of this heightened sensitivity, it’s always advised against direct sun exposure and using sunscreen every day after treatment.
Sunscreen Prevents Hyperpigmentation
One of the most prevalent issues after a chemical peel is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This happens when the skin produces too much melanin because of irritation or injury, and it leads to dark spots or an uneven skin tone. Chemical peels deliberately induce controlled exfoliation, and the skin is more vulnerable to a negative reaction if exposed to sunlight during the healing process. UV rays cause melanin production leading to pigmentation issues, particularly in individuals already prone to discoloration. Ironically, a lot of people get chemical peels to fix pigmentation problems, only to neglect sunscreen and make it worse. Consistent sun protection is the key to considerably reduce this risk and keep your complexion more even.
Sunscreen Extends Treatment Results
Chemical peels are used to improve the look and condition of the skin by minimizing flaws and stimulating the regeneration of cells. But if the skin isn’t protected from the sun, those improvements can be wiped out. UV radiation breaks down collagen and elastin, which keep the skin healthy and young, and therefore promotes skin aging. It can also cause uneven texture, dullness and re-emergence of pigmentation. Without the right sun protection, the results of your chemical peel won’t last as long as you would want. Wear sunscreen daily to help maintain the treatment’s smoother texture and more radiant complexion. Remember, sunscreen is a form of investment protection.
Sunscreen Promotes Healing
How your skin reacts to a chemical peel treatment is greatly influenced by the healing period that follows the procedure. During this time your skin may feel a little red, dry, flaky or sensitive as it renews itself. Too much sun can make these signs worse by causing more irritation and inflammation. This could make the recovery period longer and less relaxing than it needs to be. Sunscreen forms a barrier of protection from ultraviolet rays so your skin can use its energy to repair itself rather than fighting environmental damage. When the skin is covered, the redness generally fades more effectively and the new skin that is exposed remains healthier. Patients who adhere to the aftercare instructions like the regular use of sunscreen, generally experience an easier recovery and more effective overall results.
Sunscreen is Important on Cloudy Days
While many people equate sunscreen with the beach or scorching summer weather, UV exposure takes place all year long. A significant number of ultraviolet rays can get through the clouds to your skin even on cloudy days. Also, UVA rays can get through windows, so your skin might be subjected while driving, operating near a window, or just being inside. These minor exposures can have a bigger effect after a chemical peel as your skin is more vulnerable than normal. That’s why skin specialists advise making sunscreen a daily habit, no matter the weather. This means that wearing sunscreen in the morning is a good way to ensure you are consistently protected and not damaging your skin accidentally throughout the day.