Before the Peel: Preconditioning

What is preconditioning?

Preconditioning is the process of preparing the skin for a chemical peel by using specific skincare products and treatments in the weeks leading up to the procedure. This process helps to optimize the skin’s health and resilience, making it more tolerant to the chemical solution used during the peel and minimizing the risk of adverse side effects such as redness, irritation, and scarring.

If you don’t have the foundations of good skin care established and showing on the skin surface, we don’t want to do anything “advanced,” so we always recommend starting with the basics.

Why is preconditioning important?

Chemical peels work by causing controlled damage to the outer layers of the skin, which triggers the body’s natural healing response and leads to the production of new, healthy skin cells. However, if the skin is not properly prepared before a chemical peel, the peel can cause more damage than intended, leading to complications such as scarring, hyperpigmentation, and infection. Preconditioning the skin helps to minimize the risk of these complications by strengthening the skin’s natural barrier and ensuring that it is healthy and resilient enough to tolerate the chemical peel.

With a strong and healthy-appearing skin mantle, we can then recommend advanced skin care treatments to treat underlying conditions like lax, wrinkled, or sun-damaged skin.

Steps to precondition the skin before a chemical peel

Consult with a skincare professional

Before undergoing a chemical peel, it’s important to consult with a skincare professional to determine the best approach for your skin type and concerns. They can recommend specific products and treatments to help prepare your skin for the chemical peel and ensure the best possible results.

Add the proper form of Vitamin A into your skincare routine and avoid aggressive exfoliating products.

Retinoids and other exfoliating agents can make the skin more sensitive and increase the risk of adverse side effects during a chemical peel. It’s important to stop using aggressive exfoliating products at least one week before the peel to ensure that the skin is in the best possible condition. Many Environ masques and toners are gentle but are still effective exfoliators while not stripping away the skin’s protective barrier.

Use a gentle cleanser

A gentle cleanser is essential for preconditioning the skin before a chemical peel. It’s important to choose a cleanser that is free from harsh chemicals and fragrances that can irritate the skin. A gentle cleanser will help to remove dirt, oil, and impurities from the skin without stripping it of its natural oils.

Before you cleanse, consider a double-oil pre-cleanser to remove away all the pollutants and makeup from the day. Oil attracts the oil in a gentle, effective manner.

Moisturize regularly

Moisturizing the skin is key to maintaining its health and resilience. It’s important to use a moisturizer that is appropriate for your skin type and that contains ingredients that help to strengthen the skin’s natural barrier, such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide. Environ’s step-up program was designed to deliver the maximum amount of nourishing skincare ingredients to protect the skin from within and from the outside over time and across the lifespan.

Use a broad-spectrum physical sunscreen

UV radiation from the sun can cause significant damage to the skin, making it more sensitive and increasing the risk of adverse side effects during a chemical peel. It’s important to use a broad-spectrum physical sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day, even on cloudy days, even in the “off-season.”

Consider using a topical antioxidant

Topical antioxidants such as vitamins C and E can help to protect the skin from damage and strengthen its natural barrier. These ingredients can be particularly beneficial when used in conjunction with a chemical peel, as they help to minimize the risk of adverse side effects and improve the overall health of the skin. Read our blog about environmental pollutants for more information about this category of protection.

Consider using a skin-calming serum

A skin-calming serum can help to soothe the skin and reduce inflammation, making it more resilient and less likely to experience adverse side effects during an advanced skin care treatment like a peel. Environ has a line specifically for sensitive skin or skin prone to problematic issues; check this blog out for more information about the root causes of problematic skin.

If you liked this blog, stay tuned for more from Corrective Skincare of Southern Nevada

Next Month: “Soothing Self Care for the Skin” and “Targeted Treatments A-Z”