by Sarah Allen, MD
Why do you prime before a Chemical Peel? It is often recommended that patients “prime” their skin prior to a facial peel. We would venture as far as to say DO NOT receive a deeper skin peel without priming. Providers will often recommend to apply Tretinoin or Hydroquinone prior to a peel for optimal results. These topical creams can help enhance the effect of the peel, but also decrease the risk of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
You can continue Hydroquinone up until the time of the peel and after, but you must stop Tretinoin 7-10 days prior to your peel. This is because Tretinoin can increase the depth of dermal penetration of peeling products and this can lead to complications. We love all peels. The peel with the least downtime, but leads to glowing results is the ZO Skin Health Stimulator Peel which is a combination of lactic acid, citric acid and glycolic acid. It has no downtime and is a true “lunchtime” peel. We are excited about the new ZO Peel coming out later this year too.
At The Skin Clique, we believe in helping you feel confident in your own skin by providing convenient, affordable access to medical-grade treatments performed by board certified experts - all in the comfort of your own home. Schedule your Chemical Peel appointment today. And remember, beauty knocks.