Skin Peels: Treatment Advice & Aftercare

Professional Skin Peels & Resurfacing Treatments

Skin peels are professional exfoliation and resurfacing treatments designed to improve the appearance and overall quality of the skin.

At Eco Skin Clinic we offer a range of peels, from gentle treatments with little visible downtime to more targeted resurfacing treatments for concerns such as:

• pigmentation and uneven skin tone

• dull or lacklustre skin

• congestion and blemishes

• fine lines and signs of skin ageing

• rough or uneven texture

• post-acne marks

• dark circles and pigmentation around the eye area.

The peel selected for you will depend on your skin type, concern, previous treatments and the amount of downtime appropriate for you.

Our Skin Peel Treatments

Our peel and resurfacing treatments include:

• General Skin Peels – selected according to your skin and concerns

• ME Line Peels – targeted pigmentation treatments with protocols for different skin types

• ME Line Dark Circles – targeted treatment for suitable pigmentation around the eye area

• BioRePeel – a TCA-based biostimulating peel for face and body

• Zcosmo Spicule Peel – a resurfacing treatment using microscopic spicules

• pHformula M.E.S.O. Resurfacing – controlled professional skin resurfacing

Dermalogica Melanopro has its own dedicated Treatment Advice & Aftercare page because it follows a different treatment and homecare programme.

Before Your Skin Peel

Your exact preparation will depend on the peel you're having.

Before treatment:

• Avoid deliberate tanning and sunbeds.

• Don't attend with sunburn or significantly irritated skin.

• Avoid waxing or other hair-removal methods that leave the area sensitive immediately before treatment.

• Avoid scrubs and aggressive exfoliation.

• You may need to temporarily avoid retinoids, acids or other strong active skincare before your peel — follow the instructions given for your particular treatment.

• Don't pick or squeeze blemishes.

• Tell us about prescription or medicated skincare you're using.

• Tell us if you're taking or have recently taken isotretinoin or other prescription acne medication.

• Tell us about all medication, supplements and herbal remedies you take.

• Let us know if you're prone to cold sores.

• Tell us about allergies or previous reactions to peels or skincare ingredients.

• Tell us about recent laser, microneedling, plasma, injectables or other advanced treatments.

• Let us know if you're pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive.

• Tell us if your health, medication or skin has changed since your consultation.

Do not stop prescribed medication simply to have a skin peel unless advised by the healthcare professional who prescribed it.

Is a Skin Peel Suitable for Everyone?

Depending on the peel, treatment may need to be adapted, postponed or avoided if you:

• have an active skin infection or cold sore

• have open, broken or significantly irritated skin

• have sunburn or a recent significant tan

• have active eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis or a significant rosacea flare in the treatment area

• have a condition affecting normal skin healing

• have a weakened immune system

• have a history of abnormal scarring

• are particularly prone to post-inflammatory pigmentation

• are using prescription retinoids or have recently taken isotretinoin

• have recently had another resurfacing or advanced treatment

• are pregnant or breastfeeding

• are undergoing cancer treatment or have another significant current medical condition.

This doesn't mean everyone with one of these circumstances is automatically unsuitable for every peel.

Different peel formulations have different contraindications, so we'll assess your suitability for the specific treatment being considered.

Cold Sores

Skin resurfacing around the mouth can potentially reactivate the herpes simplex virus in clients who are prone to cold sores.

Please tell us if you have a history of cold sores, even if you don't currently have one.

We won't perform a peel directly over an active cold sore.

If you experience frequent or severe outbreaks, we may recommend discussing preventative antiviral treatment with your GP or pharmacist before treatment.

What Does a Skin Peel Feel Like?

This varies considerably between formulations.

During treatment you may experience:

• tingling

• warmth

• mild stinging

• tightening

• itching

• a more intense hot or prickling sensation with stronger resurfacing treatments.

Your practitioner will monitor your skin throughout.

Tell us immediately if you experience excessive or unusual burning or pain.

A stronger sensation does not necessarily mean a peel is working better, and we don't deliberately push the skin beyond an appropriate treatment response.

What Should I Expect Afterwards?

This depends on the treatment.

Following a lighter peel you may experience very little downtime.

Following a more active resurfacing treatment you may experience:

• redness

• warmth

• tightness

• dryness

• sensitivity

• mild swelling

• flaking or peeling

• temporary darkening of pigmentation

• a rough or textured feeling to the skin.

Not every peel causes visible peeling.

No Peeling Doesn't Mean No Result. Despite the name, your skin does not need to visibly shed or peel for a professional peel to have been effective. Some modern formulations are designed to create controlled skin renewal with very little visible peeling.

Aftercare

Your practitioner will give you advice appropriate to the peel you've received.

As a general guide:

• Keep skincare simple and gentle while the skin recovers.

• Use a gentle cleanser.

• Keep the skin comfortably moisturised.

• Don't pick, peel or pull away flaking skin.

• Avoid scrubs and exfoliating brushes.

• Avoid retinoids, AHAs, BHAs and other strong active products until advised to restart them.

• Avoid waxing over recovering skin.

• Avoid excessive heat while the skin is red or sensitive.

• Avoid swimming, saunas and steam rooms during significant peeling or irritation.

• Avoid other advanced skin treatments until the skin has fully recovered.

• Follow any specific homecare programme supplied with your treatment.

Do Not Pick Peeling Skin

If your skin begins to flake or peel, allow it to shed naturally.

Don't:

• pull away loose skin

• scrub it

• use exfoliating brushes

• use acids to speed up peeling

• deliberately try to make the skin peel more.

Removing skin before it is ready can increase the risk of prolonged redness, infection and pigmentation changes.

Sun Protection Is Essential

Sun protection is particularly important following any peel or resurfacing treatment.

Use a broad-spectrum SPF 30–50 every day once appropriate to apply skincare.

Avoid deliberate tanning and sunbeds.

This is especially important when treating pigmentation, as UV exposure can contribute to the pigmentation returning or becoming more noticeable.

ME Line Peels

ME Line treatments are designed specifically for the management of pigmentation concerns, with protocols selected according to the skin and type of pigmentation being treated.

They may be used for concerns including:

• sun-related pigmentation

• uneven skin tone

• post-inflammatory pigmentation

• selected cases of melasma.

Your practitioner will assess your skin and choose the appropriate ME Line protocol, including consideration of skin phototype.

What to Expect

Depending on the treatment used, you may experience:

• redness

• warmth or tingling

• tightness

• dryness

• flaking

• temporary darkening of pigmentation before it improves.

Pigmentation treatments require particularly careful sun protection and homecare.

Melasma

Melasma is a complex and often recurring pigmentation condition.

Treatment can improve its appearance, but we don't describe melasma as permanently cured. Hormones, UV exposure, visible light, heat and inflammation can all influence it.

Long-term sun protection and appropriate homecare are therefore an important part of managing results.

ME Line Dark Circles

ME Line Dark Circles is a specialist treatment for selected pigmentation around the eye area.

Dark circles can have several causes, including:

• pigmentation

• visible blood vessels

• thin skin

• shadowing

• hollowness

• genetics.

A peel will not correct every type of dark circle.

We'll assess whether pigmentation is contributing to yours before recommending treatment.

After Treatment Around the Eyes

The eye area is delicate and may temporarily experience:

• redness

• dryness

• sensitivity

• mild swelling

• flaking.

Don't rub or pick the area and avoid introducing strong eye products until the skin has recovered.

Contact us if you develop significant swelling, persistent irritation or unexpected eye symptoms.

BioRePeel

BioRePeel is a professional TCA-based peel that can be used on the face and selected areas of the body.

It is designed to provide exfoliation and skin stimulation while often producing less visible peeling than clients expect from a traditional TCA peel.

It can be used to support concerns including:

• uneven texture

• congestion and blemish-prone skin

• post-acne marks

• fine lines

• dullness

• uneven skin tone.

What to Expect After BioRePeel

You may experience:

• temporary redness

• mild warmth or sensitivity

• tightness

• dryness

• light flaking.

Some clients experience very little visible peeling.

This doesn't mean the treatment hasn't worked.

Keep skincare gentle, avoid strong actives until the skin has settled and maintain good sun protection.

Zcosmo Spicule Peel

The Zcosmo Spicule Peel works differently from a conventional acid peel.

It uses microscopic spicules that interact with the superficial layers of the skin to create a controlled resurfacing response.

Because of this, the after-treatment sensation can also be quite different.

What to Expect

Following a spicule treatment, the skin may feel:

• prickly

• tingly

• tight

• dry

• rough or textured

• sensitive when touched.

Some clients describe a tiny needle-like or prickling sensation when touching or washing the skin for a period after treatment.

This can be an expected part of the treatment response.

Depending on treatment intensity, you may subsequently experience dryness, flaking or peeling.

After Your Spicule Peel

For the initial recovery period:

• avoid rubbing or scratching the skin

• don't use scrubs or exfoliating devices

• avoid retinoids and exfoliating acids

• avoid facial massage

• avoid excessive heat and sweating while the skin is sensitive

• don't pick peeling skin

• use the recommended gentle homecare

• protect the skin carefully from UV exposure.

Your practitioner will tell you when to restart your normal active skincare.

pHformula M.E.S.O. Resurfacing

pHformula M.E.S.O. is a professional controlled skin-resurfacing treatment.

Rather than treating every client with the same strength or protocol, treatment is selected according to your skin, concerns and previous response.

It may be used as part of a programme to support:

• dullness

• uneven skin texture

• signs of skin ageing

• uneven skin tone

• overall skin quality.

What to Expect

Following treatment you may experience:

• temporary redness

• warmth

• tightness

• dryness

• sensitivity

• light flaking.

Your practitioner may recommend specific pHformula homecare around your treatment to support recovery and results.

Follow the product and aftercare instructions provided rather than adding additional exfoliating products yourself.

Pigmentation Changes After Peels

Any treatment that deliberately causes exfoliation or inflammation carries some risk of changes in pigmentation.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) can cause an area to become temporarily darker following treatment.

It can occur in any skin type but may be more common or persistent in darker skin tones and in clients who are already prone to pigmentation after inflammation.

Less commonly, lighter areas of pigmentation can occur.

Appropriate peel selection, preparation, aftercare and sun protection help reduce these risks.

Please tell us if you've previously developed significant pigmentation following a spot, injury, peel, laser treatment or other skin procedure.

When Can I Restart My Normal Skincare?

There isn't one correct number of days for every peel.

A gentle peel may require very little adjustment, whereas a stronger resurfacing treatment may require a longer recovery period.

Your practitioner will advise you according to the treatment you've received.

As a general principle, don't rush to restart strong actives while your skin is still:

• red

• tight

• tender

• flaky

• peeling

• unusually sensitive.

Wait until your skin barrier feels comfortable and recovered.

Makeup

When you can apply makeup depends on the peel and your skin's response.

Following a very superficial treatment, makeup may be possible relatively quickly.

Following a stronger resurfacing treatment, it's better to leave the skin makeup-free while it is significantly irritated or peeling.

Your practitioner will advise you after your particular peel.

Exercise, Swimming & Heat

After a light peel you may be able to return to normal activity quickly.

If the skin is red, warm or actively peeling, avoid:

• strenuous exercise and excessive sweating

• saunas

• steam rooms

• very hot showers

• swimming.

Resume these once the skin has sufficiently settled.

How Many Peels Will I Need?

Some clients enjoy a peel occasionally to refresh their skin, while more targeted concerns usually benefit from a course of treatments.

The number and frequency will depend on:

• the peel being used

• your skin concern

• your skin type

• your response to treatment

• your homecare

• other treatments within your skin plan.

Stronger isn't necessarily better. We aim to create an appropriate controlled response without unnecessarily compromising the skin barrier.

When Should I Contact Eco Skin Clinic?

Some redness, dryness, sensitivity and peeling can be expected depending on your treatment.

Please contact us if you experience:

• significant or increasing pain

• intense or persistent burning

• redness that is worsening rather than settling

• significant swelling

• blistering

• weeping or broken skin

• pus or signs of infection

• an unexpected widespread rash

• significant darkening or lightening of the skin

• a cold sore outbreak

• skin that isn't healing as expected

• any other reaction that concerns you.