What Can I Do for Redness Post-Chemical Peel?

I had a chemical peel under my eyes in November. I have fair Mediterranean skin, and I have melasma on my cheeks. I was red for much longer than I thought, and now it is less red, almost 8 weeks later, but not the same color as the rest of my skin. I'm also noticing some demarcation lines as a result. Is it just my skin type and the how it heals, or should I be doing something to help it along? I asked the doctor when it was still red and he told me to apply 1% steroid cream twice a day, which I have been doing for the last 2-3 weeks. Please help!

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3 Doctor Answers | Asked by pd62 in new york

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Clinique Medial pre- and post- peels and laser is very effective

PD62, Sorry to hear you are having issues after your peel. Without me specific information or pictures, it is hard to give you very specific advice. However, I have started using Clinical Medial in all my post peel and post laser patients and I have seen encouraging results. They make specific creams and lotions to use before and after your treatment which help maximize your results and reduce side effects. Good Luck. David Shafer, MD New York City

Redness after chemical peel

Redness might persist after a chemical or a laser peel. I am not sure what kind of peel you had. Talk to your doctor about it. Sometimes, it is best to just wait awhile, use a little concealer, and let your body heal it. If you are concerned about other issues, discuss it further with your doctor, or see another physician for a consult.

There are a few things that might help redness from a chemical peel

This may not be what you want to hear, but depending on the depth of your peel, it can take 2-3 months or longer for the pinkness to fade. Some suggestions I have for you: 1. At this point, discontinue use of the hydrocortisone cream. When used long-term, it can actually contribute to redness and cause steroid-associated rosacea even with a low potency topical corticosteroid. 2. To cover up the pink skin, I would consider using a green tinted concealer such as Dermalogica Sheer tint... more