How To Care For Post-Procedure Skin

Lasers, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, oh my. We can’t get enough of our professional treatments for the incredible results they deliver. But when it comes to chemical peel aftercare or general post-procedure skincare, sometimes it’s hard to know what our skin needs and when it needs it. 

“Professional procedures actually stimulate the body’s natural repair system via what we call a “controlled injury process,” explains Anna De La Cruz, Glo’s VP of Product Development and Master Aesthetician. “This sounds way scarier than it is. Think of a treatment as a signal to your body’s natural healing processes to restore and repair, boosted of course, by the incredible active ingredients the procedure delivers. And, this is where the post-procedure skincare really comes into play.”

“Take a chemical peel for example. A professional exfoliation treatment, it sloughs away dead surface skin cells, clearing out and removing any debris that’s built up over time, and stimulates collagen production, so it can effectively deliver targeted actives on a deeper level. This is why you’ll have different degrees of downtime post-peel depending on the levels of actives in the treatment.”

Skin will feel more vulnerable and delicate after your professional treatments. It may also be more sensitive to sunlight. “During this time, making sure you’re following a post-procedure care plan will both heal the skin and encourage optimal treatment results. And, there are some key skincare ingredients that can really help with this,” adds Anna.

Chemical Peel Aftercare + Post-Procedure Skincare

“The skin is in a delicate state post treatment, so most often we let the treatment do its thing, then we start focusing on helping accelerate the repair. That's where our favorite ingredient, vegan epidermal growth factor (EGF) comes in. EGF is one of the most phenomenal reparative agents available, so post treatment, two companion products are key: Bio-Renew EGF Drops and Bio-Renew EGF Cream,” explains Anna. "In addition, if the skin has extended redness and or is feeling tight or itchy, Remedy Gel is a great option. It’s an OTC formula with hydrocortisone that’s classified per the FDA as an anti-pruritic—helps to alleviate itching, redness, and swelling.”

 

 

How Does EGF Help Post Procedure Skin?

“As an incredible reparative and strengthening agent, EGF helps stimulate skin healing, making it the perfect addition to a post-treatment recovery ritual. Post treatment, your skin is in a more delicate and often sensitized state, making it prone to damage as well as reactivity—think dehydration, flaking, and a tight feeling, as well as irritation. EGF helps protect skin against this damage,” shares Anna.

But how does it work? “Dehydrated skin over time can lead to more reactive skin, so we want to fight dehydration whenever we can. EGF is a master at this. By boosting the skin's barrier function, EGF supports skin's ability to retain moisture and prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Our Bio-Renew EGF Drops have been clinically proven to increase skin density by 66% in one month, which means skin is more resilient and less irritable. An added benefit is that EGF will help improve skin's texture and smoothness—bye bye flakey skin, while boosting radiance and softening the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Just add Bio-Renew EGF Cream as your daily moisturizer to double-down on this hero ingredient. Sign me up!”

And, if you’re wondering if EGF is an ingredient you can use on-the-daily, regardless of whether you’ve had a treatment, the answer is a resounding “yes”.

“It's easy to wrap your head around damage and repair when you imagine a wound that requires a bandage or some type of special care. But, the day-to-day reality is that many things in our environment that come into contact with our skin—UV rays, blue light, free radicals, pollutants, and so on, are damaging it, and dare I say "wounding" it. While we might not actually see this damage when we look in the mirror, over time this accumulated exposure and damage can lead to accelerated signs of aging. And, of course for general skin hydration, smoothness, and radiance, EGF should be a staple in your daily skincare ritual, as well as post treatment too.”

What other things should we be doing as part of our chemical peel aftercare and to safeguard our post-procedure skin? “Daily sunscreen of at least 30 SPF is imperative to promote skin health and protect against damage. Find a sunscreen you like and wear it everyday, 365 days a year, not just post-treatment. We love Oil Free SPF 40+ for this.”

How To Care For Skin Post Procedure

Depending on what treatment you’ve had, you’ll need to take extra measures to make sure skin is well protected and nourished.

Top Care Tips

The main focus is to soothe the skin. This will aid in the healing process.

• Introduce key solution serums for soothing and repair. Our Bio-Renew EGF Drops are a must.

• Keep skin moisturized and occluded (this means to form a protective layer on skin’s surface to prevent moisture loss). Our Bio-Renew EGF Cream works perfectly with the drops to support and repair skin.

What Not To Do Post Treatment

What you don’t do to your skin post treatment is as important as what you do.

Avoid:

• Direct sun exposure and wear sunscreen daily for two weeks post chemical peel. Note: You should wear sunscreen everyday regardless of having a treatment or not.

• Exercise for 24–72 hours post treatment, depending on the strength of treatment.

• Steam and hot water.

• Waxing and the use of depilatories for three to five days post treatment.

• Laser treatments and microdermabrasion for three weeks post treatment.

• Swimming and sauna use for at least a week post treatment.

Never:

• Vigorously rub the skin.

• Use a mechanical scrub.

• Pick at any flaking or sloughing, as this may cause scarring.

 

 

“Most aestheticians will reach out to you 24 hours post treatment to check how your skin is responding to the treatment and answer any questions you may have,” adds Anna. “Taking care of your skin in this way will help your treatment deliver the best results, and ensure those results are long-lasting too.”

Discover everything you need to know about epidermal growth factor (EGF) in skincare.