What You Need to Know About Recovering from a Jessner's Peel

Young women looking into a mirror

A Jessner’s peel is a type of chemical peel that results in aesthetic improvements due to the peeling of the top layers of skin. Dermatologists categorize peels according to the level of penetration they achieve—light or superficial, medium-depth, and deep. Jessner’s peels are medium-depth peels. This means you’ll get great results, but some downtime is required.

How Your Face Will Feel

It’s normal to experience tightness of the treated skin for the first 24 hours. Your skin will also feel dry. Resist the temptation to touch or scratch at your skin during this time. Swelling can develop, but it should subside within a couple of days. Soon, your skin will develop a reddish hue, as if it had been sunburned. After about two to three days, the treated skin will start peeling. The peeling may last a few days, or up to a week. During this time, it’s normal for the peeling skin to feel itchy and uncomfortable.

What You Should Avoid

For the first 24 hours, you should avoid getting your face wet. Avoid any skin care products unless your dermatologist has told you to use them. For two weeks, you should avoid saunas, hot tubs, and strenuous exercise. You must also avoid all unnecessary sun exposure. Perhaps the most challenging part about recovering from a Jessner’s peel is resisting the urge to pick at the peeling skin. It’s important to let the old skin fall off when it’s ready, as it’s protecting the new skin underneath. If you remove it prematurely, you could end up with bleeding, scabbing, a longer healing process, and possibly a skin infection.

What You Should Do

Stay indoors as much as possible while your skin heals. If you must go out, apply a high SPF sunscreen 30 minutes before leaving your home. Wear a wide-brimmed hat, and limit your time outdoors. After 48 hours have passed since your treatment, you can apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to relieve the discomfort.

Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, TCA, and Jessner’s solution are the chemical peels available at Swinyer-Woseth Dermatology. Our professional skin care solutions can help you achieve the healthy, glowing look you want. Call our office today at 801-266-8841 to discuss scheduling a chemical peel in Salt Lake City.