The Dangers of Chemical Peels to your Skin Barrier
Your aesthetician or perhaps your dermatologist will recommend a chemical peel when you go in to resolve stubborn acne, hyperpigmentation, or perhaps you’re just looking for rejuvenation. You follow the guidance of your practitioner or doctor because after all, “they’re the professional”, they know best”.
But what happens when a so-called professional makes a recommendation and does not assess your skin type, what your skin can handle, provide you with proper before and after care and makes a recommendation in general that hurts your skin? “Professionals” are human too and they’re bound to make mistakes.
The purpose of this post is to ensure that although you may trust your doctors and aesthetician, it’s wildly important that you educate yourself on the procedures that they are recommending. It’s your life and your skin on the line. You carry this with you. The doctors get to go home to their life and you’re not a thought in their mind. This is about advocacy for your own life.
Some steps to ensure you don’t deal with any minor or major mishap on the hands of your professional are:
Do your research
Yes, you likely don’t and won’t know everything through Dr. Google, but at least try to research into what this kind of procedure you’re about to do entails. Look into what the steps typically are and how well tolerated it is by others with similar skin types.
Read research article. Yes, the science backed articles with graphs and clinical human study subjects (preferably).
Ask questions
Do not ever be afraid to ask your aesthetician, dermatologist or doctor questions.
It is their job to provide adequate service to you and answer all the questions and concerns you may have.
You may even bring up questions pertaining to your research. Phrase questions in a way that shows you’ve educated yourself and read the literature. You can throw in a good ol’ anecdotal account if necessary.
Stop doing something if it feels wrong
The moment sometimes doesn’t feel right or your skin is doing something that doesn’t seem right, ask questions.
If it persists and you know within yourself that this doesn’t seem right, STOP.
Seek a second opinion.
Seek a third opinion.
Stop and let your skin rest and recover. Overdoing something on your skin can have consequences that may be difficult and lengthy to recover from. So listen to your body. That is the best guidance you have here.
Be your own advocate for your health. Learn about yourself, learn about the system, the treatments. This is how you can at least try to ensure that you don’t have to face adversity at the hands of someone else.