Chemical Peel Aftercare Instructions (Printable Handout)

The table shows what published sources say to expect, and where each line comes from. The editor above uses the same lines. Your own protocol, device and product come first.

The AAD separates peels into refresher (lunchtime), medium and deep, with different care for each. A light peel needs lotion or cream and daily sunscreen. A medium peel adds daily soaks, ointment, an antiviral medication and total sun avoidance, plus a follow-up visit. A deep peel needs a surgical setting, a dressing and a series of follow-up visits.

This template covers the light-peel plan only. Medium and deep peels involve prescription medicines and wound care that your provider writes up individually, so a general template is the wrong tool for them.

The AAD says that when serious side effects occur, it is often because the patient did not follow instructions. It lists five things that raise the risk of infection or scarring: not protecting the skin from the sun, not caring for the wound as instructed, scratching or picking off a scab, applying makeup before the skin heals, and using a tanning bed.

Each of those is on the avoid list. Patients are more likely to follow a rule when the handout tells them what the rule is protecting them from.

1. Add your practice name and phone number. Both print at the top and bottom of the handout.
2. Read each line. Uncheck what does not match your protocol, rewrite what needs your wording, and fill in the blanks marked "Fill in".
3. Add your own lines for products, follow-up dates or anything specific to your devices.
4. Show it to your medical director. Then print it, save it as a PDF, or copy it as plain text for your patient portal or a text message.

Your text stays in your browser. Only the practice name and phone are saved in the page address, so you can bookmark or share the link with your team.

Once the handout is final, it works best when it goes out automatically. Prospyr's digital intake and charting keep each patient's instructions with their visit, and the med spa software page shows how the rest of the practice fits around them. For related handouts, see the dermaplaning aftercare template and the HydraFacial aftercare template.

• Medium and deep peels. Those need individual wound-care, antiviral and follow-up plans.
• Peel agent, strength and timing. The template does not recommend any.
• Pre-peel skin care, which the AAD says some patients follow for 2 to 4 weeks before a peel. Put that on a prep sheet.

It is a template to review and edit with your medical director before giving it to patients. It is not medical advice, and it does not replace your provider's instructions for a specific patient.