Is it okay to get a microdermabrasion and peel 2 days before going on vacation?

I am going to Greece next week and wanted to get a microdermabrasion and peel at my dermatologist office two days before I go. Is it OK to be out in the sun after you have the micro/peel? (I use Replenix Antioxidant 50 plus every day.) Thank you

Glad you asked this because the answer to this is resoundingly NO!!!  You don’t want to do anything that disrupts the outer layer (stratum corneum and epidermis) of your skin at least a month before you go on vacation or spend any significant time in the sun during that month. 

The reason is that the outer layer of your skin is your barrier layer for all the important things deeper (the dermis) like your collagen, your elastic fibers, your cells that make collagen, your matrix between your cells that helps them organize, etc.  You want as much barrier between them and the sun as you can get.   Since it takes approximately a month for you to fully heal after a microdermabrasion and peel combined, 2 days is not okay.

It’s also not a bad idea to stop retinoids like Renova, etc. a week or two before a sunny vacation because they temporarily thin the outer dead layer (stratum corneum)  a little. 

 The other thing that worries me here is that it is important to tell your dermatologist or her/his staff where you are going and it’s important for them to always be reminding you about sun issues.   Much better is to do this after you get back and wear a ton of sunscreen while you’re there.    Dr. I

Dr. Brandith Irwin, MD

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Hi, I’m Dr. Irwin. I believe that consumers deserve a medically trained and unbiased skin care advocate.

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