DEKA Peel Recovery
Your guide after a DEKA Peel, our deepest CO2 laser resurfacing. Plan on 7 to 10 days of real downtime. Everything below is expected, and this page walks you through it day by day.
The first few hours
Your skin will be very red, hot, and swollen, and it may ooze clear or pink fluid. This is normal.
Keep skin covered in healing ointment at all times. Use cool compresses for heat, and take medication only as your provider directed.
What to expect, day by day
- Day 0
Hot, red, and raw
Intense sunburn-like heat and redness. Your skin may feel raw, with clear or pink weeping and pinpoint bleeding.
- Keep a thick layer of healing ointment on at all times
- Gently cleanse or soak as your provider showed you
- Sleep with your head elevated on a clean pillowcase
- Days 1–3
Swelling and weeping
Swelling peaks around day 2, especially around the eyes and jaw, sometimes enough to make your eyes puffy. Weeping and light crusting are common.
- Cleanse or soak several times a day as directed, then reapply ointment
- Never let skin dry out or crust over
- Cool compresses and sleeping elevated help swelling
- Stay home and out of the sun
- Days 3–7
Bronzing and peeling
Your skin turns dark and bronzed, then begins to peel and shed. Itching is very common as you heal.
- Keep moisturizing generously
- Let skin shed on its own
- A cool compress helps with itching
- Days 7–10
New skin revealed
Shedding finishes and new skin is revealed. It will be bright pink and more sensitive than usual.
- Weeks 2–8
Pink fades
Pinkness fades gradually over several weeks. Your new skin is very sun-sensitive during this time.
- Months 1–6
Results keep improving
Deep collagen remodeling continues for months. Wrinkles, scarring, texture, and tone keep improving well after you’ve healed.
Do & don’t
Do
- Keep skin covered in ointment until it fully peels
- Follow your cleansing or soak instructions exactly
- Take any prescribed antiviral or medication for the full course
- Sleep elevated for the first 3–4 nights
- Avoid the sun completely while healing, then use mineral SPF 30+ every day
- Wear a wide-brim hat outdoors for months
Don’t
- Pick, scratch, scrub, or peel any skin
- Let your skin dry out or scab
- Use retinol, acids, vitamin C, or acne products for 3–4 weeks
- Work out or sweat for 1 week
- Use hot tubs, saunas, or pools for 2 weeks
- Wear makeup until shedding is finished
- Tan or sit in direct sun for 2–3 months
When can I…
| Wear makeup | Once shedding ends (about day 10) |
| Work out or sweat | After 7 days |
| Swim, sauna, hot tub | After 2 weeks |
| Restart retinol, acids, vitamin C | After 3–4 weeks |
| Wax or thread | After 4 weeks |
| See full results | 3–6 months |
Call us if you notice
- Pain that gets worse instead of better
- Yellow or honey-colored crusting, thick or cloudy drainage, or a bad odor
- Swelling or redness that increases after day 3
- Fever or chills
- Clusters of small blisters or a cold sore
- Areas that turn white, very dark, or stay raw
- Itching with a rash or hives
The hard part is short. The results last.
Bocaba Medical Spa · 8371 South State Street, Suite 102, Sandy, UT · Follow any specific instructions your provider gave you.