· By Juno Achebe · 1 min read
Washing and moisturising, week by week
How often to wash, how little cream to use, and what to leave alone while it peels.
After the film comes off, healing is mostly about keeping it clean and leaving it alone.
Week one
Wash it twice a day with lukewarm water and unscented soap, pat it dry, then rub in a thin layer of the aftercare balm we gave you, or an unscented moisturiser. Thin means you can barely see it: a thick layer suffocates the skin.
Weeks two and three
It will flake and itch, like a sunburn peeling. Don’t pick, scratch or peel it: tap it lightly instead. Keep moisturising once or twice a day when it feels tight.
Leave it alone
- No swimming, baths, saunas or sunbeds until it has stopped peeling (about three weeks).
- Keep it out of the sun. After it heals, use a high-factor sun cream on it for life.
- Loose, clean clothes over it; no tight waistbands or straps rubbing.
If anything looks wrong, take a clear photo in daylight and send it to the studio, and see a pharmacist or doctor if you think it’s infected.