You’ve seen the "before and after" shots on Instagram. One photo shows a face with stubborn melasma or acne scarring, and the next—usually swiped to the right—shows glowing, porcelain skin. It looks like magic. But if you’re actually sitting there with a kit in your hand or an appointment scheduled for Tuesday, you aren't thinking about the "after" yet. You’re thinking about the "during." You’re searching for VI Peel day by day photos because you want to know if you can go to work on Thursday or if you’ll look like a shedding snake during your cousin's wedding.
Let's get real for a second. Chemical peels are controlled injuries. That’s basically what they are. The VI Peel, specifically, is a medium-depth powerhouse created by Dr. Abdala F. Kalil. It’s a blend of TCA, Phenol, Salicylic Acid, Retinoic Acid, and Vitamin C. It doesn’t just "refresh" your face; it forces your skin to undergo a rapid, somewhat aggressive cellular turnover.
Because it contains a numbing agent (phenol), it doesn't hurt as much as a traditional TCA peel. But the visual journey? That’s another story.
The Immediate Aftermath: Day 1 and the "Orange" Phase
The moment you walk out of the clinic, you won't look like you’ve had a peel. Not really. Your skin will likely have a slight tan or a "glow" that looks suspiciously like a bad spray tan. This is the "frosting" or the residue of the peel itself.
Honestly, Day 1 is easy. You feel a bit tight. You might look a little orange or sun-kissed. You’ll be told to leave the solution on for at least four hours. If you’re looking at VI Peel day by day photos for this stage, you’ll notice most people just look a bit shiny. This is the calm before the storm. You’re given a post-peel kit that includes specialized towelettes. Use them. They contain retinoic acid and help drive the peel deeper.
Don't panic if your skin feels "leathery" by the evening. That’s just the top layer of the epidermis dying. It’s supposed to do that.
Day 2: The Tightening
You wake up on Day 2 and think, "I'm fine. I'm the exception. I’m not going to peel."
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You're wrong.
Day 2 is all about the tension. Your skin starts to feel like a drum. It’s dry. It’s tight. If you have pigment—like melasma or sun spots—you might actually notice them looking darker. This is a good sign. It means the pigment is being pulled to the surface. It’s the "coffee ground" effect.
The most important thing here is sun protection. If you go outside without SPF 50 today, you are essentially wasting your money and potentially scarring your face. The new skin underneath is incredibly vulnerable. If you look at high-resolution VI Peel day by day photos, Day 2 usually shows zero actual flaking, just a lot of redness and a slight "plastic" sheen to the forehead and cheeks.
Day 3: The Great Crack
This is usually when the action starts. It almost always begins around the mouth. Why? Because you move your mouth to talk, eat, and drink. The mechanical movement breaks the "seal" of the dead skin.
You’ll see small cracks. Then, a flap.
It is incredibly tempting to pull it. Don't. If you pull skin that isn't ready to come off, you risk hyperpigmentation (PIH). You're basically creating a wound. If a piece of skin is hanging an inch off your face, you can carefully snip it with sterilized nail scissors. But never, ever peel it back like a sticker.
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By the afternoon of Day 3, you'll likely see significant sheets of skin coming off the chin and around the nose. If you have to be in a meeting, this is the day you start feeling self-conscious. Heavy moisturizer (the VI Derm Post-Peel Protectant) will be your best friend to "glue" the flakes down temporarily.
Day 4 and 5: The Peak of the Peel
If you’re tracking VI Peel day by day photos, these are the "scary" ones. By Day 4, the peeling has moved from the center of the face outward toward the cheeks and forehead.
The skin doesn't just flake; it sheds.
- The Texture: The skin coming off is often thick and discolored.
- The Underneath: The skin being revealed is pink, shiny, and very soft.
- The Itch: This is the worst part. As the skin heals, it itches like crazy. Do not scratch. Apply more of the post-care cream or even a tiny bit of hydrocortisone if your provider clears it.
Day 5 is usually the "forehead and hairline" day. The skin on your forehead is tighter and takes longer to let go. You might find flakes in your hair. It’s messy. It’s annoying. You’ll probably want to stay home.
Day 6 and 7: The Cleanup
By Day 7, most of the heavy lifting is done. You might have some lingering flakiness around the jawline or near the ears. This is the time when people start texting their estheticians saying, "Wow, my skin looks incredible."
The "new" skin is sensitive. It might still be a bit pink. You’ll notice that your pores look smaller and your fine lines are softened. But the real results—the collagen stimulation—actually take about 30 to 45 days to fully manifest. What you see on Day 7 is the "glow," but the structural changes are still happening deep in the dermis.
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Common Mistakes That Ruin the Results
People mess this up all the time.
First, they work out. Do not sweat for the first 72 to 96 hours. Sweat can get trapped under the peeling skin and cause blisters or "sweat rashes" (miliaria). It’s not pretty and it can lead to infection.
Second, they use their own products. Put your Vitamin C serum, your Retin-A, and your glycolic acid wash in a drawer. You should only use the gentle cleanser and the post-care products provided in the kit for the first week. Your skin's barrier is nonexistent right now. Using active ingredients can cause a chemical burn on top of your chemical peel.
What Research Says About the Ingredients
The VI Peel isn't just a random mix of chemicals.
- TCA (Trichloroacetic Acid): This is the gold standard for deep protein denaturation. It’s what actually causes the skin to peel off in sheets.
- Salicylic Acid: This clears the pores and helps prevent the "purge" that some people get after a peel.
- Retinoic Acid: This is the secret sauce. It’s a derivative of Vitamin A that triggers the cells to turnover faster.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology highlights that combination peels (like the VI Peel) often produce better results with less "downtime" than single-agent high-concentration peels. By using lower percentages of multiple acids, the VI Peel hits different layers of the skin simultaneously without the risk of a deep phenol burn.
Is It Worth It?
If you have melasma, the answer is almost always yes. Melasma is notoriously difficult to treat because heat (like from lasers) can actually make it worse. Since the VI Peel is a "cold" treatment, it doesn't trigger that inflammatory heat response.
However, if you have an active tan, a history of keloid scarring, or you’re pregnant, you need to wait. Expert practitioners like those at the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) emphasize that patient selection is more important than the peel itself.
Actionable Next Steps for Your VI Peel Journey
- Schedule for a Wednesday: If you get the peel on a Wednesday, you’ll do the bulk of your heavy peeling on Saturday and Sunday. You’ll be back to looking relatively normal by Monday morning.
- Buy a Silk Pillowcase: Your skin is going to be fragile. Friction from a cotton pillowcase can feel like sandpaper and might accidentally pull off skin before it’s ready.
- Hydrate Internally: This sounds like basic advice, but your skin needs water to heal. Drink a ton of water in the three days leading up to and the five days following your treatment.
- Take Your Own Photos: Don't just look at other people's VI Peel day by day photos. Take a photo in the same lighting every morning. It helps you see the progress when you’re in the "it looks worse before it looks better" phase.
- Patience is Mandatory: If you don't peel "enough," don't assume it didn't work. Some people have more resilient skin barriers, but the cellular exfoliation is still happening at a microscopic level.