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Did you get acne breakout after Fraxel treatment?

Posted 27 Feb 2008

normal for acne breakouts to occur after Fraxel?

Comments (69)

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Angeline Thorne (1 post) 7 Jul 2008
I had a very aggressive fraxel laser treatment done on my face a week ago. 4 - 5 days after my treatment, I started breaking out... more & more each day. :( I did this to reduce my acne scarring & hyperpigmentation of my skin... it has turned into my worst nightmare. :( Prior to having this done... my skin was basically clear... aside from an occasional breakout. Above & under my mouth & my chin area are out of control with cystic acne... probably 25 at least, varing in size. I soooo wish I could turn back the hands of time & not had this procedure done. I called my dermatologist, & he was shocked... never had a patient respond so negatively to fraxel. $650 for a horrific breakout... sigh.
SNC (1 post) 12 Aug 2009
I have severe acne on my whole face 2 weeks after my first fraxel laser. I don't know what to do now. It just come out no matter what I put on my face. Can anyone with similar history tell me how they recover?
Fraxel Patient (2 posts) 13 Aug 2009
I didnt have acne for 2 weeks, but I did have bad acne for about 3 days following the procedure. I take Tetracycline 500mg twice daily and wash my face with Benzoyl Peroxide 10% twice daily. The face wash is great but the oral antibiotic is the key here!
realist (41 posts) 22 Feb 2010
Your lucky you only lost $650. I too had this response but after $5,000. I also had great skin and only did Fraxel to address mild acne scars. I still have acne scars but also now have Fraxel laser scars (line shaped scars) and also more acne scars from the post Fraxel acne breakout that my doctor didn't know what to do about or how to treat. $5,000 for acne, terror, and scars. Isn't capitalism a beautiful thing? I'm very sorry you had to go through that. I know its a dreadful experience.
cheriem (4 posts) 5 Apr 2010
I had fractionated C02 about 9 weeks ago. It has been a nightmare. I went in to improve my skin and now have 4 scars; 2 huge crater like holes. I had fraxel with the blue stuff X3 1 1/2 years ago by some nurse that kept on telling me I needed more treatments to improve. My skin just got worse and worse. I was told that the Palomar 1540 was different with little down time. I could not be seen for 3 weeks and still have scars that I cannot cover up-Open indented craters!!! This has been sooo traumatic. My skin had finally calmed down after about 16 months and I just wanted to take care of an acne scar that was left after the 1st 3 fraxels. Three days after my skin erupted all over and oil poured out everywhere. I was on Doxycycline at the time. There was not any pus. I had to take Medrol steroid dose pack.I also took Bactrim DS for 10 days. I did not use anything greasy or harsh on skin. The place then did a blue light treatment and then levulonic phototherapy. This calmed down the inflammation, but I am still left with the scars: two saucer-like scars and two huge crater- holes. No camouflage makeup can cover it up. I am an intelligent woman who made the wrong choice to get the procedure. At the time it was done, I did have a place where a pimple had been and was healing. I do not think it should have been done and the nurse should have known this. The question: "have you had any acne outbreaks within the past 3 weeks?" should be asked and if the answer is yes, the procedure should not be done. This has been soo traumatic. The craters I believe are possible sebaceous gland cysts?
KdDaisey (77 posts) 6 Apr 2011
How is your skin now a year later? I just had Fraxel and I'm horrified at the results - more scarring, lines from the laser, etc. It's just awful. I'm devastated.
whoppi (86 posts) 18 Oct 2011
where did you have it done
whoppi (86 posts) 18 Oct 2011
OMG Who did the treatment
Duchess (2 posts) 11 May 2009
I too suffered a severe outbreak with cystic acne. My face had been clear for years and two weeks after the fraxel treatment, I had at least a dozen deep, very red cystic bumps. I had to go to my dermatologist and get a prescription for antibiotics. I had one fraxel treatment one month ago, and my face is just now clearing up. I will not do this again. I did not use aquaphor or any type of moisturizer that I had not previously used. I do have oily skin and knew better than to put any type of occlusive lotion on my face. There was no other reason for the breakout other than the laser treatment.
Fraxel Patient (2 posts) 10 Jul 2009
I had my first fraxel treatment two days ago for acne scars (3 more to go) and I can already tell that Im going to have several break outs soon. My doctor warned me of this before I agreed to the procedure and told me it was because the laser will force all of the bacteria that is/was currently growing under my skin, to rise to the top. He said that I need to just bare with it and in the end, it will all be better and I may even be able to stop taking the oral antibiotics that Ive been taking for 10+ years now. I do not regret my procedure at all...getting rid of these scars is worth suffering through a few days/weeks of acne.
Donald Clemons, M.D. (2 posts) 30 Jul 2009

I have seen some significant acne breakouts following CO2 Fraxel Re:pair especially in oily skin or previous significant acne prone patients. This seems to be related to using heavy emollients post treatment. If it feels greasy or heavy going on the skin you probably need to avoid it if you show evidence of breaking out. Some of the lighter skin repair treatments by Obaji, Aveene, Glytone, and SkinCeuticals have stood up well with my post Re:pair patients. Acne breakouts need to be treated as you normally would and my patients have tolerated routine acne care well.

Charlotte, DK (5 posts) 5 May 2011
I didn't use any heavy emollients after the procedure, but instead a gel-like lotion with no pore-clogging ingredients (Decubal anti-itch gel - not sure it can be bought in the US). I still broke out and this gel never makes me break out.

While heavy emollients may be the cause of post-fraxel acne for some, for others it must be the procedure in itself.

I tried clearing up my acne with the standard regime of products with salicylic-glycolic-azelaic acid, but without succes.

I'm now on antibiotics, which is helping a lot. My doc will also prescribe antiobiotics for my 2 next rounds of Fraxel.
kaytee1 (73 posts) 7 May 2011
how long did you use the acids after the treatment? I had to stop all acids before and after treatment which is about 6 months all together counting all treatments. I just use a vitamen C serum, moisturizer and sunscreen to let the skin rest. My doc said the skin needs to rest between treatments and not to irritate it.
Charlotte, DK (5 posts) 14 May 2011
I started using acids a couple of weeks after the procedure. I had no irritation from using them, but neither did they help my post-fraxel acne. Only antibiotics did that.

Professional opinions differ a lot on post-fraxel care. Some doctors encourage vinegar soaks, other say you shouldn't. Some say stop retinoids a month before the procedure , others will have you start using a retinoid for weeks before.

I use adapalene and azelaic acid and my doctor didn't ask me to stop using them before the procedure. He said they speed up cell turnover and would help with healing. He told me I could start using them again after 10-14 days.

I guess it also depends on individuel skintypes.
CritterBug (1 post) 5 Feb 2012
I was told to not use any product other than the most mild cleaner. However, I have the worst breakout ever. Is it OK to use acne products post fraxel?
MichelleRenee (1 post) 15 Oct 2009
I had the first treatment in a series of 3 last week. Oh how it hurt! My dr told me to expect some break outs around my mouth and nose area and gave me a medical wash to use, which I have. But, the acne started showing the very first day... so many tiny bumps on my chin! They grew in size and number each day for the first 5 days. It's starting to clear now, but I have a way to go and there are some painful cystic ones to deal with. So, I am researching what can be done before, during, and after the treatment to prevent or greatly reduce breakouts. AND I am going to push back my next treatment, to a date when I can allow more recovery time.
Amz (1 post) 23 Feb 2010
I am 3 days post fraxel restore for acne scars mostly and some fine lines. I am soooo red and have white bumps and I feel a couple of cysts coming up. I also have red dots (broken capilaries?) I had the old fraxel a few years ago and I had great results and no break outs. I did use aquaphor for the first time. Last time I used Kinerase and topical antibiotic ointment and it worked great no break outs. I also washed my face constantly because I was trying to get all the blue dye out of my huge pores. I was blue for 5 days! I now think the washing and constant antibiotic ointment kept me from breaking out possibly. I have to say though it seems like the old fraxel was better but the jury is still out since it's only been a few days.
7267anon (1 post) 6 Sep 2010
i have had several fraxels done and i have had the same issues but in san diego i was prescribed minocycline for a month after my fraxel and it virtually stopped all break outs post treatment...soo my last treatment i requested it again in a different state and was prescribed doxycycline and both have worked the last two treatments... hope this helps... ps F**K acne!
Grimaud (7 posts) 11 Oct 2010
I am in my 50's - clear skin my whole life. I had 2 Fraxel treatments to "slow signs of aging" - small wrinkles, improve texture. It is now 9 months after my 2nd Fraxel and I have not had a SINGLE week of clear skin in that time. Lumps appear - they bleed when wiped with a washcloth leaving a red crater. As if the underlying dermis were infected. These sores take over a week to heal and more appear every 2 days or so. I believe the hair follicles were damaged by the heat - keep getting infected and swell. There is only clear fluid coming from the bumps. This condition began immediately following the Fraxel. My dermatologist,too, denies seeing these symptoms before. I believe the doctors are documenting and waiting for a lawsuit - I mean a mass lawsuit aimed at the Fraxel laser producers.
Sandra8498 (1 post) 26 Oct 2010
Hi, what fraxel did you have? Repair, refine etc?
torontofraxel (5 posts) 19 Oct 2011
This is exactly what I have experienced! It has been over 2 years and still....not a week without new eruptions. My skin almost clears then I notice another spot arising. My derm denies it is the procedure and must be my fault ...something I am doing. i am so frustrated and my face looks so musch worse now than before I started. I have several round white hypopigmented spots covering my face from the scars of these crators. It is certainly something to do with the hair follicle.
whoppi (86 posts) 19 Oct 2011
Do you mean that since you had the procedure that you are breaking out all the time. I have not had that Problem. It is 8 months for me. So far I am satisfied
martyfly1 (3 posts) 20 Oct 2011
no i mean that i get less breakouts than the first time
Grimaud (7 posts) 27 Oct 2010
I had repair. (No CO2) I finally went back to my dermatologist who preformed the Fraxel treatment because I have not had a single "clear skin day" since January. I explained my ulcer eruptions. They bleed - take a week to ten days to heal and another pops up right next to the healing one. The scab is irregular in shape and heals from "below". Unlike a pimple or acne which heals within days. She never even removed the thick concealer I wear - merely prescribed oral antibiotics and acne cream??????And will see me in a month. Even suggested maybe Acutane???!!! I'm in my 50's and have NEVER even had a mild case of acne - clear skin my whole life!! Post menopausal so no hormonal issues, no steroid meds - NO REASON to have ulcerated skin.She had 2 other uniformed people in the room - something told me she is AFRAID it might be Fraxel damage under the skin. But won't even discuss that as an option. WHY??
cheriem (4 posts) 25 Jul 2011
Hi,
Welcome to the BIZARRO WORLD OF FRAXEL-FRACTIONATED C02 lazer damage.
I am 18 months out from Fractionated laser, I had fraxel about 6months prior. It has been A NIGHTMARE.
dOES ANYONE know of a doctor who fixes the problems. I have been to two dermatologists and a plastics doc that does laser and NONE of them knew what was going on.
I too have had SPONTANEOUS ERUPTIONS, SORES CRATERS, NO PUS, WEIRD BLUE STRINGS; OR HAIR FROM AREAS. I think what had happened is that the laser burned deep deep and at the areas of burn, created an inflammatory response, which caused this strange serous fluid- which then further damages the area-like a chemical burn.

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