Did you get acne breakout after Fraxel treatment?

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?

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!

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.

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?

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.

where did you have it done

OMG Who did the treatment

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.

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.

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.

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?

Hi, what fraxel did you have? Repair, refine etc?

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.

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

no i mean that i get less breakouts than the first time

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.