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Are Large Blisters Common After Laser Therapy?

asked 3 years ago by ljeanne429@aol.com in Gasquet, CA 95543
Latest answer by Vivek Bansal, MD
Question viewed 9,675 times
Tags: side effects

I had laser therapy for the second time this past month and it was very painful during the procedure. Right away I developed large watery blisters that eventually turned into dark scabs. I have been soaking my legs in a bath for the past two weeks and using neosporin to fight infection.

The blisters broke and opened up. Three very sore areas became red around the lazer sites and inflamed. I called the drs' offcie 2 X and finally went up. The technician that did the lazer therapy took me into a room looked at my legs and said I looked normal. I was in a great deal of pain and did not like the red area around the sores. Finally after another week and not getting better, I called in and said I needed antibiotics becuse I feared I had a raging infection brewing.

I am into the 24th day and still feeling discomfort. I have deep scabs and redness around some areas. I feel I was literally burned during therapy. How can this procedure be run of the mill as I was told? Can you tell me if I am exeriencing a normal reaction or if something went wrong?

15 answers to Are Large Blisters Common After Laser Therapy?

+2

Blisters after Laser Therapy

I would first comment that it is important to know what laser and for what condition your were treated. With that said, blisters after laser therapy are not a normal, expected or desired result (though mild blistering/crusting may be an expected temporary outcome a few days after some laser tattoo treatments). The goal of most cosmetic laser therapy is to selectively target the source of your concern, while protecting the surrounding skin and tissues. Blistering is the result of unwanted... more
Jeffrey C. Poole, MD

Metairie Dermatologic Surgeon
+2

Large blisters and scabs are not normal after laser treatments

The large blisters and scabs are not normal. typically any topical laser treatment for hair removal, pigment or blood vessel removal or non-ablative rejuvenation treatment produces reddness but no blister. Blisters indicate a burn which cna be caused by too much laser energy or by doing a laser treatment on too dark skin or skin that has a tan. You will heal, but keeping the wounds clean and using a topical antibiotic is important. Insist on seeing the supervisiing doctor who is in charge of... more
Brooke R. Seckel, MD

Boston Plastic Surgeon
+1

Laser Surgery

The legs heal very slowly. That is a long time to be healing, though. If you had a ruby laser, I would expect a week or so of your legs looking bad. But for most lasers, you should be healed. I would have to know your laser and therapy for an accurate answer. I would also not rule out that you are having a reaction to the Neosporin and inflamed from the medication. I would switch to Aquaphor. Be sure to talk with your doctor about this first. more
Vivek Bansal, MD

Danville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Laser complications

Blisters can be a concern after a laser procedure, especially if they have not healied after a few weeks.  I would suggest contacting the physician involved with this laser treatment and have the physician make recommendations as to management of your healing skin.
Paul Carniol, MD

Summit Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Blisters are not normal after IPL laser treatment

If blisters appeared immediately after the procedure, most likely it was a burn that caused them.  Blisters are not a normal result of laser treatment. If you are not getting any responses from the doctor under whose supervision the laser procedure was performed, I recommend you see another dermatologist for an evaluation as soon as possible.  You do need to know what type of laser and what settings were used during the treatment. Also, if you call the office where the... more
Emily Altman, MD

Short Hills Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Blisters after Laser Hair Removal? No No NO!

I hope that you are not talking about blisters on your legs following laser hair removal?  If so, please see a board certified plastic surgeon immediately.  There should be NO blisters after laser hair removal, only a slight redness around each hair follicle.  This is NOT normal and you should seek care elsewhere.   Burns on the lower extremity can quickly become very serious, and plastic surgeons are expert in burn care.  Do NOT delay.  
Claudio DeLorenzi, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon
+1

Blistering and scabs after Laser Hair Removal

If appropriate precaution is taken (e.g. perform test area, icing if chilled tip not availabl) , there should not be any blistering or scabbing after laser hair removal. When blistering or scabbing occurs, you should demand to be evaluated  by the supervising physician, start lubricating the open sores and possibly start oral antibiotics to prevent secondary infection. This is illustrative of the need to ascertain the supervising physician of a laser clinic be a board-certified... more
William Ting, MD

Bay Area Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Blisters are common after co2 laser resurfacing

A CO2 laser creates a second degree burn of the face and creates an open wound or blister. The healing process will lead in selected patients to an aesthetically improved appearance. There are negative consequences as well.
Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Consider fat grafting instead of Laser for skin rejuvenation

Laser vaporizes tissue then relies on the body to heal and repair the tissue with scarring and some regeneration. Fat grafting does not destroy any tissue and the stem cells in the fat actually rebuild and restore your skin. The video below explains some of this and shows what can be achieved with fat grafting. I gave up laser some time ago precisely because of cases like yours. see video
Ricardo Rodriguez, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+1

Blisters after lasers not normal

Although you did not mention what laser was used or what you were treating (Hair removal, leg veins, etc) a blister is not a desired outcome for these Laser treatments. The fact that you are 24 days post treatment and still scabbed indicates that something else is going on. I would see a Dermatologist in your area soon. Scarring of the areas is quite likely without proper treatment for chronic wounds on the legs more than 3 weeks after a laser treatment.
Shawn Allen, MD

Boulder Dermatologist
+1

Blisters are NOT Normal after Laser Treatments

Your experience is not normal. Blisters are not a desired clinical endpoint for any of the laser treatments we provide and we have done 75,000 of them over the past 5 years with 10 different lasers. If your legs were being treated it's possible you were getting hair removal, spider veins or even brown spots. None of these conditions would normally result in the kind of trauma and infection you are describing. What is just as concerning is the cavalier attitude of the "technician"... more
Harold J. Kaplan, MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

??Neosporin Allergy

While you might be having a reaction to the laser itself, I would not dismiss the idea that you are having an allergic contact dermatitis reaction to Neosporin. This is fairly common and can cause blistering in those sensitive. I would return to the physician who did the laser surgery to see what his or her take is on the situation. They would know the settings and the purpose of the laser surgery, your type of skin etc. I agree with my colleagues that the earlier you are seen the better. more
Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD

Virginia Beach Dermatologist
+1

Probably Not Normal

What you are describing is not generally expected. As Dr. Wallach points out, there are some other pieces of information which would be helpful. I would suggest visiting with the overseeing physician for evaluation. With a lot of complications after laser therapy, the earlier the intervention you can make after treatment, the better the long term outcome. While laser treatments are common, they have serious side effects and complications which an administering physician must be ready to deal... more
D.J. Verret, MD

Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Scabs after lasers

It doesn't sound like you are having the "normal" experience. You did not report what type of skin color you have or what procedure you were having. Blistering can happen with some laser treatments for may different reasons. It is not what you want to see with the lasers. I would definitely follow closely with your doctor. If you are not happy with the care, then I would find another doctor.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

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