Can I Get Laser Treatment 3 Months Post Accutane?

I'm a month from finishing my Accutane course, and I'm VERY anxious to get some laser treatments for my red nose and cheeks. He claims that 3 months will be enough time for my skin to heal after Accutane to get laser treatments. While I really want the treatments... I've read 6-12 months is the norm. I plan to get aggressive with my laser treatments, possibly purpuric. Should I be concerned with my doctors recommendation?

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cheeks nose redness male combination timing

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4 Doctor Answers | Asked by Firedan5415 in San Luis Obispo, CA

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Laser after accutane treatment

Generally speaking we do advise 6-12 months of no laser treatment after accutane treatment. However, it depends on which laser and what settings are used. If you are talking about an IPL or BBL type device for rosacea or redness & brown spots, then 3-4 months would be just fine. For a deeper laser like a resurfacing laser or fractionated laser, I would wait a minimum of 6 months.

Benjamin Barankin, MD

10 reviews

Toronto Dermatologic Surgeon

Laser and Accutane

Though there are some reports in the literature that suggest waiting 6 months post isotretinoin (Accutane) is based on faulty data, there is not much data out there about treating before that time. Isotretinoin makes skin more fragile (waxing for example can rip off the top layers of skin easily) and take longer to heal. The vascular lasers can cause side effects of swelling, prolonged redness and rarely blister. I personally would not treat someone with my Vbeam laser... more

Laser treatments should be postponed for 6-12 months after Acutane

Laser treatments should be postponed for 6-12 months after Acutane. Even that warning must be tempered by what laser will be used, ablative or non-ablative, and what energies will be used. Why risk more injury after having gone throught the difficulties of taking Acutane in order to clear one's skin.

Non-ablative laser treatment is safe after Accutane®

Many years ago there was concern that CO2 laser treatment of scars during the first 6 months after a patient came off Accutane® [isotretinoin] for acne could be associated with poor healing or atypical scarring, similar to what was occasionally seen if dermabrasion was done in the first 6 months after Accutane. There is much clinical experience to show that there is no increased risk of scarring or other problems if a patient has non-ablative laser treatment or intense pulsed light... more