Erythema After CO2 Laser Resurfacing? Can I Use Hydrocortisone 1%? (photo)

I'm 46, today is 3 weeks since I had this procedure done. Doctor was more aggressive in the chicks for my acne scars. Everything was going very well, was very burned/red, skin came off and all that. A week or so ago back home I was out in the cold shoveling snow and forgot to protect my skin with sun block, it was freezing outside with temps in the 20s. I think this is what caused my skin to go "south" per sa, as I developed this skin rash or marks in my chicks, see pics. Suggestions to treat?

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2 Doctor Answers | Asked by geek

Doctor Answers (2)
Community Comments (2)

CO2 Laser Healing

This is nothing to worry about. Judging from your skin type and recent lack of sun protection, I suspect that you may hyperpigment. Both the redness and the hyperpigmentation will eventually resolve spontaneously but I would use hydrocortisone, sunscreen and probably a bleaching agent at some point.

CO2 laser

The area of erythema looks like freshly lasered skin albeit more red than it should be at this point. First, you should check with the doctor who did the procedure. Only an examination can determine if something else is going on such as an infection. Hydrocortisone cream (assuming there is no infection) can decrease the redness initially but can thin the skin and make it look more red if used for more than a few days. Good luck.

David Alessi, MD

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Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.facialinstitute.com

Comments (2)

geek 20 Feb 2013

BTW, for some reason the doctor emailed me stating not to use hydrocortisone as it may irritate the skin?? I didn't know the hydrocortisone could do that....??

geek 20 Feb 2013

The CO2 laser was done overseas and I sent pictures to to the doctor, she said it is an Erythema and to simply treat it with a cream for redness and/or a cream that has A and D vitamins. Let me repeat that the skin peeled off and it was pink but looking good, the sort of rash development came after I was exposed to low temps outside and I cannot remember if I had sun block (10 days ago). I feel this is like a mild sun burn but wanted to consult you experts here. Before and after the CO2 I was taking anti-viral pills for a few days as a precaution; so can I assume there's no infection? I had the normal inflammation in the chicks and it came down progressively nice. Procedure done on Jan. 29, low temp exposure cleaning snow was around Feb. 8.

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