Fraxel for Asian Skin on Retinoic Acid?

I'm doing Fraxel next week, I've been on a lightening cream plus retinoic acid, which I read here would cause reddening. Will this affect my outcome of the treatment? And I am a very tan Asian and was wondering if anyone out there has done Fraxel and what was your outcome?

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skin redness Asian cream lighten results

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3 Doctor Answers | Asked by mark7 in LA

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Using Retinoic acid should not cause a problem before Fraxel treatment

We perform Fraxel treatments on Asian skin without any problems however if the patients skin is tanned we generally wait until the tan is gone. We generally don't stop the use of Retinoic acids before Fraxel treatments, however make sure that sun blocks are used regularly.

Nissan Pilest, MD

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Irvine Dermatologic Surgeon

Fraxel on Asian skin

Ideally, you would not be tanned (it's just not healthy) but it might increase your chance of developing a post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Some doctors prefer their patients to continue with the retinoic acid to minimize the chance of hyperpigmentation, and others feel that it makes the skin too irritated and could exacerbate the healing tendency to get darker (temporarily). Retinoic acid is often used to lighten the skin of patients with hyperpigmentation, but it can cause the... more

Fraxel for Asian skin on retinoic acid

Hi Mark, You should stop your retinoic acid for at least 7 to 10 days prior to your Fraxel treatment. Asian skin is more prone to post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). PIH is less likely with Fraxel restore than with Fraxel repair. Retinoic acid is used before hand in an effort to minimize the chances of PIH, it will not affect the outcome of your treatment. With either treatment it is important to avoid the sun after your treatment. Good luck and be well. Dr. P