Is skin darkening and scaling normal after Fraxel?

Its me again and I have still to see any improvement, the redness has dissipated, but my skin still appears a shade or two darker than the untreated skin on my forehead and chin. Since it has been 15 days is this definitely post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation? or is it possible that I may appear darker for a bit and this will eventually resolve. Also being honest, can hyperpigmentation be permanent and what is the time period it takes to improve, honestly?

• View 1 reply

You should start on the prescription hydroquinone 4% Right Away..And hold off doing it again to see how you progress.Ask your doc about Growth factors and you can't go wrong with Vit C... I would not recomend this laser to anyone..Read the study I posted in another post...Doctors are excited about the technology but there are not enough long term studies and way to many complications... Go to a derm who is Ethnic or specializes in your skin tone...Ask for the procedure with the best results least complications and long term studies to back it up.Don't worry about the down time because if something goes wrong it could be forever... Newest is not always the best....Also The obagi system is good as well as the PCA Pigment gel with Kojic acid its also half the price...I've used them all including tri-luma and found the PCA works as well or better But without the controversy of long term hydroqquine use that stops working after a while anyway..Tri-Luma is for spot treating only for a short time.It has a steriod that can thin skin, But works great... Keep your skin moist the vineger/Water soaks followed with heavy moisture is great regardless of acne.Do a search on this site...You need to keep it moist so the dead tissue below can escape and new heakthy cells grow together.... Good luck My heart goes out to you..Get treatment fast time is of the essence..... good luck...

This laser is based on normal transdermal elimination if you had issues with ingrown hairs..DO NOT DO IT AGAIN...If your doctor is a derm he should have warned you and prescribed a aftercare treatment that keeps your face moist….Do the vinegar/water and wet bandages...Aquepher as often as possible at home….I'd like to add I'm not an doctor or nurse ect..I've done research on this laser because I had complications so ask your doctor if you don't like the answer go to another one...Take pictures because sometimes the day you go to your doc it may not look as bad.. Good luck

I just read on another post that some doctors do silkpeel microderm after fraxel ask about it...

Fractionated ablative lasers such as the Fraxel, Pixel, etc can be used on brown skin with great success.  We use the Pixel in our center on all skin tones but for my patients with darker skin tones, I recommend a pre-treatment with hydroquinone and retin-A for about 4-6 weeks depending on the skin tone.  There are many specialist who say this is not necessary since these laser treatments are deeper than where the cells that cause pigment are.  The problem often occurs afterwards during the healing phase when there is a greater risk of scarring due to picking, a new acne break out, or even from the treatment which in my experience has not occured.  I pre-treat to minimize that risk of scarring because there in an intense desire on each patient to itch or pick at the skin as the skin heals and flakes off.  If you did not pretreat, use hydroquinone and after you are healed add a retinoic acid, a light dose to help with the exfoliation process.  I would recommend using it for about 8-12 weeks maximum to see the final results  The skin cycle is about 8 weeks and most of the studies that have looked at brown skin have demonstrated  noticeable improvement after 8-12 weeks.   I would use both prior to your next treatment.  After any fractional resurfacing laser treatment I tell my patients that they will look either really red (usually for fair skin patient, like an intense sun burn) and if they are darker , they will look even more dark as the epidermis, the top layer of skin becomes dry and then flakes off within one week.  I hope that helps!  I am South Asian myself and have absolutely loved what the Pixel does for me and my patients of all skin tones

Skin hyperpigmentation after Fraxel is common.  However, with your Indian skintype, you need to be careful with laser treatments to be sure you don't have long term hyperpigmentation.  I would recommend immediate treatment with hydroquinone 4% and continue treating topically until 2 weeks after your last treatment.