Photofacial: Q&A
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Is It Safe to Have PhotoFacial on Healing Facial Scars?
Three weeks ago, I had enlarged sebaceous glands cauterized. The resulting scabs have fallen off, some naturally and many others prematurely by accident. Now I have several atrophic, reddish scars that are still healing. I would like to get a photo facial to remove general redness in my face. Would an IPL interrupt the healing process of my scars and thereby cause permanent scarring? Should I keep the scars moist (antibiotics gel) or dry? As you can imagine, I very worried. Thank you!!!
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6 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
pgaffer
in Utah
+2
IPL for redness
Three weeks post procedure is a bit early to administer Photofacial (IPL) to your forehead area. For now, exercise patience and use a broad spectrum antioxidant sunscreen daily. Add a wide brim hat or baseball cap for added protection if you are going to be outside for more than a few minutes. This will help you avoid prolonged redness and minimize the risk of hyperpigmentation.
It should be fine to begin you to begin your photofacial in about 8 weeks.
Seattle General Surgeon
+2
IPL with healing scars
An IPL treatment after recent trauma such as electrocautery or liquid nitrogen can cause blistering or crusting. Definitely wait 2 months to get an IPL. Sun protection is important while your areas are healing, as well as before and after an IPL photofacial. It can take 4-12 weeks for the area you had treated to heal well, so don't worry yet if the areas look red or indented.
+2
Ointment and sun avoidance is all you should do
Keep the pink areas moist with antibiotic ointment (e.g. polysporin) 3x/day and don't get any sun on the area.
Keeping ointment on will promote faster healing. Sun avoidance will prevent the red areas from healing brownish.
I would avoid IPL until this is healed on it's own. IPL won't help the redness, the redness will resolve with time.
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+1
Photofacial
Three weeks is too early to have the area treated with photofacial/IPL. I encourage you to wait at least 2-3 months before doing a photofacial on the area. In the mean time, minimize sun exposure to the area.
+1
Photofacials and healing scars
Photofacials with intense pulsed light will help the redness fade and can stimulate some collagen which may help the scars. At 4 weeks after your cautery, you can start with IPL treatments. Since the scabs have already fallen off, you only need to use sun protection to prevent darkening of the areas.
+1
Photofacial
Allow them to heal for 6-8 weeks, and then consider an IPL. Thank you for your question and good luck with everything.
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