What skin care do I need after skin resurfacing?

In our office, we have tried everything from Copper Peptides, Neocutis, etc. However, we always seem to have come back to straight Aqua- Phor due to allergic reactions.

Your skin will need time to heal and replace epithelial tissue and basically should be occluded for a few days.

• Keep cool and out of the sun.
• Always wear a hat.
• For Asian, Hispanic or ethnic skin you may need to possible pre-skin treatments and post care treatments that may help possible changes in pigmentation.
• Consider cool spitzer to cool face with sterile water.
• We use squalene and hyaluronic moisturizers 3-4 days post fractional CO2 resurfacing - Deep / Active FX.
• Sun block as always.

Good Luck!

When patients undergo fractionated laser skin resurfacing, many doctors recommend the following:

• Moisturize your skin at least twice daily. For the first 7-10 days after treatment, skin may be particularly dry. If skin is dry, using a moisturizer up to 4-5 times daily will help keep moisture in your skin.
• Use sunblock! Even if you’re not out in the sun, a sunblock with an SPF of 30 or higher should be applied once in the morning and once mid-day while your skin is red.
• Avoid the sun! If you’re skin is already red, sun exposure will just make skin redder, more irritated, and more likely to blister, hyperpigment, or even scar. Stay in the shade, and wear a wide brimmed hat.

If you have been treated with an ablative CO2 or Erbium laser, there are more steps you’ll need to take to protect your skin and allow it to heal:

• Oozing, weeping, crusting, and scabbing often occur after CO2 laser skin resurfacing. To minimize this, you may be directed to wash your face with a vinegar and water solution. After the vinegar wash, you may be advised to use an antibiotic ointment.
• Your doctor may want you to take Valtrex or a similar antiviral to reduce the occurrence of cold sores. Your prescription may be for seven to ten days.
• Swelling of the treated area is normal. Ice 20 minutes at a time for the first few days helps to decrease swelling.
• You need to avoid sun exposure if there is significant redness to the treated area. If there is scarring from a deep resurfacing, you may be advised to avoid sun exposure for up to 12 months. If you can’t avoid the sun, sunblock with an SPF of 30 or higher is best, and should be reapplied every 2 hours. Stay in the shade, and wear a wide brimmed hat.
• Don’t pick at crusting or scabbing - this can result in a scar.
• Oil free make-up is best after the early healing phase has passed. Avoid makeup use when there’s oozing, crusting, weeping, or irritated skin.
• Expect redness to last for months with a CO2 ablative laser. Redness can last for up to 6 months. The duration of redness is usually less with an Erbium ablative laser.

Remember- It's Your Face! Always make sure to consult with and receive treatment from a medical doctor who’s experienced in laser skin resurfacing for best results!

We perform many laser resurfacing procedures with the Erbium MicroLaserPeel. With these patients, the need for sun avoidance and protection is significant even several weeks after a treatment.

Regardless of which product is used, the concept of protection from UV exposure and proper pH balance is the goal.

Oftentimes, patients will allow their skin to become quite dry and flaky after a resurfacing procedure. Not only does this hinder healing, but this constant source of irritation may lead to more of a chance of discoloration (hyperpigmentation) during the healing phase.

Recommended after care for chemical peels and Pearl laser treatment:

• Use Neo Cutis Biorestorative Gel and Aquaphor until the skin has healed. Neo Cutis Gel helps to improve healing/healing time and Aquaphor helps to keep the skin moisturized during healing.