When does peeling start after Photofacial?

How long does it take for the face to peel after a Photofacial? I got my first one done on Friday and it is now almost Tuesday and my face hasn't peeled at all. Is this normal?

4 answers to “When does peeling start after...”

A: There is no peeling after photofacial

Gregory Turowski, MD, PhD

You can expect peeling after chemical peels or laser resurfacing, but not after Photo facial. Bronzing of the brown pigmentation and darkening of the blood vessels are the most common skin reactions after the IPL. It usually takes 7-10 days for the pigmentation to flake off after the treatment.

A: Usually there is no intended peeling with a photofacial

Don Mehrabi, MD

Thank you for your question. In general, a photofacial refers to IPL or other laser treatment of redness, facial vessels, and lentigos/brown spots/photodamage. There is usually no peeling with any of these with the exception that the brown spots may appear darker themselves, and then later flake off. When... more

A: Photofacial results

Stella Desyatnikova, MD

It is probably normal. In fact, it is unusual to get peeling after a Photofacial. Frequently, dark spots become darker over the next several days, and then come to the surface and slough off, but there is usually no other peeling.

A: Peeling very rare with photofacial

Mary Lupo, MD

I having been doing photofacial IPL since 1999. After IPL photorejuvenation, bronzing of pigment does occur and lasts for 5-10 days, then fades. Peeling is unheard of with true photofacial. The lack of peeling is one reason it is a true "no downtime" procedure.

Comments

breker
18 posts
21 Jan 2009

Peeling?  The intent of photofacial is not that the skin peels, as with chemical peels.  There shouldn't be any (signifant) peeling caused by a photofacial.  If pigmented lesions are being treated, i.e. freckles, sun spots,  those will turn darker for a few days and eventually break up and come off in the shower, or even while you are sleeping.  Over a period of several treatments, they will significantly lessen in color and size.  However, if you are doing PDT, Photo Dynamic Therapy, there will be peeling.  This is a procedure using photofacial after the skin has been treated using Levulan Kerastick (Aminolevulinic Acid),  a medication which is used for the treatment of minimally to moderately thick actinic keratoses (sun damage).  After treatment, the skin does peel for several days, resulting in smooth, healthy looking, minimally tighter skin.  1 or 2 of these treatments is usually equal to 3-5 regular photofacials.

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