Fraxel Laser before & after photos
55%
470 reviews
Worth It Rating Our index shows the percentage of community members saying this was "Worth it". See cosmetic treatment rankings
Fraxel Laser Cost $2,200 average cost

Bad Rash After Procedure

4 posts
Comments (91)
Updated 28 Oct 2007
Posted 24 Oct 2007
Not Worth It
Spent: $900 in Dallas, TX
I had my first treatment 2 1/2 weeks ago. I don't see any difference yet, but my biggest concern is the rash that developed afterwards. I had swelling and redness for two days, then peeling started and by the 5th day most of the peeling had subsided, but I had a horrible red bumpy rash on both cheeks, from my jawline up to the top of my cheekbones, and it itched like crazy. With make-up most of it was covered up, but the itching was horrible. Now most of the rash is gone and my face is breaking out. Have any of you had this rash and what did you do about it? I am suppose to get my second treatment next week and am very leary about going and starting all over with this itchy mess. ANY suggestions?

This review is the subjective opinion of a RealSelf member and not of RealSelf, Inc.

Vote: 19 members found this review helpful

Comments (91)

Post a Comment
Sort:
Sarah Gibson (15 posts) 14 Dec 2007
My suggestion is to tell your provider about your experience. Sometimes a product (cosmetics, moisturizer, etc) that would never cause an irritation can be a problem on skin sensitized by an aggressive procedure. Your tech may have a solution, need to adjust a setting, or have a different post care regimen for you to follow. You may also try using a topical hydrocortisone ointment, or try taking an OTC anti-histamine. Sadly, a breakout is normal, a common issue with peels. It usually is a problem only for the first treatment or two. Share all these concerns with your technician. The most important thing is that you feel confident about what is happening to you. Ask questions, be the squeaky wheel if you have to. And, yes, at some point you do have to expect downtime. But at least this way you will know what is normal and won't be itchy!
WPetrosine (4 posts) 16 May 2009
I'm reading your post from November of 2007 and it's now May of 2009. I had my first fraxel laser treatment done 3 months ago and I have had a horrible itching bumpy rash on my cheeks and it has not subsided. I also still have some slight swelling and sagging around my mouth where the doctor did a more aggressive treatment. Makeup and some lotions make the rash worse. I am experiencing exactly what you went through. Can you tell me if your rash ever went away? I'm scared my skin will never return to the way it was before the procedure.
awalk (338 posts) 19 May 2009
No I'm a mess I'm sorry it doesn't didn't get better.... I think this laser goes too deep and causes DNA damage... Feel free to contact me and I can share info on treatments others have tried.... Ask your doc for Erztaco cream...for Candida or fungal infection...I't can't hurt!!!
christy cleghorn (unregistered guest) 21 Dec 2007
I had fraxel 10 days ago. My skin did the same. I have a rash like this on my forhead and cheeks. It itches like crazy. I am also still very pink like a bad sunburn. My doctor said it go be excema caused by some product or soap. she is prescribing some cortizone ointment this morning. I am scared my skin will not go back to its natural color. I hope the cortisone helps the rash. I don't know if I want to go through this again. I just would like to be back to normal.
abby (4 posts) 21 Dec 2007
The thing that finally did clear up my rash was a medicine prescribed by my Dr. call Verdeso. It is a foam application and is actually prescribed for excema. Within two days my rash was gone. ASK your Dr. about this. The good news is I just finished my third treatment, and I had no adverse reactions at all to either the second or third fraxel treatment. My last treatment was about 10 days ago and my skin looks SO nice. I can really tell a difference. The swelling was less, the redness was less...all and all the second two were so much easier than the first. Hang in there. If I had not pre-paid I know I would not have gone back for any more treatments. So actually I am glad they made me pre-pay for a total of three.
abby (4 posts) 23 Dec 2007
The thing that finally did clear up my rash was a medicine prescribed by my Dr. call Verdeso. It is a foam application and is actually prescribed for excema. Within two days my rash was gone. ASK your Dr. about this. The good news is I just finished my third treatment, and I had no adverse reactions at all to either the second or third fraxel treatment. My last treatment was about 10 days ago and my skin looks SO nice. I can really tell a difference. The swelling was less, the redness was less...all and all the second two were so much easier than the first. Hang in there. If I had not pre-paid I know I would not have gone back for any more treatments. So actually I am glad they made me pre-pay for a total of three.
Julie S. (1 post) 23 Jun 2008
Christy, I had one fraxel treatment back in October 2007 and have since struggled with skin pigmentation issues worse than I had before the fraxel. I have tried every fading cream and several other things (Retin-A, Differin, Cloderm) and have yet to find anything to make it go back to "normal". I ran across your submission and was curious if you found anything that helped you.
sundamage8 (unregistered guest) 19 Dec 2008
I had fraxel for the first time 10 days ago. I am in my late 30's and had spent a lot of time in tanning beds, so I had it for sun damage. Well I was a little red after the procedure, but the next day I didn't even recognize myself, I was very swollen, looked like a halloween mask. Then I started getting the white bumps all over my face. I have a Christmas party tomorrow, and hope the redness, (very rash like)goes away, it is itching like crazy. I bought some of the clinique, lotion that is suppose to get rid of the red, so we will see
awalk (338 posts) 1 Jan 2009
The vinager soaks are best...Vinager kills fungi and bacteria and softens the dead skin......But use gauze or cotton pads...Washcloths/towls can have fungi from someone else....Sally beauty has 5x4 cotton sterile pads..... Do not use acne products that dry your skin!!!!....Try to keep the surface & millia moist and pores open to let the dead tissue escape//debride or you can have big problems if they harden.... Vinager and a moist coating product like aqaupher... Treat it like hyper kerotosis not acne... DONT LET IT DRY OUT After you have healed more.. Ask your doctor about the Vivite line from md forte.....it has a glycolic and petroleum that holds moisture in..... Neoceutical/NeoSrata has a great lotion PDS dry skin treatment 1/10 of the price same concept.... its good but strong Skin medica TNS helps the cells connect and close..But moisture after.. Revale night cream during the day with coffee berry is awesome for redness and swelling without steriod side effects... DO NOT LET IT DRY OUT...Like you would do with acne.... Treatment now is Critical!!! Imagine someone drilled a hole and it is healing you want the dead tissue to be able to escape...If the top layer is dry it cannot and new cells will not connect for healing.... I am not a doctor or skin pro.. So ask your Doctor about these I would also ask about antifungil,antiviral and antibiotic for preventative measure...... This is your FACE dont screw around...This laser goes deep and can be disfiguring years later.....The surface appearance can be deceiving regarding what is happening deep below... I can't say enough about the vinager/auqapher all same concept..to losen surface bonds and keep moist.. I think the medical term is debridement again surface appearance is very deceiving with the healing process... DO NOT LET YOUR SKIN DRY OUT...
beann (61 posts) 16 Jan 2010
Christy - I had Fraxel Restore last month and am worried about all the horror stories Ive read about the long term effects. Have you had any problems at all since your first treatment?
SAM-5883 (2 posts) 7 Jan 2008
I had one treatment of Fraxel on my neck for sagging skin and experienced a rash also. After first trying a triple antibotic cream with no improvement my doctor prescribed some oral antibiotics and an over the counter hydrocortisone cream. After two weeks the rash had improved only slightly. I asked my doctor about prescribing a corticosteroid cream was after reading the posting from Abby on 12/23. The cream cleared up my rash within a few days - I was prescribed Ultravate. The only thing that remained was a slight bit of hyperpigmentation which I had one session of laser light therapy for that has cleared it up very quickly. I have very fair/sensitive skin. My only advice is to ask your doctor lots of questions, especially what type of cleanser/moisturizer to use after the treatment. The good news is that the suffering is over, my skin is clear again and it is much tighter.
Pam D (unregistered guest) 28 Jan 2008
I had a fraxel treatment 3-days ago. Outside of being a little red and somewhat itchy...things seem to be fine. I wash with Dove for sensitive skin, use sunscreen for sensitive skin, and drink lots of water. I've been paying close attention to what I experience each day, so I can monitor how long it takes me to get back to "normal". So far, it's seems to move along pretty fast.
amber D (unregistered guest) 21 Mar 2008
I had the fraxel procedure done 2 days ago. I never experienced swelling but I definitely turned as red as a tomato. My main concern though is that today I am completely broken out with little white bumps covering my entire face.There must be hundreds of them. They look like whiteheads and will pop if I pinch them but they leave a bloody sore. I am horrified since the point of getting this treatment was to get rid of my acne scarring. I am concerned that these white bumps will only create more scars. I feel so embarrassed and don't want to leave the house until it is cleared completely. Does anyone have advice for me? The doctor who did it has no recommendations for me and was no help at all. Please help!
Jan (unregistered guest) 24 Mar 2008
Hi I read your story on realself.com and I had the little white pimples. My tech who did the treatment said the fraxel people said it was normal. Did you have a bad rash as well? I have both. Just wondering if your whiteheads went away and what did you use. Thanks and goodluck Jan
DI88888 (unregistered guest) 29 Mar 2008
I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT ITS BEEN 2 WEEKS SINCE MY PROCEDURE AND EVERY DAY I WAKE UP TO A DOZEN MORE WHITEHEADS. I HATE GOING TO WORK BEING SEEN LIKE THIS I'M GONNA BE 44 AND I HAVE ACNE LIKE I'M 14 AGAIN WHEN DOES IT STOP MY NEXT TREATMENT IS IN 2 WEEKS
lindalou (1 post) 24 Jun 2008
what you have is milia and it won't go away, ever, until you get a aestitician to extract them with a lancet. It's the ONLY way you will get rid of them. You can try to pop them all day long, and the gross white stuff will NOT come out. It's really stubborn. I went through that too. It's not fun. I feel your pain
awalk (338 posts) 17 Jun 2009
I think these are actually burns It should not be happening this much mine never went away...My face looks 20 years older and like cobblestone and it's extremely dry.... I never had to use a moisture riser in my life only sunscreen...Now nothing will add moisture Crème de lamer or even the oils... This laser destroys your skin long term...
Sarah Gibson (15 posts) 21 Mar 2008
Hi Amber. Try NOT to pick at the bumps, your skin is healing and you may create a scar. These are not common, but have been reported after Fraxel and other similar treatments. I myself have always been acne prone and have experienced them after Fraxel as well as chemical peels. I would see if your doctor has an aesthetician on staff that may be able to do a deep pore cleansing facial with extractions a few days prior to your next treatment. That has worked well for me as well as my clients. I would also try not to moisturize your skin with an extra heavy product even though I'm sure it feels dry and peely. You just have to get over that. Use a non-irritating cleanser like Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash (from the drug store) or Cosmedix Benefit Clean (from a med-spa or physician).You may wash and reapply moisturizer 3 times a day if it helps. Stay well hydrated. You will heal faster. I like a clay masque called Lerosett (from the spa) for acne. It is safe to use on sensitive, traumatized skin, and will help to draw out the clogs in your pores. If your derm office doesn't provide facials, you may want to check out a REPUTABLE med-spa. Someone there may be able to do a treatment safely to help relieve the pimples and milia. Sometimes a gentle cleansing under steam and a light enzyme masque is all that is needed to alieveiate this condition-no extractions yet! Make sure it is at least 4 days after your treatment, and make sure the aesthetician is experienced in post-procedure skin care. It would be best if the center also offered Fraxel, so you will know they have seen this before and know what to do. Think about this. You are acne prone. Even if you have it under control, it's likely you still have plenty of clogged pores that would eventually become pimples. Fraxel speeds up your cell turnover. This can push all that junk out all at once. That's why when you use Retin-A, or other anti-acne regimens, it always says to expect it to get worse before it gets better. I know you feel hideous right now, but hang in there and don't pick. It WILL get better, and it probably won't do it every time. Good luck!
james (145 posts) 23 Mar 2008
the foams and creams your doctors are giving you are steroids. steroids reduce inflammation by suppressing DNA synthesis. the most common side effects of topical steroids? thinning skin and skin atrophy, stretch marks, teleangecstasia, etc. you're seriously screwing yourself using them right after a procedure that is meant to increase collagen production!
james (145 posts) 29 Mar 2008
The post fraxel acne is from sebaceous gland stimulation + disruption/irritation of the skin's normal lipid barrier. In addition to targeting water in the skin, fraxel also targets the sebaceous glands. This eventually impairs sebaceous gland function and gives you drier skin long term. Short term, however, the oil glands go crazy producing sebatocytes and trying to restore the normal barrier function to the skin. The result is an acne flare that can be extreme in acne prone patients. The good news is it usually goes away and leaves your skin permanently drier. I'm actually concerned that with multiple treatments fraxel could make a patient's skin too dry. Sebaceous glands are also an important source for the stem cells that allow such a quick recovery from fractional resurfacing. So with multiple treatments you may actually be decreasing your skin's ability to recover from additional treatments.
texas-tea (22 posts) 10 Nov 2008
Hi James- I really enjoy reading your comments. You seem to be very knowledgable about skin care. If I have any questions, I will email you.
awalk (338 posts) 6 Jul 2009
Get uv pics before and after your treatment...You will be shocked the damage visible after treatment.....All the symptons are the same ones people haveing radiation treatment for cancer experience....This damages your skin long term!!!!!!!
jepstein (23 posts) 30 Mar 2008
The itchy rash sounds like an allergic reaction. Topical steroids are the treatment for this. The little white bumps are probably a flare of the acne due to sebaceous gland stimulation. This can be treated with oral antibiotics or topical antibiotics. Many times we will pre-treat patients with oral antibiotics if they are prone to this type of flare. If you still have acne flares, ask you doctor to prescribe something like Doxyclcline 100 mg twice a day for 5 days prior and 5 days after treatment.
Kristan (unregistered guest) 23 Apr 2008
I am post Fraxel procedure day 2. My face is covered with tiny whiteheads. I took pix and sent them to the nurse who did my treatment and she states that this is a normal occurance and should go away within a week. This is my first treatment, and I wonder if it will be this way every time. It's extremely embarrassing and I don't want to go out in public because people look at me like I have the plague!!!! Help! Any recommendations or words of advice?
whoppi (86 posts) 22 Jun 2011
what does a white head look like. it is a pimple or just a white msrk

Post a Comment

Use of this website and the posting of any reviews or other content on this website constitutes acceptance of the RealSelf® Terms of Service. The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider. © 2011 RealSelf, Inc. All rights reserved.