POSTED UNDER Fraxel Laser Reviews
My face is still extremely sensitive to the sun - Help - New York, NY
UPDATED FROM DANEE73
42 Years Old and my Skin is Totally Damage
Fraxel destroyed my skin's texture. It's been 3 years after the procedure and my skin looks worse! Does anyone have any suggestions? Is there any hope for my skins texture to improve? I have really bad and unattractive pores throughout my entire face! My face has thinned and sags. I have terrible lines under my eyes making me look like a 60 year old. Is there any hope of this improving in the near future? I'm hoping to hear back from people who have experienced damage from Fraxel for a few years. Please respond if you can offer me some hope. Thank you:)
Replies (28)
Sorry about your experience. I have the same issues from one horrible IPL treatment. I think these treatments really damage the skin. I strongly encourage you to submit an adverse event report to the FDA with photos, (see fdable.com) and be persistent! It took 5 phone calls, a mailing, and several emails for em to get my report in, but unless enough people report their results w/ objective data like photos (before and after if possible), nobody will ever look into this to develop treatments to fix the damage. See my Review here on this site. Many others have experienced the same (wrinkled old looking skin, dents and holes, adverse textural changes, hyperpigmentation, etc.) from light and laser txs. There is little that can be done,and most doctors have nothing to offer. I have heard of some people having some improvement w/ temporary fillers and Rx HQ and retinoids plus daily good ss. I am afraid of filler after my bad IPL, but I have found SOME improvement w:
-RetinA (not every day)
-HQ 4% (doesn't work well in summer cuz it's impossible to reduce UV rays enough)
-daily ss w/ Zno at least spf 30, spf50, PA +++ for outdoor days,
-Cerave cream in a tub for the dehydrated, permanently crinkled look
-Vit C + ferulic acid serum
-topical benadryl for redness / inflammation
-Mirvaso for the increased redness
Nothing cures this. So far. Keep your chin up, and please make a report w/ photos to the FDA. If you live outside US, make a report to whatever similar agency exists in your country.
Ok ty!
I know this might fall on deaf ears but looking at your pictures, your skin still looks beautiful.
EmilyKate, I thank you for your compliment but honestly my skin looks awful. I'm so upset with myself. I have been a slave to my face these past three years. I literally race home from work to wash off the greasy muck I have because I make every effort to keep my face hydrated. It sucks! At night I do a Manuka face mask and after that I apply a lot of EMU oil. In the morning I just rinse my face and apply a sunscreen that has an emollient in it and then I apply on makeup. I try my best to reapply the sunscreen whenever I am outside. This makes my skin look extra greasy and my make up starts to look like crap. I keep my face so hydrated because it was so dehydrated! Although my skin feels a bit better I see no improvement as far as the large pores and sagging skin and lines are concerned. I look tired and haggered, very embarrassing! I do this regimen because after reading so many reviews it seems like the dehydration is the culprit. I've started to take Fish oil supplements, collagen, vitamin c and d.
I'm so desperate and confused. I fear that even more damage will show up as time passes. I'm now looking into plasma rich placenta. I've been so consumed by this [RS bleep] that it's been affecting the quality of my life:( it sucks being me!!!
Research Soothe regimen Rodan and Fields, it's for sensitive skin.
Ok I will. Thank you for reaching out. I greatly appreciate it:)
I see you have the white hypopigmentation/scarring around your pores that I have. Mine is worse though ... Have you done anything to try to correct it? Peels, microneedling?
No peels or microneedling. My face is extremely sensitive:(
Do you wear sunblock everyday and use anti-aging products such as alpha hydroxy acids, vitamin c serum and topical Retin-A? I had ablative Pearl laser about 5 years ago. Recovery time was long as the laser was ablative and I had some visible "grid" marks on my face for a couple months, but after that my skin looked amazing. Results from Pearl lasted a long time with no touch ups and I religiously wear sunblock and use anti-aging products after that. It is just this year I started noticing some fine lines around my eyes and forehead (probably due to the large amount of stress I endured December through April) which is why I chose Fraxel Restore. I wanted something more gentle and non-ablative this time. I just had my second Fraxel. After the first, the texture of my skin was off for about 3 weeks and I got a lot of pimples. After that 3 week period, my skin looked smoother, texture felt smooth and the fine lines were reduced a bit. Had second treatment 3 days ago. I am pink but NOT red, very slightly swollen and my skin is starting to flake like "sand".
Maybe the side effects from your Fraxel treatment was caused by too high of a setting on the laser which may have caused a second degree burn to your skin?
I am 45 by the way.
The settings were definately raised the second time I did Fraxel and yes I burned the [RS bleep] out of my skin. I can't imagine putting any chicks in my face because it is so delicate and sensitive, even after 3 years! I am constantly placing sunscreen on and I try my best to avoid the sun, it's torture! I only use honey and Emu oil and begun taking supplements.
Not chicks I meant chemicals..
Yeah, if done correctly, Fraxel hurts a lot during the actual treatment (even with the numbing cream) but afterwards it should not not feel or look like more than a moderate sunburn with some swelling. It sounds like the skin was really burned (a second degree burn) if you are still having sensitivity after 3 years. You might want to try Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Oil in the evenings. It's ingredients are very, very soothing to the skin (you can get a free sample at the Kiehl's store). Bio Oil is also very good, but you may find it too greasy/heavy for your face. I would definitely use SPF 70 or higher every day too.
Jacono not a good doctor. Please check out other doctors maybe a skin specialist.
Yes I know and none of the skin specialists I've visited had knowledge about laser damage. It's very sad that a device is being used with very little knowledge. I'm left to figure this out on my own,it's disgusting!
Sadly, the doctors here no little about the kind of damage we all have described.
Doctors should not be allowed to use these devices unless they know how to fix the damage when things go wrong. It seems so irresponsible to me. I have visited over 8 doctors and not one knows what to do and simply say "I'm sensitive to lasers." Things can go wrong with anything and these doctors know this. Yet they continue to not inform patients of the risks and not help them after there face is ruined.
You're absolutely right! It's all about the money unfortunately! I called the company that manufactures Fraxel machines and they told me that the doctor did not use the laser correctly and my stupid doctor told me to complain to the Fraxel company because he believed the fault lied with the machine. I find it VERY interesting that the doctor NEVER attempted to team up with me to go after Fraxel. Instead he still has the machine and continues to attempt to make money off of it. Dr. JACONO should be ashamed of himself. No matter what ALL of his patients should receive the respect that they deserve. He NEVER called me to see how Im doing. He makes no attempts to help me figure this mess out. He's dispicable!
Sounds like a horrible doctor. I would report him if I was you.
I totally agree with you and that is a very pathetic answer from those doctors.
ORIGINAL POST
In may 2013 it will be a year since my second...
In may 2013 it will be a year since my second fraxel treatment. My face is still extremely sensitive to the sun even after reapplying sunblock for the third or fourth time and after wearing a cap whenever i see there is a bit of sun out. I also noticed hyper pigmentation developing on my upper cheeks. I never had a hyper pigmentation issue before. I also believe the laser caused extra fine lines around my eyes:( has anyone else experienced this and will the sensitivity ever go away? What can I do before my skin looks worse then ever?
Replies (6)
Thank you for sharing your review with RealSelf.
See what some of our doctors have to say about: Are There Ways to Repair Hyper Pigmentation Caused by Fraxel Laser Treatments?
Did you do to restore or repair?
Unfortunately I can't recall which one I had done.
As you went to a Dr. in Manhattan, I would try having a consultation with Dr. Hardik Soni in Summit, NJ. He did my procedure and is very skilled in using Fraxel and with skin cosmetic issues in general and he may be able to help with your complications.
Hi
I have same thing in my skin after fracxEl and now looking for treatment to remove the dark skin in my chin
I have same thing in my skin after fracxEl and now looking for treatment to remove the dark skin in my chin
I wear SPF 85 and still get sun exposure. Regardless of procedure, the erosion of the ozone layer has intensified the effect of the sun on our skin. I am sorry about the negative effect of your procedure:( I did not have these problems but of course everyone's experience is different. I hope you are able to get a complete and speedy resolution.
Replies (3)