Can I Sunbathe After Fraxel Laser Treatments or Will my Skin Be Too Sensitive?

Question

after fraxel re-store treatment how sensitive is to the sun? planning on doing the re-store treatment my main concern now is would I be able to sun bathing?

	 

	Editor's Note: Find out more about sensitive skin and Fraxel treatments here.

Steven H. Williams, MD · Answer

Any laser treatment will make your skin more susceptible to damage from the sun and sunbathing should be avoided until you've healed from the laser.  
Good sunscreen is the key to preventing skin cancer and aged looking skin in the future.
I hope this helps.

Rosy Sandhu, MD · Answer

Hello, 
 A laser treatment like Fraxel can make you more sun sensitive and  strict precautions should be taken to avoid damage while healing. I would suggest wearing sunblock and reapplying every 1-2 hours and wearing a hat if your in direct sunlight for minimum 3 months. I would also start a medical grade skin care regimen including SPF daily following treatment to preserve your laser results. Following these steps will ensure more effective and safer treatment.
Wish you the best,
 Dr Rosy Sandhu

Michael A. Persky, MD · Answer

It is counterintuitive to sun bathe after having treatments that correct sun damaged skin.  I love to be outdoors and in the sun myself so I can appreciate your concerns.  You risk post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (dark browning of your skin) if you sun bathe following Fraxel re:store treatments.  You should wear daily sun block for at least 3 months following your treatment, use wide brimmed hats, and avoid sun exposure.  Many patients delay their treatment until the fall and winter months to make staying out of the sun a bit easier.  Some patients who have been successfully treated for melasma (brown pigment of pregnancy, hormones) have relapses after "sun vacations".  It is best to avoid the sun after the Fraxel restore treatment in order to protect your investment in your skin's health.  Be well.
Dr. P

Dmitriy Schwarzburg, MD · Answer

Avoid sun exposure after Fraxel. Your skin needs time to recuperate. Please contact a qualified provider or a board-certified physician with extensive experience in these procedures.

Warren B. Seiler III, MD · Answer

You should avoid any sun exposure prior to and after any laser treatment for at least 4-6 weeks. You will reach your safest and best possible results by avoiding the sun. Lasers also make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so make sure to wear a hat and medical grade sunscreen with zinc to protect your skin. It is also recommended to get the Fraxel laser in the fall or winter months to help avoid the sun as much as possible. Hope this helps!

Martie Gidon, MD, FRCPC, FAAD · Answer

You must stay out of the sun for at least 6 weeks after any laser treatment to prevent brown patches of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation from occurring. Wear SPF 60 daily and reapply if you are outdoors, wear a hat and seek shade. If you cannot comply, consider having your laser treatments during the winter months.

David Goldberg, MD · Answer

In general, excess exposure to the sun isn’t a good idea. Furthermore, doing this after a Fraxel treatment is more likely to lead to post-treatment hyperpigmentation, something you would not want to have.

D.J. Verret, MD · Answer

Unfortunately sun bathing causes skin damage, not only increasing your cancer risks but increasing your age spots and wrinkles too. Undergoing skin rejuvenation procedures such as Fraxel and others is meant to reverse some of the signs of skin damage. Sunbathing after skin rejuvenation almost certainly will negate any benefit you get from the treatment - you would simply be throwing your time and money down the drain. The other concern is that sun exposure after skin rejuvenation procedures can actually cause hyperpigmentation (dark spots) on the skin, making the aging process worse than before treatment. Consider either not sun bathing or not undergoing the Fraxel treatment - they will pretty much offset one another.

Can I Sunbathe After Fraxel Laser Treatments or Will my Skin Be Too Sensitive?

Answers (8)

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