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Will Fraxel Laser Make Active Acne Worse? Will It Cause a Flare Up if You Are in Remission?

Doctor Answers 5

Fraxel can temporarily make acne worse but in long run it makes it better

August 3rd, 2013
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The Fraxel Dual can stimulate acne for the first couple weeks. Acne prone patients I put on minocin to help prevent having a flair. However, it reduces the sebaceous glands and thereby helps with acne in the long run. 

Web reference: http://www.theclinique.net/procedures/face/fraxel-dual/

Steven F. Weiner, MD


Panama City Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.5 out of 5 stars 23 reviews

Fraxel Laser and Acne

December 24th, 2013
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Thank you for your question. It is important to have maintenance treatment on your acne and prevent acne to prevent scarring. If your acne is under control, laser will not worsen flare ups. would recommend consulting with a Board Certified Dermatologist to control the acne before doing any laser treatment. I hope this helps.

Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, MD

Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, MD
Bay Area Dermatologist
4.2 out of 5 stars 11 reviews

Acne flare with Fraxel

August 7th, 2013
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It is possible to have a flare of your acne with Fraxel treatments.  If your Fraxel treatments are done by a dermatologist, he/she will know how to prevent or treat an acne flare.

Martie Gidon, MD, FRCPC

Martie Gidon, MD, FRCPC
Toronto Dermatologist
5.0 out of 5 stars 20 reviews

#Fraxel and acne

August 5th, 2013
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Fraxel can cause a flare of acne and Rosacea. especially if the patient is not pre-treated. and it can aggravate the existing the acne.

Misbah Khan MD, FAAD, FACMS

Misbah Khan MD, FAAD, FACMS
New York Dermatologic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 27 reviews

Fraxel and

August 4th, 2013
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We have found that most the time there is no flare of the acne . On some occasions the acne may flare . We have even treated patients with some acne  whose acne cleared with the Fraxel treatment . Long term we have found that the acne does generally improve . Of course the acne scarring seems to be permanently improved.

Web reference: Http://advanceddermatologypc.com

Joshua L. Fox, MD

Joshua L. Fox, MD
Long Island Dermatologic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 18 reviews

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.