Will delaying my fractional laser treatments hurt my results?

Question

Before the shelter at home order started, I had done 2 out of 4 fractional laser treatments for my acne scars, one PRX-T33 peel, and one TCA Cross treatment. I don’t know when I will be able to go back. Will it hurt my results to take a break in between laser treatments? Is there anything I can do at home? Like use a retinol serum?

Kimberly Butterwick, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and I understand your concern. Fortunately, you will not lose any of the positive results you have gained so far by delaying your next treatment. During this time, the cells are producing more collagen and you will see some results from the first two treatments. Then when you resume treatment, even more collagen will be produced. Once the time is right, you can continue your treatment protocol and see further improvement with each session.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Id suggest doing micro rolling and an at home cosmelan peel at least at this time to keep resurfacing and building collagen. you are going to need a substantial number of stronger laser treatments with TCA cross so taking time to do peels and rolling at home now will not harm you, you are going to need a long term approach anyway.
Acne scar treatment needs a combination approach for improvement.  For the best results, one should target the acne scar type.  As everyone has a unique pattern of acne scarring, the best solution is a tailored one.  Typically you need fillers like bellafill and sculptra for atrophic indented type scars with or without subcision.  Subcision for depressed tethered scars.  Vascular lasers like yellow laser, aerolase, excel V or IPL for redness or thick scars. And lasers such as fraxel, erbium, co2 or fractional radiofrequency like venus viva, skinfinity, intensif or fractora microneedling RF for textural issues and superficial scarring.  Deep ice pick scars and narrow box car scars are best treated with TCA CROSS and punch excision.  All lasers are combined with microneedling and PRP to get even better results and improve healing times.   The majority of patients will have a collection of different scar types, and hence a tailored treatment plan is needed by an expert physician.  It is never about the laser or product that gives the results, its about the expert behind the equipment that gets you the outcome.  Scars cannot be cured and will need life-long treatments to maintain and build on the results.  For those at high risk for hyperpigmentation (darker skin types or asian or hispanic or mixed ethnicities) we alreayd pre-treat the skin with cosmelan or enlighten lightening peels to prevent complications from energy-based or chemical-based treatments.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Benjamin Barankin, MD, FRCPC · Answer

Delaying your rational laser treatments will not take away from the treatments you have had. Once it is safe to resume treatment, you can restart and continue to obtain benefits. Don't worry, dermatologist offices will be open before you know it. Using a retinol for texture, tone and scarring is always a good idea presuming you have the right product and concentration for your skin type.

Leslie Pickens, MD · Answer

For your laser series you will still see good results because it takes at least 30-60 days to see results from each treatment.  In the meantime use a good skin care program including tretinoin from your doctor.  Your regimen should have a deep pore cleanser, exfoliating scrub and oil control preferably with salicylic acid to mange overactive oil glands.

Robert T. Buchanan, MD (retired) · Answer

Farxel lasers as well as micro needling are methods of stimulating collagen production. My personal opinion is that the patients having these treatments should be on retinol to further encourage collagen production. For lesser problems a good retinol may be adequate. However, with your problem, I would suggest tretinoin (Retin-A), pushing it to tolerance. No matter what you do along these lines, the results will take up to a year or more to see.

Will delaying my fractional laser treatments hurt my results?

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