Can it be safe to take a sunny vacation after deep laser resurfacing?

At 5 months after laser resurfacing, the skin is usually well along in the healing process, so it should be fine to go on a vacation.  But the importance of avoiding significant unprotected sun exposure cannot be overstressed.  As the skin continues to heal, it remains sensitive and exposure can lead to wrinkles and various skin lesions.  I would recommend a strong sun block, with frequent reapplication (every hour or two, after water exposure, etc.) Your plastic surgeon or dermatologist will likely offer a clinical-grade product with the best formulation to protect your skin.

Your vacation should be fine but just limit your sun exposure to the morning and late afternoon, use a broad brim hat and lots of sunscreen - 50 SPF or greater. I often also have my patients use a skin lightener before, during and after sun exposure to prevent post inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Sun exposure after laser peelThis is always a problem to some degree.  it is best to avoid direct sun,  full sunblock reapplied every two hours, and hats   all help Try to find shade under umbrellas or canopies

At 5 months your skin should have healed from the laser.  If you are going to be in the sun, make sure you wear a good block.  Get one that has either zinc or titanium dioxide as these are blocks as opposed to a screen.  Will be more effective at protecting your skin.  ALso wear a hat and sunglasses.  And reapply throughout the day.    

Thanks for your question and know that at 5 months post your procedure, you are healed at this point and we hope that your skin has done well with the procedure you had performed. In order to maintain the results and to further take care of your skin, please make sure that whenever you are in the sun that you are using sunscreen with a very SPF, that you are on a good skin routine, and that, when you are at a beach or a water park or on a golf course, that you minimize the exposure as best as you can. Finding shade is good; wearing wide brim hats are helpful; and reapplying the sunscreen over and over is a must. Have fun and protect your skin – and enjoy the water park.

While you are relatively less vulnerable being no longer pink and five months out from the resurfacing, you can still reacquire some freckles, brown spots (lentigos) and wrinkles from even one day of excess UV sun exposure.  I suggest you not only apply a high SPF sunblock but that you bring an umbrella and wide brimmed hat, and try to sit in the shade as much as possible.  Once you have had laser resurfacing, for lasting results, one must make a life-long commitment to sun avoidance.

Since it has been 5 months since your procedure, you should be fine for outdoor activity with sunscreen as long as the redness / pinkness have gone away.  Confirm this with your Surgeon.  Best wishes!