CO2 laser resurfacing need to go back to work before the one week mark - what can I do?

Question

I had full ablative CO2 on my face four days ago, washing my twice a say and using Aquaphor. I have not started to peel and face is very red but no longer swollen. I planned to take one week off but due to a car accident two of my colleagues have passed away and I need to go back to work. What do I do? Suncream on top of the Aquaphor? Called my dermatologist but he is on holidays until the end of the week and the nurse was not sure what is the best.

Ryan Mitchell, DO, FAOCO · Answer

Hello,  To answer your question specifically I don’t see any reason why you cannot return to work. Maybe you’re not asking the correct questions?  What concerns do you have about returning to work now? Without seeing photos or knowing how deep your CO2 laser resurfacing went through the epidermis and dermis it is too difficult to tell you if you can wear make-up safely. Typically, for treatments penetrating to the papillary and reticular dermis, it takes approximately 10-12 days to re-epithelialize or for the epidermis to heal over. If your skin is still raw and the epidermis has not healed completely, you cannot wear make-up, you should be staying out of the sun and using Aquaphor regularly until your skin heels over and is dry to the touch after washing and patting dry. If you still have open wounds you must keep it clean and follow your doctor’s post laser instructions. You should not use sunscreen over Aquaphor and you should not use sunscreen if your skin is still open. Also if you are using Aquaphor you’re not going to peel. It’s nice that you are no longer swollen and if your face is very red that is normal and that could take numerous weeks to resolve. I think the most important point is that you should not use make up or any irritating products on an open wound. If after you wash your skin and pat it dry, your skin is dry to the touch despite being red in color, you are unlikely to develop infection and you may be able to wear some mineral make-up like a powder foundation to camouflage the redness. However, I am not telling you to do this as I am not your surgeon and I have not seen your skin and I do not know what healing phase you are in at this time. In my patient population after undergoing CO2 laser resurfacing where I have reached the papillary and reticular dermis, most of my patients at 10 to 12 days postoperative can wear a powder foundation and I usually recommend a mineral make up . All of these patients have healed over completely and they have no open wounds. Returning to work is dependent on your occupation, what you are willing to allow others to see and what your employer will allow based on your appearance.  Best regards, Dr. Mitchell

CO2 laser resurfacing need to go back to work before the one week mark - what can I do?

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CO2 laser resurfacing need to go back to work before the one week mark - what can I do?

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Everything you need to know about CO2 Laser

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.