Pink Skin After Laser Treatment

Question

after my treatment of lazer removal the scabs are pink when they peel different from my original skin color, will the color return and usually how long does it take?

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

pink skin is very normal after laser. You must use a sunscreen when the wound is healed and not raw (let your physician examine you and tell you when that is) to minimize the chance of developing pigmentation. The pink can last a few weeks to a couple of months on the face and much longer on the hands and legs/feet. If there areas become very itchy and start to get thick to the feel, then you may be developing hypertrophic scars and you need to see your doctor.

M. Christine Lee, MD · Answer

This really depends on what kind of laser treatment you had done.  There are various noninvasive lasers vs. invasive lasers.  Some lasers are intended to peel off a layer of skin (ie: ablative or invasive resurfacing, fractional resurfacing, Erbium, CO2, etc.).  Other noninvasive lasers don't usually cause prolonged redness and if they do, the skin usually heals much faster than invasive lasers.  In any case, how quickly it heals would depend upon what region of the body was treated (lower parts of the body take much longer to heal than upper parts of the body, face heals fastest), what skin type you have (ethnic or darker skin usually takes longer to heal and there can be greater chance of hyperpigmentation), and how much sun exposure.  You try to avoid sun exposure to the area (ie: hat, clothing, sunscreen when skin is completely healed and not raw).  There are also certain healing lotions, creams or ointments that could aid in the healing process.  If you start to develop hyperpigmentation you should seek treatment for that from your physician.  You should definitely see your treating physician and find out what they would recommend to aid in your healing process.

Pink Skin After Laser Treatment

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Pink Skin After Laser Treatment

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