Retin A Before and After Fractional Laser Resurfacing - Will I Have Problems Since I Was Using It Because No One Told Me Not To?

 Scared, don't be. Recommendations for the use of Retin-A before laser resurfacing have evolved through the years. Because retinoids make your skin "turn over" faster, they were initially recommended preoperatively to speed healing. Subsequent experience showed that healing was not faster. Furthermore, the risk of hyperpigmentation increases slightly with retinoid usage preoperatively. This is nothing to worry about and you will find some dermatologists who routinely prescribe preop retinoids, others that don't.

Thank you for your question. Retin-A should not interfere with your healing if you avoid applying it for 1 week before your treatment and for 7-10 days after. However, always follow your doctor's recommendations,
as she/he knows your situation best. The same goes for irritants, exfoliants, and any products containing
retin-A, retinol, benzolyl peroxide, glycolye/salicylic acids, or
astringents.
Then your skin won't be so sensitive to the treatment. If you have concerns, contact the doctor who performed your treatment.