Is It Normal To Breakout In Painful Acne After Laser Resurfacing?

Thank you for your question. Swelling can occur for about a week after laser resurfacing and at times, people can breakout especially acne prone skin or from products used in the post operative period. I would recommend a follow up with your provider. Be certain to be under the supervision of a Board Certified Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon for best results and safest treatment options.  I hope this helps!

Healing afterwards is generally uneventful, consisting of what looks like a deep sunburn that is treated with topical lubricants for 7 to 10 days, at which time the skin is healed. Skin pinkness can persist for weeks, and is minimized by topical steroid crèmes. However, acne could be a common side effect as well. I would suggest speaking with the doctor who performed the treatment, so that he or she can recommend a treatment plan to clear up the breakout. Best of luck.

Without seeing your condition first hand, it would be difficult to form any solid conclusions about your post laser acne condition. However, what may have happened is that the laser may have affected the hair follicles or sebaceous glands in your skin. As you may know, sebaceous glands produce oil. And in acne patients, these glands are usually quite enlarged and active. Painful acne is quite possible after laser resurfacing, particularly in patients with dark hair. Dark hair has melanin which absorbs laser light and brings it into the hair follicles.

However, you should certainly consult with your dermatologist if you are not seeing improvements in the situation.