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!

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. 

I agree with the other posters that you should check in with your doctor.  Acne is possible but usually not painful.  Herpes reactivation is possible and treatment may help.  The rash you describe is also possible with topical bacitracin allergy-- if you are using it.

Painful lesions developing after laser resurfacing could be serioius within the first few weeks. Laser resurfacing is not to be taken lightly. Please contact your doctor. Herpes can break out and cause scarring so can Staph bacterial hair follicle infections.  Sometimes it is just acne and some prescribed medication can make it feel better, resolve more quickly and limit the chance for it to scar if you have a tendency to have scarring cystic acne.

Generally in my practice after laser resurfacing, patients need to be placed on a post peel regime to guard against the development of post procedure acne and discoloration (dyschromia). I encourage all of my patients to closely follow up with me during the critical period of healing after any procedure.  You may want to visit your doctor again to be sure everything is OK.