Sun Sensitivty After Laser, Will it Increase Risk of Skin Cancer While Healing?

Thank you for your question. Any unprotected sun exposure can increase your risk of skin cancer.  After laser, you are a bit more sun sensitive to sunburn, but if you stay protected with an SPF 30 with zinc, sun protect, reapply every 2 hours, and wear sun protective clothing, you will be just fine and are not increasing your risk for skin cancers.  There are too many variables to give you exact percentages, time lines, as this will have to account for your prior exposure, and existing risk factors which are impossible to accurately determine. But sun exposure specifically after laser is not increasing your risk of skin cancer if you stay protected. Any questions can be answered by your board certified dermatologist. I hope this helps.

There is a concern that if there is unprotected sun exposure on lasered skin there could be greater risk of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation and sun sensitivity.  This has not been proven.  If a patient is at risk of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, then they should not expose themselves to the sun without protection.

The probability of skin cancer will not increase due to sun exposure post laser. The risk of hyperpigmentation is increased post laser due to sun exposure. Moreover, you will be sensitive to the sun and more likely to get sun burn. For that reason, use of a good sunscreen is very important during this time.