Skin Care After Laser Resurfacing?

It is not only important to be concerned about post-op skin care, but also to pay attention to pre-treatment skin preparation prior to laser skin resurfacing. First, the skin must not be tanned. I recommend patient to apply sunblock of SPF 50 and to avoid sun exposure for 1 month prior to treatment. For patients with darker skin, I recommend the use of Retin A and Hydroquinone for 2 weeks before the skin is lasered.After laser resurfacing, the skin needs to be kept very moist. I like Aquaphor to be applied for about 4-5 days followed by a good moisturizer. 2 weeks post-laser, I recommend using sunblock, Hydroquinone and Retin A for 3 months. This allows the skin to continue to improve and decreases the risk of pigmentary issues. I hope you find this helpful. Good luck!

Good questions. We all have our own little tricks for pre and post laser treatment. If you have a medium to dark skin tone I often pre treat with a lightening cream to prevent post treatment darkening of the skin in the laser areas. Post treatment for the first few weeks is simple for me. Vasline (petroleum jelly) and sun protection. At lease 30 spf both UVA and UVB. Around the 3 week mark I like to start patients on a retinol cream to really maximize the results. Consult your surgeon before considering this. It can affect the healing process in different ways in certain skin types. My partner is a dermatologist so we have developed our own protocol that gives us the best results.Hope this helps,Best of luck,DrC

Fractional laser is an amazing and highly effective treatment in our office. We use the laser treatment to help with acne scars, large pores, fine wrinkles, tissue collagen loss, scars, sebaceous hyperplasia, active acne, and for brightening dark pigmentation. Although there are very strong fractional lasers such as CO2 laser, we use lighter treatments for corrective skincare and maintenance of results. Our Thulium fractional laser, clear and brilliant laser, and Ultra Thulium laser are excellent options in our clinic. We also perform CO2 fractional and erbium depending on skin tone and tolerance for downtime. Patients do have to use a Melarase cream before and after treatment to help further reduce pigmentation after laser. Dark spots can improve with these treatments. I recommend fractional laser for incisional scars as well, especially after plastic surgery.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

I recommend following up with your Doctor for a formal evaluation and after care. We use a specific protocol of exfoliation, hydration, and moisturizing along with protection after laser treatments. PDT therapy can calm any inflammation. I always combine lasers with microneedling/prp to get more of an outcome. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Each laser and physician's recommendations will vary, but in general, my patients are instructed to do the following after an aggressive laser resurfacing treatment:1. Rinse the face 3-4 times per day with water only for the first week (during the peeling phase).2. Apply a moisturizing ointment (which we provide to patients) after each face rinse.3. Once the peeling is finishing, a lighter moisturizer can be used and physical SPF sunscreens can start to be used. We generally recommend specific products for patients to use.4. Water-based makeup can be used to cover pink areas after the skin is healed (usually around day 7-10).Be sure to see a physician specializing in facial aesthetics for any facial laser resurfacing treatments.All the best,

Depending on the type of laser used, or device for that matter, healing may involve mild pinkness for a few hours to purposeful wounding that requires almost two weeks of wound care. During the consultation after examination and planning the right treatment for that patient's individual needs, I disucss what postoperative time and needs they will have to take care of their skin.
Sensitive skin cleansers, protective barrier creams and non-irritating sunblocks are recommended, but the timing of their application is discussed specific to that patient's needs. More aggressive laser resurfacing requires more potent barriers and moisturizers and the type of moisturizer changes after a few days. 
We now have excellent products to stimulate collagen production and improve one's dermal (under the skin's epidermis) elastic properties, such as TNS Essential Seruma and Alastin that can be used after healing for improving the laser's result.

Your skin is like any other part of your body. It needs to be preconditioned and maintained in order to optimize its health over a long period of time. If you have not taken care of your skin, you're probably right, it is not going to react well initially, which is why we always recommend you to precondition your skin to get it optimized, and in as good as shape as possible prior to any laser treatment. The laser treatment is really the final step in improving your skin, and the beauty of laser technology today is that it is able to address multiple issues in your skin. Namely it can address: pigmentation, vessel hyperactivity or rosacea, acne scarring or any post surgical scarring, large pores, texture abnormality, any kind of fine lines or aging atrophy of your skin. It is most important to have the right kind of laser for the right type of skin, and the right type of patient, which is why I recommend you find the right practitioner with the right experience who can diagnose your skin condition and know how to treat it properly. At our practice we use a number of of different technologies, because we want to treat the many diverse problems in the diverse patients we see in the New York metro area. 

Laser resurfacing is broadly categorized into “ablative” and “non-ablative” procedures. The amount of damage and aftercare required after each is quite different. For the ablative procedures, a careful regimen of healing ointments and cleansing protocols must be followed with regular and frequent follow up appointments with your laser surgeon to make sure everything is on track. These aftercare regimens vary from clinic to clinic and so it’s important to find one with certified operating facilities, experienced nurses, and specialty trained laser surgeons who will walk you through every step of the way. The non-ablative laser resurfacing procedures typically require less aftercare with a thin ointment or cream sometimes all that is required for a few days to a week. Hope that helps!

Our recommendations are:
Gentle Cleanser (wash 4x/day): Obagi Purpose (OTC) Cetaphil (OTC)

Occlusive Ointment (apply 4x/day for 3 days): Aquaphor ointment (OTC) Vasoline





ointment (OTC) Elta MD Laser balm or kit Other:


Non-Occlusive Moisturizer (apply on day 4): Cerave Lotion (OTC)

Sun block 30+ SPF: Elta MD Obagi Healthy skin 

Depending on whether you have classic resurfacing or fractional resurfacing will determine your healing time and wound care.  Your provider should give you all the information for the after care of the treatment.  If they do not know what to do after your treatment, find another provider.