Best Skin Aftercare Following Laser Resurfacing?

Post procedure aftercare following laser treatment can vary depending on the type of laser with different power and depth parameters. However as a general rule, keeping the skin moist and lubricated promotes faster healing and Vaseline and Aquaphor are two of the most commonly used topicals with minimal reactivity/sensitivity issues. In cases when risk of infection is considered to be higher vinegar soaks play a role too. Overall, in the earlier days of recovery the skin is more sensitive to chemicals and prone to infection. Another major factor is strict adherence to minimal sun exposure postoperatively which can otherwise result in pigmentation issues. Sun lotions of different SPFs are recommended to be started after 2-3 weeks and continue for months.

My routine after a deep laser is:


Elta cream (a Vaseline type ointment) applied immediately after the procedure, keep reapplying as it dries out until you first get in the shower

Starting on day 2, the patient gets in the shower and gently washes the face (no soap) 4-6 times a day

Reapply the Elta cream after each shower

Keep this up until all the crusting, flaking and peeling is gone.  This usually takes 7-10 days following a deep Erbium treatment

Once the skin is not peeling anymore, you an apply a coverup makeup to hide some of the reddness

Moisturize with a very hypoallergenic lotion like Cetaphil

Keep using very mild moisturizers until the pinkness and reddness has faded (be patient as this can take weeks or even months)

Post Laser treatments it is very important to use a minimum of a SPF 30. However, patients are still asked to refrain from sun exposure. Skin laser resurfacing aftercare recommendations depend on the the treatment that was done. For general aftercare, Aquaphor is very helpful for the first week. Patients purchase Emollience by SkinCeuticals to use for the second week and beyond.                                                                                                                                  

Thanks for your question and for being committed to optimizing your result.  There are many ways to approach recovery from a significant laser procedure and they all require a certain level of discipline to ensure that the products are applied correctly.  In our practice, we use the Alastin Recovery Kit that contains all of the essential elements for a successful recovery with easy to follow directions.  I had my mother use it after her laser and she loved it!

For after care, I recommend skin care with vitamin c, b5 hydrator, silicone based scar gels with growth factors and enzymatic washes with papaya enzyme. PDT therapy can help calm inflammation. Sun protection is essential. Typically I recommend adding Cosmelan and viva 4-6 weeks after lasers to improve outcomes along with microneedling/prp to get the best outcomes with texture and tone.  Please see an expert. Best, Dr. Emer.

The best post-laser skincare regimen varies depending on the type of laser used and the aggressiveness of the treatment. For more aggressive fractional CO2 or Erbium resurfacing treatments that I perform, I typically have patients use a very simple petroleum-based moisturizing ointment for the first week. Less aggressive moisturizer can start to be used after that point. Most importantly, patients are instructed not to pick at peeling skin or wash the face with anything other than water during that first week. Each doctor will have their own aftercare regimen, so be sure to discuss this with them.All the best,

Laser Resurfacing Non-Ablative would be 3 to 4 days recovery and Ablative is 5 to 7 days of downtime. Many healthcare providers first recommend an occlusive barrier protection ointment that prevents the skin from drying out. Staying out of the sun would be the second most important part of your recovery. The outer layers of the skin have been compromised therefore sun exposure even for a short period of time can prolong the healing process causing the skin to stay red and inflamed while recovering. Returning to your normal skin routine such as cleanse, treat, moisturize and protect would be recommended by your healthcare provider. 

For nonablative procedures, often aquaphor will suffice to keep the skin moist, but most patients really enjoy the added comfort of a product called Epidermal Repair by Skinceuticals.  Other moisturizing products such as aloe (without alcohol) or phyocorrective from Skinceuticals are also helpful.  A gentle cleanser is also essential for the first week after a nonablative laser procedure- Skinceuticals is very nice, and Cetaphil gentle cleanser is easily available.  
For ablative procedures, I mostly recommend aquaphor for 4-5 days until there is no longer any oozing, weeping, or crusting of the skin.  At that time, switching to a moisturizing semi-occlusive cream such as epidermal repair is beneficial to the skin.  
A high quality sunscreen (with micronized zinc oxide and titanium dioxide rather than chemical sunblockers) is essential in the recovery period (months!) to prevent inflammatory problems in the skin.
Finally, some products cater to this market (Oxygenetics) and combine moisturizers, sunscreen, and pigmented foundation to cover up skin irregularity after the procedure.
Make sure to discuss with your doctor their specific recommendations for you after the laser procedure.
Best Wishes

Collagen and elastin are needed normally for good dermal support of the epidermis. This can be improved by those with a vitamin C deficient diet by taking normal daily recommended amounts of vitamin C, using a collagen stimulator topical agent such as the fibroblast growth agent that TNS has in some of its products, elastin stimulation by the use of Alastin (providers need to recommend the precise products to their individual patients and at what time to start them before and resume after the procedure), good hydration, avoidance of smoking (anything) before during and after the procedure and good sun protection.

Great question. We all have our own little tricks. For the first week it is simple for me. Pure petroleum jelly. I want pure and simple to prevent any reaction to preservatives. Coconut oil is also an option. The second week we add a sunscreen. The third week I add a vitamin A topical treatment. These can be aggressive so be careful with the concentrations if you decide this is an option for you. It will maximize the results. Make sure you discuss with your surgeon the protocol post operatively. All of this is determined by the laser type, skin tone and treatments specific to each patient. There is no "standard" one fits all approach. My partner is a dermatologist we have a team approach to these patients which is nice. Hope this helps.Best of luck,DrC