Yup that and all of the above symptoms anyone could ever have. Fat loss, grid marks, indentions, hypopigmentation, hyperpigmentation, scarring from new pimples (never had this before), my scarring before would be very very minor and not oxidize into a black scar, dehydrated skin, dead looking complexion, wrinkles, imflammation skin burns a lot. And now I gta be extra careful. I had enlarged pores and what not before that wasn't bad. I'd turn red at times n wash my face it'd go down. But now I'm a freak show and I'm only 26. I've aged 20 years no joke. I look and feel like crap

Hi! Kamngetit! I'm so sorry it happened to you, but this may help. I'm Asian and using this product that my people call holly water. It's a water like serum call SK II essence! You can purchase it at sephora or Nordtrom, splash some on your hand and rub in your face, after that use this medicated cream make from japan call Sekkisei! Put a generous amount in your face , this is also A product from Kose a Japan company using acient Asian medicinal. I also had laser done, and this sk II water calm my skin down,balance it and the cream added moisture and take hyperpigmention away. You can get this cream at Neobeauty.com. Praying this will help you big time!!!

My my biggest concern is the laser marks, bigger pores, and orange peel issues.. Will this help with that? Because I'm getting ten different treatment regimes and unsure what to use . Trying to be natural I'm scared of using any more chemicals on my face :(

The SK II essence is support to help with the orange peel skin, and big pore plus speed up your skin recovery! It's make from some special tea in japan through a fermented process that it kind of smell at first when you first put on. The workers who work in that tea fermented factory known to have beautiful smooth hand since it came to contact with this tea leave a lot ! It's kind of expensive too , and you have be patient to keep using it!

Honestly I really thank you for responding it means a lot to me but I don't know if this will help. Plus it's super expensive and I feel like it might irritate my skin more. I don't know but could I send some photos of my skin to you ? I want to give you an idea of what im dealing with

Haven't heard from any of you in a while was wondering of you guys had any updates because I sure don't know what to do anymore :/

Sorry ! I have not check in with this post lately! Send me pictures if you want but I could imagine how they look like when you described it! It a long process for the skin to come back to normal so hang in there, beauty is just skin deep so if you stress about it, it's will give you a lot health problem later on! Believe me I been through that!

No I know but it's so hard not to stress. How long do you think it'll take? I'm three months post and feel like it's only worsening

What skin type are you? I'll be hones with you I've been stressing a lot and don't even sleep at night, but I'm starting to tell myself this will only make things worst and I can't be like this. Best thing is to be gentle with your skin. I was going to say what skin type are you? And what type of routine were you on after your yag?

I completely understand how you feel I was very outgoing lots of friends jut got a great job a few months back... I've been so distraught and depressed that I went to a doctor who gave me a week of of work just because of how upset I am. I tried to tell my family I believe it's laser related and they don't believe me.... I am medium skinned toned.. I'm white... I called the office when my damage starte p show she said that could never happen and she even had the settings lower because I had a tanned skin type... When did your damage start to show up?? I was use an extremely gentle skin care routine.. Dr hauschka products.. Now I ordered psoria gold sensitive. Because I'm scared to death that this is laser damage... I also use emu oil... I am so beside myself I won't even get out of bed most of the time... I'm only 26 I can't go on much longer than this

Damn I'm sorry to hear that. I too am only 26..I've just learned that it's better to leave things the way they are instead of trying to treat it. Trust me I'm in that same boat and only recently started accepting the damage. I'm pretty ticked and went to the doctor and he said "laser doesn't cause this" which is complete bs. I've been researching laser for months and honestly never came across this forum. Who wouldve ever thought? I started to use honey and emu oil. I feel like the honey is helping a bit and the emu oil hopefully will work it's miracles too. My face will never be back to what it was but I'm doing my best to improve it..just know I was hitting myself in the head a bit to is this really real? Or is it a bad dream? I hope things get better and surprised it happened esp you're lighter skin.

I've been using emu oil and refissa it's been helping. I might get dermapen down the road tho

It was retin a damage not laser damage. Not the same thing unfortunately.

That's great!!! Did you have laser holes or just texture problems?

Honestly I had baddd retin a damage . And I got laser to treat it but it made things worse. And now I'm using refissa and emu oil. Refissa is a loser dose of retin a I know weird huh? But honestly it's been helping. And lots of water too

Look into prp for the face.

Hey man have you done the recell yet? Please let me know what it goes!!

Hi Kamngetit, I unfortunately had to move recently, causing me another financial bump in the road. I won't be doing recell until a few months into 2015. It's now been 8 months for me, and I also don't see things change anytime soon. I pretty much stopped with the creams at this point, I only use a night cream with vit C and A (retinol) The redness has improved greatly since the last 2 months though, but the texture is still awfull.

What type of textural issues do you have? Because this experience has been so bad. Literally ruined my whole face. You should look into prp. I had one done a month ago and my second one this past week. I'll be going in for my third hopefully in a month and they say you should see a big difference after the third. Suppose to help start cell turn over and all. Some other Ppl on other forums had it done for laser damage too and have done derma pen with it. They've seen huge improvement

Can you tell me what prp is?

Prp is platelet rich plasma. The doctor draws your own blood puts it into a centrifuge and let's it spin for 30 mins. They put some solution into the blood with the stem cells already in your own blood. Then they spin it again. After that they inject the blood into your face areas of concern. It helps regenerate cells telling the body to repair itself. Helps with some pores, scarring, evening skin tone, and plumps the area without fillers. You could get fillers but I didn't. I did suffer fatloss though from the laser. But being careful because I'm young and don't want to mess with fillers yet

The textural issues are these tiny lines that run all over the treated areas and reflect the light differently than the non-treated skin on my forehead. Also, every ice-pick scar has widened and shows more red skin at it's surface. I am convinced that these worsened ice-pick scars cannot be "fixed" by any non-ablative surgery and thus I arrive at treatments like non-fractional laser, peelings and dermabrasion. Treatments that are all very risky withouth the proper aftercare. That's why I want to combine these with recell, giving a faster recovery, allowing a more agressive treatment and hopefully achieving a more favorable result. I have considered PRP and needling, but i somehow think it wouldn't help a lot for my condition. I also don't want tro try a million things and for now, put all my hope in this recell thing.

This laser has ruined my life and I forget who I am as a person in the process. I breakout so badly that leaves weird scarring that I've never had before my whole life. Last time I had an acne outbreak was 10 years ago in hs and my skin would heal well. Now I breakout in clumps that leaves my skin scarred after breaking out. I went in with a few minor scars and now have multiple scars with discoloration and all. My skin used to be one tone with problems and now its a mess. I'm in the states and don't know what to do. The prp has given some circulation back to my skin, doesn't seem as dehydrated as it did before. But still. I wouldn't worry about pimples and I could count the scars before now I cant recognize [RS bleep]. I look so different now it's not even funny. It's just sad and I'm sick of it

You had this laser in May 2014 right? trust me when I say I felt exactly the same way, I even had the breakouts along with it. The laser supposed to be a way to kickstart a new life after a break-up from a 7 years long relationship, but it failed and gave these nasty side effects. Even after all the hardship, I am positive now. I still haven't lost my job and have a good friend and a family that know my story. My colleagues have never looked at me differently or asked me weird questions after laser. What helped me is to stay the heck away from TV and especially commercials, trying to go outside more, pick up old hobbies and now I'm leaving the place where so much suffering had took place. This all changed when the redness had subsided and I no longer had to cover that up, this happened roughly 5 months post laser. I still have a very low self-esteem and stay inside a lot, I lost many friends in the process and now feel guilty about that. But I want to pick up all that just when I get my skin to the way it was before laser. I'd even like to have all the scars the way they were back then.

I had it in March of this year. I too am doing my best but am so scared to go out in the sun that I can damage my skin more. My skin so so hideous. I have scarring all over my nose too. It's weird shaped. And don't even get me started with my cheeks... They're something else. I'd do anything to have my old skin back. Old scars and all too, better than these. And the sad part is acne didn't give me the bad scars it was all the laser. I have the laser to thank for all the weird texture and all sorts of scarrinf

I am so sorry that you are having such a battle with acne and scarring...it's a really emotional thing to deal with. I know it's difficult to keep your chin up through this but know you are not alone and most people don't notice it as much as you think they do. Check out these videos, hopefully they provide you with some helpful information: 

Hi saradominica, here is a review from another Realselfer who has tired PRP 

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Full Face - Ottawa, ON

PRP is also on of Kim Kardashian's skin care secrets:

Kim Kardashian's Skin Care Secrets Revealed

I had the prp done twice and they say you need three to see results and to be honest haven't really noticed a change. Maybe treatment three will pan out better. Just sick to death how much I need to go thru after this laser fiasco....just sucks

I have a dermapen appt next week... I know the office does both dermapen and prp and I heard combining the two treatments makes it much more effective... Honestly my bigget issue is dehydration... I can hardly smile sometimes my face feels so tight... I will update on how it goes. I'm searching for the best lotion currently? Any thoughts? Looking for something HYDRATING but not greasy..

I've been using cerave pm just started it and feel like it's nice. Or try emu oil? I was going to say please let me know how the dermapen goes I've been hearing a lot about it. And especially if you'll do it with prp. Because my new derm told me prp won't do much for the skin like it does the hair. I had two prps done that were just injected into my skin and didn't really see an improvement. So please let me know

I absolutely will! So wafts your biggest issue with your skin? Texture? And do you have pics?? I would be happy to send you some of mine too! You think your damage is retin a and laser? I still dobt know what mine is from

I just asked a question to the doctors on these boards about Recell. Every times some one asks about it they come back saying nothing about it and still push other lasers on us to help our already damaged skin with another laser. Have you heard much about it where you live? Do you know of others who have tried it and it helped? No one here knows if it works but we're all waiting for it to be approved to try it out. Please let us know how much it is & if you heard good things about it there. Thanks

It's not fda approved here but I know they are doing clinical trials here. But the U.K. offers it. I heard treatment is pricey anywhere from 5-10k. And as far as effectiveness they use it on burn victims too and I've seen some decent results but no staggering pics. It's difficult since its a new thing. I'm so red and rashy from the vitamin c serum I'm using. Stupid laser made me do ten different things..but want to do dermapen soon too. Please let me know how it goes when you get it done I'm optimistic about it

I just found out they had a trial near me last year on Recell. I called & today they called back saying they have different kinds of trials that they'll let me know about them probably tomorrow. It's a burn doctor who tried it out. Get what done? The Recell? I wish i could try it out but i'd like to see what others think first before hurting my skin so they can spray it on. I had read that they use it when needling too! So i would rather have it done doing needling instead of using lasers again to wound my skin. Didn't know it was that much money. I had read it's cheaper than most other treatments & only takes about a half hour to do, I also checked it out on youtube where they show you the whole procedure. I hope it's cheaper than that but if it works I'd pay the price Dam I'm still paying the price because of what lasers did to me. Vit c does sting me a bit & make me red when i first put it on but after a while it goes away. I think i still have to get my skin used to it a little at a time.

Yeah I'm trying to get the vitamin c used to my skin. My derm gave me phlorotein cf from skinceuticals. It's just how hard now trying to use the right stuff. My face constantly changes and I'm sick of it. Just want to go out and feel normal again but it'll nevr happen. I can only try to improve it but I don't think il ever feel myself again. This stuff really changes you as a person. I've been using emu oil and cerave off and on. Trying to find a good routine of things. My face is super red and blotchy from the vitamin c so I'm taking it easy atm

I Had one dermapen session last month and honestly don't see a difference. I have good days and bad days, and honestly it all depends on the lighting. Some lighting my skin looks ok, others bad. It's just bad texture and dehydration. I know most of my damage would go away if I could hydrate my skin, but it seems like it won't hold any moisture. This just kills me because everyone else knows what damaged their skin. I do not! I've had SO many people tell me that the Yag laser that I had was WAY too small to damage parts of my face that it didn't go near. I've never used Retin A either. But my face looks dull dead and dehydrated. under my eyes kind of look hollowed now, but NEVER had anything done there. I'm going on the 20th for my second dermapen and going to ask about the PRP to go with it, may even ask for fillers. Just want my old self back, so jealous of everyone else. If anyone has pictures I'd love to see, and I can post mine too.

Where are you getting the derma pen done?

It will take time to see results with dermarolling or by using the pen. I like the pen the best. You'll need more than one needling treatment to see some change. I use a 1.0 to 1.5 every month. What did they put on after? That makes a difference too & the days after. When you said you had the Yag laser was it Erbium by any chance? I had Erbium once & that was it, my skin was destroyed. Lots of fat loss too. My skin was extremely dry & sore after the laser. Try using oils like Emu or HA. Or coconut & don't use soap, either oil cleanse or a very sensitive lotion cleaner. Vit c in the day & a cream like Palmers Nightly Renewal cream that has cocoa nut butter, shea butter, retinal & e so it helps with a light retinal yet has moisturizers in it. Keep needling, it works as good as a fraxel (I've had 7 of them) yet it doesn't heat the skin., lightly roll with a lower length needle in between a deep needling. & put your oils or serums on after. Maybe it will help.

I'm having the dermapen done in Albany NY, By a doctor named Arthur Falk. He has great reviews, I'm excited to see if this will work! I had YAG ND I don't think this is Yag Erbium? I had this done it was literally a 5 minute deal, and ONLY on my nose. It wasn't very painful and you could see little scabs from where the laser hit, eventually they all fell off. My confusion is how my nose now seems fine, but area on sides of nose and cheeks are SO dry and dehydrated. Like when I smile, there are thousands of little wrinkles, but not age wrinkles...I guess the only way to describe it is that is looks Crepey... my skin texture is very odd now, looks very thin. I feel like I've tried every moisturizer out there. Now im on to the NIA24, only been a week, doesn't seem to be that hydrating. I've been using coconut oil to wash with, can't wash with anything else. I take ALL kinds of supplements, and eat very healthy. After the dermapen I used HA serum. I ordered a better one so I think I'll use that plus a vitamin C serum that I ordered as well. I'm VERY open to any suggestions anyone might have, I feel like I'm going through Hell, mirrors are my worst nightmare most of the time. My skin just feels so weird, doesn't move the way it should, so tight and dry. I'm only 27, praying for my old skin to come back

Doctor said I should, but honestly it did me no justice my face looks like it aged so much and in a bad way. I had healthy looking skin before. If you find a solution for these damages please let me know I'm just so sad

Thanks for your response this realself site has given me some hope honestly. I'm just so baffled by how such a thin could happen. I wish I came across real self before treatment. I have been researching co2 for some time now and I thought itd be ok, but after having it done I hate it. I've been doing the honey method but ben breaking out more. And would you recommend emu oil? I'm ready to try new things but experimenting with your face just sucks :(. Also did you go back to your doctor?

I tried the emu oil from Jan-April every night cleaning with honey. It did help moisturize. I don't need that much miniaturization now that the heat isn't blasting. I can't say if it helped but it didn't hurt. It did increase facial hair a bit but you're a guy so not a prob. I went back to the doc who did it. He denied and says it would heal in 6 months. I went to two other docs. One said there was nothing he could do, the other gave me glycolic acid which I had a bad reaction to. I'm going to try a patch test of retinol. If I don't react baddly after 3 months I'll try it on my damaged area.

Moisture not miniaturization lol

Damn I just hate you going thru this whole trial and error stuff. It's really unfortunate and I'm truly sorry. I'm just sick to death and stressed because my brothers wedding is around the corner. My life is just wasting on by. And what type of emu oil did you use?

Thunder ridge but it had a weird gritty aspect to it so I recommend trying another brand. Some say "100% pure" I think that's what you want to look for. Try not to stress about the wedding. Pictures don't show damage and neither does indoor lighting I've found. Mine is more visible closer to my face but at "social distance"it's less noticeable. Using a good thick moisturizer like cerave sort of smooths the damage out a bit so it's not so noticeable. Keep busy and try not to think about it too much. Knowing I had to see people was hard in the beginning but it's getting better.

I saw another derm and they told me to use finacea cream. I had an adverse reaction to retin a and that's why I wanted to use co2. I needed the finacea for my face pores but it may help with the texture. And oracea as a topical anti inflammatory .

Hi
I'm sorry, I have not been on this site for a while. I hope the laser treatment was not too bad.
I did not go threre for hyperpigmentation though I do get a few dark spots if I touch rare acne or a bug bite.
Well, that MetroMD just sent me a message on yelp,saying that if I remove my 1-star review & if I give them a 5-star review, I can get any treatment I want for free! BS- Such a scam! All their good reviews are fake :( luckily I healed but what they did to me was not CO2 laser resurfacing as my other dermatologists confirmed after looking at the pictures. Maybe I have permanent damages.

I agree they were working with me giving me free prp etc but I had enough of it. My skin never fully recovered. I took the skin I had for granted. It wasn't the best but damn it only had a few very very minor marks. Now I have all sorts of issues and the sensitivity of things. How's your skin doing? That place is so shady. The directions and everything they give afterwards is not just vague but so cliche. Dr Martin is a friendly man but he doesn't know anything. So many ppl have complained about that place, I spoke to a few who did get decent results but that's a slim number. I bet most of the ppl putting 5 stars got hooked up. Please keep me informed. What skin type are you?