Fraxel Laser Dual for Melasma and Scars - San Francisco, CA

I have noticed that the bandryl pill helps with the redness and itching. Last night before bed, I opened a vitamin E capsule and applied the vitamin e lightly on my cheeks. When I woke up this morning, the red is noticeably gone. I am still flush looking but this shade of pink can be covered by makeup and I look like I'm just wearing blush. I see no melasma on my cheeks -- both small quarter patches are gone. My scar from the bug bite now looks about the size of a half a rice and it's no longer that brown scar pigment but rather a pink mark. The broken capillaries red marks are GONE. I feel so happy because it feels like all that red and itching was worth it. I still have some itching and light flaking but nothing noticeable to others but me. I would say as of today that I am very happy with the outcome. HOWEVER, I will not be doing any further sessions. This will be my one fraxel and I'm glad it took care of what I wanted.

All in all, I feel my $1200 spent was worth it. I think Dr's should set the correct expectations of healing time and what to expect. Be prepared for a whole week before looking remotely normal. If you have sensitive skins, allow more time. Then be prepared for the discomforts. I was given Valtrex ahead of treatment to prevent any breakouts. I was told about expecting my face to be a funny color. I just wasn't prepared that it was going to be a whole week so I was inpatient.

I will try to post some pics of the whole process.

The redness is what bothers me the most at this point. I am not peeling anymore so the texture of my skin is perfectly smooth. I didn't have large pores and what pores I did have around ear my nose seems to have disappeared. I can see even though I am still red that my melisma have diminished significantly. The two patches on my cheeks are gone as I look in the mirror. Just trying not to be too optimistic and see what happens after all the redness subsides. I went to work under makeup today. I just looked as if I went skiing and completely forgot to wear sunscreen. I basically just said I had a facial procedure and I'm still healing and everyone was fine.

I am noticeably less swollen today. Still red but less angry shade of the color. After the morning cleansing, both of my cheeks have completely lost the scabbing. It looks perfectly smooth and I can't see the brown melisma spots. I am really worried about this redness as I have to return to work next day. I tried applying make up to see if I wil be able to go out without looking weird. Nope. I look superweird because even under makeup, my face is two colored. Spent the day cooling my face, applying lotion. By noon, I'm noticing that I'm my face is itching and this is unbearable. Adding hydrocortisone to the lotioning. Helps very a bit but not enough to not touch my face every 5 minutes. To me, this is the most unbearable part -- red and itching. I'm frustrated that the redness in my cheeks does not seem to diminish in area. Through the day, I think I see the redness diminish but I'm not sure if I'm just seeing what I wish as it looks more red at times. I'm drinking lots of water, using cold towels to feel less hot and lotioning but I'm still red and itchy with no end in sight. Feeling depressed and anxious.

Sunday evening, after waking from a nap, I notice my face feels less hot. I go to the mirror and the selling has gone down where I no longer appear puffy cheeked. The redness has gone down and I although still red, it does not appear angry. It just looks flushed like a normal sunburn and not a severe sunburn. I am relieved that the redness seems to be improving. By now all the scabbing and top layer have sloughed off. I don't see the melasma areas. The scar from the insect bite is now a pink dot. I feel hopeful and can't wait to see what the results are after the redness completely goes away.