Fractional laser aftercare

What to expect after treatment

There may be bleeding from very small spots, redness, or bruising around the treated area.

Over the next 1-2 days, tiny crusts may develop. These will separate from the skin over the next few days, leaving a pink mark. This will gradually fade over the following weeks, together with any bruising.

By 4-6 weeks after your initial treatment, you should notice an improvement in the number of solar keratoses and possibly the general quality and appearance of your skin.

How to manage the skin after treatment

Day 1

It’s unlikely that you will need pain relief, but paracetamol, naproxen or ibuprofen should be sufficient.

Spraying the area with an anti-inflammatory solution (e.g. Epicyn spray) provides relief and helps speed recovery.

If the area becomes red, sore or sensitive to touch, apply a cool compress or ice pack (a bag of frozen vegetables, covered in clean plastic wrap, works well if you don’t have an ice pack). If redness and sensitivity continue for more than 12 hours, call the clinic.

Days 2-3

If there are dressings in place, leave them there and keep them dry for 2 days.

Avoid heavy exercise and sweating for 2 days following treatment.

If possible, inflamed areas treated with ablative laser should be covered with a thin film of silicone gel (e.g. Epicyn) twice daily for 2-3 days. Areas treated with non-ablative laser should be treated with vitamin B5 balm (e.g. Cicaplast) twice daily for several days.

If the treatment was on your face and you have a history of cold sores, your doctor may have prescribed anti-viral medication such as famciclovir. You may need to continue taking it for 3 days after your procedure.

Light therapy and early recovery from fractional laser

Low level light therapy (also known as LED therapy, photobiomodulation or LLLT) provides energy to healing skin cells. Benefits include:

• Accelerates early stages of wound healing.
• Reduces the duration of redness.
• Reduces bruising and swelling.

If you’ve had ablative laser treatment, we recommend a course of 3 LLT sessions (about 15 minutes each) in the week after your procedure.

For 4-6 weeks

Clean the area daily using a gentle cleanser such as Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, Daily Facial Cleanser or CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser.

Don’t pick at or peel crusts over wounds. This increases the risk of scarring.

Apply a tiny amount of Epicyn gel in a thin film to cover small wounds twice daily until they are completely healed. After the silicone gel has dried, you can apply sunscreen or makeup.

Avoid direct sunlight on the treated area for at least 2 weeks after treatment. When going outside, wear clothing that covers the wound or a broad-brimmed hat. If you can’t cover the wound with clothing, use a Band-Aid or SPF 50 sunscreen.

Don’t use any topical products that will irritate the skin. This includes:

• AHAs, BHAs, vitamin C, tretinoin, Retin-A or other retinoids or other cosmeceuticals (avoid these for about 1 week after treatment).
• Antiseptics such as iodine, Dettol or tea tree oil. These products can be toxic to new skin cells.
• Vitamin E cream. Vitamin E commonly causes irritation to healing skin.
• Fragrances, essential oils, toners and alcohol-based products.
• Soaps.

Your next appointment

Return to the clinic after 4 weeks. Your doctor will examine the skin to assess the treatment results and decide what further treatment may be required.

Usually, three or four sessions of treatment are necessary for optimal effect.

Long term

If you’ve had significant solar damage requiring laser treatment, you have a high risk of further solar damage and skin cancers in future.

Keep sun-exposed areas protected by sunscreen, clothing or shade. Consider a full-body skin check every year to look for skin cancers and sun damage you may not have noticed.