Whether you want to wipe away wrinkles, diminish dark spots or clear acne, there’s a good chance your skin concern can be addressed with a laser skin treatment. But to see the best results and in the shortest amount of time, you’ll need to follow a few tried-and-true skin care tips after your laser treatment.
1. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize
Laser treatments can cause temporary dryness, flaking or peeling, but diligently applying a moisturizer can help to treat and prevent these side effects. Your laser treatment provider should send you home with detailed aftercare guidelines, including any recommended moisturizers and how frequently to apply them. Petroleum jelly is a popular choice, since it not only helps to hydrate the skin, but it also acts as a protective barrier to keep dirt and bacteria out.
2. Put a Pause on Makeup
Always check with your provider before applying a new product on your skin directly after your laser treatment.
You might be tempted to cover up redness after laser treatments with makeup ASAP, but hold off on applying anything to your skin until you get the go-ahead from your laser specialist. Applying makeup or other cosmetic products such as retinoids or vitamin C serums directly after laser treatments can irritate your skin and may impede its healing process.
Depending on the type of laser treatment you choose, you may be able to apply makeup as soon as 24 hours after your appointment, but always check with your provider first.
3. Stay Out of the Sun
It’s imperative that you keep your skin protected from the sun after your laser treatment, both because your healing skin can be more susceptible to sun damage and UV light can make dark spots and other pigmentation problems worse.
If you can, it’s best to avoid sun exposure for a week or so after laser treatments, and wear daily sunscreen, even if you plan to be indoors. UVA rays can penetrate glass, so if you work near a window during the day, your skin can still be exposed to their damaging effects.
4. Soothe with Cold Compresses and Aloe
Even though you’re staying shielded from the sun, you might feel a bit like you have a mild sunburn directly after laser treatments. You can calm your skin with cold compresses and cooling aloe gels. Reach for these options instead of picking at or scratching your skin, which can cause damage and slow the healing process.
If you notice that your face is a bit swollen after laser treatments, keep your head propped up on pillows while relaxing on the couch or when sleeping to help reduce facial swelling.
5. Follow Aftercare Instructions to a T
Your laser specialist should provide you with detailed aftercare guidelines to help you care for your skin after treatments. This should include information about how to keep your skin clean after laser treatments, which products you should and shouldn’t apply as your skin heals, when you can start applying makeup and more.
Following these instructions as closely as possible will help your skin heal faster and more efficiently for bright, beautiful results.
Sarasota Facial Aesthetics recognizes that you have a choice when it comes to your facial rejuvenation and skin care needs. The practice is founded on providing patients with an honest, healthy, realistic approach to revitalizing unwanted facial and skin conditions.
