Milia, which are small white bumps, may appear in the
laser-treated areas during healing. These may be removed by gentle cleansing
with a washcloth.
Hyperpigmentation (increased pigmentation), and more
rarely hypopigmentation (decreased skin pigmentation), may result in the
laser-treated areas. In general, the hyperpigmented areas may be treated with
bleaching cream to speed fading of the pigment.
Reappearance of a cold sore may occur, especially
after laser skin resurfacing around the mouth. You can prevent this by asking
your doctor for an antiviral medication, which you can begin taking before
your surgery and continue taking seven to 10 days after laser resurfacing.
You can also prevent bacterial infections by taking
an antibiotic prior to the surgery and continuing for seven to 10 days
afterwards.
You should expect swelling after laser skin
resurfacing. Ask your doctor about steroids injected into the muscles, which
can lessen this effect.
Patients are encouraged to sleep on an extra pillow at night
to help reduce the swelling after laser resurfacing. Ice pack application is
also helpful in the first 24-48 hours.
Scarring after laser skin resurfacing, although very
rare, may occur in laser-treated areas.
Cessation of smoking is highly recommended because smoking is known to have harmful effects on the healing process.
It's important to remember that skin treated with laser resurfacing may react in different ways.
Most commonly, you may feel like you have mild sunburn. There will be slight swelling and redness of the skin.
You may experience itching or stinging for 12 to 72 hours after the procedure. Five to seven days after laser resurfacing,
your skin will become dry and peel.
New skin will form after the treated area has been peeled. This skin will at first
appear pink. It should begin to gradually lighten for up to a year after treatment. Your doctor will not consider retreating
the area until the area is completely healed.
Daily sunscreen application is necessary after healing to protect the
newly laser-resurfaced skin. A "broad-spectrum" sunscreen, which screens both ultraviolet B and ultraviolet A rays, is
recommended. A sunscreen specifically formulated for use on the face should be chosen, with at least a sun protection
factor (SPF) of 15.
Liberal moisturizer application is also recommended after healing. Patients may resume
application of Retin-A and/or glycolic acid products around six weeks after laser resurfacing or as directed by their physician.
Acne is a localized skin inflammation as a result of overactivity of oil glands at the
base of hair follicles. This inflammation, depending on its location, can take the form
of a superficial pustule (contains pus), a pimple, a deeper cyst, congested pores, whiteheads, or blackheads. Treatments vary depending on the severity of the acne.
Common warts are skin growths causes by the human papillomavirus. There are many types of warts, including plantar warts, common hand warts, warts under the nails, mosaic wars, and flat warts. Over-the-counter treatments typically involve the use of salicylic acid products.
A keloid is a scar that doesn't know when to stop. When the cells keep on reproducing, the result is an overgrown (hypertrophic) scar or a keloid. A keloid looks shiny and is often dome-shaped, ranging in color from slightly pink to red. It feels hard and thick and is always raised above the surrounding skin.
Birthmarks and other abnormal skin pigmentation is caused by the body's inability to produce enough melanin. Abnormal skin pigmentation can cause conditions such as vitiligo, pigmentation loss, melasma, albinism, port wine stains, macular stains and hemangioma.
Scar formation is a natural part of the healing process after injury. The depth and size of the wound incision and the location of the injury impact the scar's characteristics, but your age, heredity and even sex or ethnicity will affect how your skin reacts.
Wrinkles, whether they be fine line or deep furrows, typically appear on areas of the body that receive a high amount of exposure to the sun. Smoking, light skin type, hairstyle, the way you dress, your occupational and recreational habits, and heredity are all factors that promote wrinkling. Medical treatments for wrinkles include antioxidants, moisturizers, alpha-hydroxy acids, and vitamin A acid. Cosmetic procedures that treat wrinkles include dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, glycolic acid peels, laser resurfacing, Botox, and fillers.
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