Laser skin services are immensely popular, and it’s not difficult to see why. These services help to smooth the skin, minimize blemishes, even out skin tone, and provide a more healthy, vibrant appearance without surgery.
At Newport Medical and Wellness Center, you can receive a variety of laser skin services, from IPL Photofacials to laser scar removal and everything in-between. But what should you expect to go through after your treatment? What is the recovery like, and will you need to take time off of work? Keep reading to find answers to these questions and more.
What Happens During Common Laser Skin Treatments
Before you receive laser skin services, you should have a general understanding of what happens to your skin during these types of treatments. The lasers used to resurface and treat the skin provide a convenient, non-surgical alternative to more invasive facial treatments. Concentrated laser energy is used during laser resurfacing to stimulate collagen and elastin production, reduce the appearance of scarring and wrinkles, and reinvigorate the skin’s outer layers.
Although laser skin services are considered non-invasive, they do still require some recovery time. There are also post-treatment steps you should follow to make sure your skin recovers as quickly and as fully as possible. Here’s a brief guide to what you should expect in the hours, days, and weeks following your treatment.
Recovery Expectations
Immediately after receiving your laser skin service, you should expect to have slightly sensitive, red, and/or swollen skin in the treatment area. You may also feel like your skin is dryer than usual. You can soothe some of the discomfort and redness by applying cold compresses to your skin beginning right after treatment. You can also apply makeup 12 hours after your treatment.
Of course, your post-treatment instructions may differ, depending on what treatment you receive. The milder the treatment, the less discomfort you will feel and the sooner you’ll be able to get back to normal life post-treatment.
To make sure you don’t irritate your skin when it’s already more sensitive than usual, purchase a gentle cleanser without exfoliants to use in the days following your procedure. Make sure you use sunscreen anytime you plan to go out in the sun for at least a month after your treatment. This is one of the most important parts of your post-treatment care because your skin is very susceptible to damage from UVA and UVB rays in the days after your laser skin service.
Another thing you should avoid after certain laser skin procedures is strenuous exercise or other physical activity. Let your skin and body rest for 48 hours after your treatment session before you get back to the gym.
Finally, do not stress the skin by exposing it to hot water for at least 48 hours after treatment. Your skin needs time to rest as it recovers from the laser treatment. Warm baths and showers are fine, but anything that causes steam is too hot.
Recover Faster
If you follow these post-recovery steps, you’ll have an easier time recovering from your laser skin treatment. Be sure to check with Newport Medical and Wellness Center if you have any questions about post-treatment “dos” and “don’ts.”
