Although skin-focused procedures can be done at any time of the year, many cosmetic treatments, such as laser skin resurfacing, work better in specific seasons. Fall is widely considered “laser season” because the cooler weather, shorter days, and increased time spent covered up indoors allow your skin to heal better and improve your long-term results. A laser treatment is non-surgical, and downtime is usually very minimal, but you should plan for at least some recovery time, during which your skin may swell and peel as the old outer layer sloughs off and reveals younger, smoother skin beneath. Some people describe their post-treatment skin as looking like a bad sunburn at first. There are some precautions you’ll need to take to allow your skin to heal as best it can. If you’re planning to have laser skin resurfacing with ablative or non-ablative resurfacing Fraxel from the Minneapolis area’s Zel Skin & Laser Specialists or other alternatives, these are some dos and don’ts for recovery.

DON’T

·         Pick at Your Skin

As previously mentioned, your skin is likely to be raw and flaky after undergoing laser skin resurfacing. This is likely to continue for a few days, and it may itch and sting—but you shouldn’t scratch at your skin, as this can increase the chance of scarring and redness while making it take longer to heal.

·         Go to the Gym

Depending on what type of treatment you’ve had and how you’re feeling, you may need to take a break from your normal exercise routine for several days to a week after having a laser procedure. Your skin is likely to be especially sensitive for a few days, and exercise will only make it more painful—not to mention you’ll probably want to avoid sweating, as perspiration will irritate skin more.

·         Do Certain Activities

In addition to staying away from the gym, try to avoid swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas, and other environments that make infections more likely.

DO

·         Choose a Qualified Dermatologist

The safety and quality of results you end up with depend mostly on the skills and expertise of the person who is treating you. For laser skin resurfacing, it’s best to do your own research and go with a practice run by a licensed, board-certified dermatologist. Visits should always start with a medical consultation so that your provider gets a better understanding of your skin type and overall health.

·         Plan your Procedure When You Can Stay Out of the Sun

Your skin tends to become more tanned and freckled during summer, so unless you can be good about sun protection, this isn’t usually the ideal time for laser treatments that deliver light energy absorbed more readily by darker-pigmented areas in the skin. Also, treated skin will be very sensitive to sunlight for at least several weeks after a laser skin resurfacing session. Having the treatment done during the fall gives you the opportunity to rejuvenate skin that has become blotchy, sun-damaged, and dry from the warmer months, as well to help it recover from the toll it takes as the weather transitions to fall. Lots of patients prefer to have the treatment at this time of the year because it can take a while for the ideal results to appear, and they want their complexion to look great going into the holidays and lasting into the spring and summer of the following year.

·         Wear Sunscreen

Whether you choose to have your laser skin resurfacing procedure done in the summer, fall, or at any other time of the year, it’s still important to continue applying a broad-spectrum, SPF 30 or higher sunscreen before going outside. Wear sunscreen before and after having any kind of laser treatment session, as directed by your physician.

If you show up with sunburned or very tanned skin, the dermatologist may decide that it’s too risky to perform laser skin resurfacing.

The risk of hyperpigmentation is much less following laser skin resurfacing, so after having the treatment, you’ll want to give your skin some time to heal and protect it from further premature aging and damage due to sun exposure. Your dermatologist can help you find products formulated for sensitive or rejuvenated facial skin.

Does fractional laser resurfacing from the Minneapolis area’s Zel Skin & Laser Specialists physicians sound like the best option for resolving your skin tone and texture challenges? If you’d like to get to know more about laser resurfacing options, submit a contact form with your details or call the practice at 952-929-8888 (Edina), 612-338-0711 (Minneapolis), or 952-473-1286 (Plymouth) to talk more about your goals.