What are the possible risks and side effects of carbon dioxide laser resurfacing? Milia, which are small white bumps or cysts, may appear in the laser-treated areas during healing.
Milia. These small white bumps may appear during healing. They can be removed by gentle cleansing with a washcloth.
Milia, which are small, white bumps, may appear in the laser-treated areas during healing (up to a month after treatment). These may be removed by gentle cleansing with a washcloth.
Your skin may look inflamed for several months following ablative laser treatment. Acne. Applying thick creams and bandages to your face after treatment can worsen acne or cause tiny white bumps to form for a short time. These bumps also are called milia.
Increasing pain with deterioration in the appearance of the skin (red raw areas, with or without exudate or vesicles) may be the first sign of herpes simplex, bacterial or fungal infection, or contact dermatitis.
What are the possible risks and side effects of carbon dioxide laser resurfacing? Milia, which are small white bumps or cysts, may appear in the laser-treated areas during healing.
Ways to Speed Healing:
Soak the treated skin with a plain white vinegar solution at least 4 to 8 times each day. You can't soak too much. Soaking reduces redness and speeds healing! Do not pick, rub, scrub, or irritate your skin while it is healing.
Those bumps are frequently due to the skin glands being over stimulated by the laser which causes localized irritation and inflammation. The bumps look like milia or white heads. the bumps usually resolve themselves in a few days.
Disadvantages of CO2 Resurfacing
Like dermabrasion, this type of laser resurfacing requires a good deal of recovery time. The patient's skin will be weepy for two weeks and will require thorough cleaning four to five times daily, along with application of ointment to keep the skin from scabbing.
Immediately after CO2 or UltraClear laser, the treated skin feels warm, similar to a sunburn, and appears red and swollen. This is normal and should be an expected reaction. You may also experience a temporary stinging sensation and mild oozing or pinpoint bleeding depending on the depth of treatment.
Lasers can trigger breakouts in acne-prone skin due to shifts in oil production, leading to new acne on cheeks, jawline, back, and other treated areas. Rarely, the skin might have a severe reaction to the laser, resulting in contact dermatitis, which presents as red, scaly, itchy bumps.
After the treatment, you will notice improvements in your skin texture, tone, and appearance. Fine lines, wrinkles, and sunspots noticeably diminish, revealing smoother, younger-looking skin. On average, results from your CO2 laser resurfacing treatment can last between 3 and 5 years.
Rarely, skin pigment may absorb too much light energy and blistering can occur. Sometimes the pigment cells (melanocytes) can be damaged leaving darker or paler patches of skin. White patches or scars are rarely permanent.
Follicular edema, or hair follicle swelling, is a perfectly natural result of every laser hair removal session. In 90% of patients it has gone in 15 minutes. In rare cases it can last for several days and cause itching. In these cases treatment with Aloe Vera or 1% hydrocortisone lotion is advised.
After fully ablative laser the face should be washed twice a day. The first wash should be on the morning after surgery. From then the face should be washed in the morning on waking and before going to bed at night. Twice daily face wash should be performed (morning and evening).
Acne and milia are common minor side effects. Spontaneous resolution can be expected. If bothersome to the patient, milia may be removed via extraction or pinpoint electrodessication. Acne treatment must be administered carefully as the recently reepitheliazed skin is temporarily more sensitive after resurfacing.
Erbium laser:
In contrast, the Erbium: YAG laser has a wavelength of 2,940 nm. This is 10 to 20 times better absorbed by water and human skin than the CO2 laser and was developed for this reason [5].
Fortunately, true complications of laser resurfacing are very rare (Table 2). The most severe problem, and one that often results in scarring, is infection. 13,14 Patients may be infected by a variety of agents. Herpes simplex infection may occur after laser treatment (Figure 9).
Because your skin takes time to add new collagen to its framework, your CO2 laser resurfacing results will take several weeks to appear, with full results developing over the next few months. Once established, the results of laser skin rejuvenation are long-lasting.
Small white dots will be visible from the laser treatment. These appear where the laser hit the skin and are normal. You will be discharged with a light coat of anti-bacterial cream. The treated skin will be sore once the local anaesthetic wears off.
You may observe what appears to be “stubble” as the hair is pushed out from the follicle. 3-4 Weeks Post-Treatment: The shedding process is generally completed within this timeframe, making it clear why the hairs fall out after laser hair removal and leaving the treated area smoother and less hairy.
Grid marks on the face are a result of the laser fractionation and also resolve over 5-7 days. Continue to cleanse the treated area with Cetaphil Gentle Face Wash for 7 days. DO NOT SCRATCH, PICK OR RUB THE SKIN VIGOUROUSLY. On day 4, you may stop using the Aquaphor and allow your skin to breath.
Avoid alcohol, caffeine, cigarettes, high-sodium foods, high sugar foods, Niacin supplements, refined carbohydrates, and spicy foods for 48 hours after treatment.
Ablative lasers are best for individuals with significant skin damage or aging concerns who are looking for substantial improvements. However, because they are more aggressive, they come with longer recovery times and a higher risk of side effects like redness, swelling, and scarring.