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.
For the first 2 to 3 days after your treatment:
Apply an ice pack wrapped in a soft cloth to the treated area. Hold the ice pack on the treated area for 15 to 20 minutes. Put the ice pack on the treated area every few hours, or 1 to 5 times each day. After the first 2 to 3 days, use the ice pack as needed.
In some situations we use a vinegar solution soak prior to bandage changes. This soak will act as an antibiotic as the vinegar solution is a deterrent to certain bacterial growth.
Vinegar (both white and apple cider vinegar) helps in restoring the pH balance of your skin. This, in turn, helps treat itchy and dry skin, acne, and flaky skin. vinegar is a natural and safer way to rejuvenate your skin and make it glow. It has multiple skin benifits. So, it is safer to use it on skin.
Keep Your Skin Hydrated: Laser treatments can leave your skin feeling dry and sensitive. Apply a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer several times a day to replenish moisture and protect the skin's barrier. Apply Sunscreen: Your skin becomes especially sensitive to UV rays after laser treatment.
You can also stay hydrated by: Eating Water-Rich Foods: Fruits and vegetables like cucumbers, watermelon, and oranges are excellent for hydration. Using Hydrating Skincare Products: Incorporating a good moisturiser and hydrating serums into your post-treatment routine can help lock in moisture.
Apply over-the-counter hydrocortisone 1% mixed with either Vaseline®, Aquaphor® or Aloe Vera gel, up to three times daily or as needed until resolved. Apply cold packs (wrapped in a barrier like a towel) to the affected area(s), taking them on and off every three to five minutes for one to two hours.
It is not necessary to start soaks until after the first 24 hours have elapsed. Now, using the gauze sponges, soak the treated areas with a solution of 1 tablespoon of white vinegar mixed with 1 cup of clean, cool water. Do the soaks for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. You should find the soaks to be soothing.
Research has shown that vinegar contains acetic acid, which has powerful antimicrobial effects on the skin. This means that it can help to kill harmful microorganisms that may cause infections or slow down the healing process.
The researchers also found that apple cider vinegar significantly inhibited the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β that were secreted by the human blood monocytes when co-cultured with each microbe.
As the wound begins to dry, a crust starts to form in the outer layer. If the crust is yellowish and if there is a formation of pimples on or near the wound, it could be septic. Sores that look like blisters. If there is a formation of sores which look like pockets of fluid around the area, they could be septic.
Drugstore brands such as CeraVe, Cetaphil, Eucerin, and Neutrogena make gentle, hydrating moisturizers that can be used after laser treatments.
Individuals up to their 50s benefit greatly from laser fractional resurfacing treatments. Skin concerns like sun damage and deeper wrinkles are common in this age group.
As a result, people claim that adding ACV to a bath makes the water more acidic, thus promoting skin health by restoring the skin's pH balance and protecting this outermost layer. Proponents claim ACV soaks may help with skin conditions, including acne, eczema, and wound healing.
Managing inflammation and infection
The authors of a 2019 study concluded that adding 3–4 cups of apply cider vinegar to half a bath of water, or around 20 gallons, might help prevent irritation and inflammation due to chemicals in tap water.
Use cold compresses: Applying cold compresses during the first 24 to 48 hours after your treatment can help reduce swelling and discomfort. Stay cool: Avoid hot showers, saunas, and strenuous exercise for the first few days after treatment. Heat can increase inflammation and slow healing.
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.
Exfoliating too early can irritate the skin and disrupt the healing process, potentially leading to scarring or hyperpigmentation.
At Laser Clinics Australia, we advise our clients to shave the treatment area 12-24 hours before their session, avoid sun exposure or tanning, and refraining from waxing or plucking. Understand that laser hair removal usually requires multiple sessions to achieve the best results.
A typical result is an 8-10 year reduction in age appearance when laser treatment on the face is done on a highly effective setting so that a 55 year old may look 46 after treatment and healing is complete. Milder treatments can be done, but are not as effective.
Apply a cool compress or a wrapped ice pack for 15 minutes every one to two hours as needed, during the first 24 to 48 hours. Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly (or any occlusive moisturizer) or antibiotic ointment (such as bacitracin) to the area twice a day until the skin heals.