When it comes to improving wrinkles, dark spots, redness, acne, excessive hair and unwanted tattoos, lasers are a powerful tool in your dermatologist’s toolbox, but the aftercare is often unclear to people who may have spent thousands of dollars on a procedure and worry they may harm or negate results with the wrong post-laser regimen choice. Two board-certified dermatologists, Drs. Joel and Daniel Schlessinger provide this quick and easy guide, with products best suited for:

• Laser tattoo removal

• Laser hair removal

• Non-ablative resurfacing laser treatments

• IPL and BBL treatments

• Ablative laser resurfacing and combination laser treatments

Laser tattoo removal

Before treatment:

• Prep and strengthen skin with ALASTIN Skincare Regenerating Skin Nectar with TriHex Technology two weeks before treatment.

Immediately after treatment:

• Cool and soothe red, hot skin with Avene Thermal Spring Water, a mineral-rich water sourced from French volcanoes.

• Apply ALASTIN Skincare Regenerating Skin Nectar with TriHex Technology immediately after treatment to reduce recovery time and minimize redness. Use the product at least 14 days or more after treatment.

• Seal in moisture and protect with an occlusive balm like EltaMD Laser Post Procedure Balm or PCA SKIN Skin Procedure Ointment.

• Apply cooling compresses or ice if needed.

In the days after treatment:

• Cleanse the treated area with Vanicream Gentle Cleanser, which is free of irritants like fragrance and preservatives.

• Moisturize the treated area with Epionce Renewal Calming Cream.

• Apply a mineral sunscreen like TiZO Ultra Zinc Mineral Sunscreen for Face and Body SPF 40.

Avoid:

• Avoid direct sun exposure for at least a month. Wear sunscreen, seek shade and cover the treated area with clothing.

• Scabs and blisters can be a normal part of the skin healing process. Don’t pick at them.

• Pools, lakes and oceans contain contaminants that can contribute to infections in your lasered skin. Avoid them until the area completely heals.

Laser hair removal

Before treatment:

There is no particular product you must use prior to a laser hair removal procedure other than sunscreen. If you come in for your laser hair removal treatment and are tanned or, worse yet, burned, you won’t be able to have laser hair removal. So, be sure to use a great sunscreen like EltaMD UV Sport Broad Spectrum SPF 50 or EltaMD UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46 Facial Sunscreen before the big day and you will be happy you did!

Immediately after treatment:

• Apply aloe vera gel to soothe any red or irritated skin. You can apply cool compresses or ice if needed. For areas that are irritated, use FixMySkin 1% Hydrocortisone Healing Body Balm which soothes rough, cracked or slightly burnt areas.

In the days after treatment:

• Continue to apply aloe vera gel for up to three days post-treatment if needed.

• Protect with a mineral sunscreen like TiZO Ultra Zinc Mineral Sunscreen for Face and Body SPF 40.

Avoid:

• Avoid direct sun exposure for at least a month. Wear sunscreen, seek shade and cover the treated area with clothing or a hat.

• Don’t shave or pluck away new hair growth in the first few days after treatment.

Non-ablative laser resurfacing

Including MOXI, Clear and Brilliant, Fraxel thulium laser, ThreeForMe

Before treatment:

• Prep and strengthen skin with ALASTIN Skincare Regenerating Skin Nectar with TriHex Technology for up to two weeks before treatment. Immediately after treatment:

• If you received laser treatment on the face, apply Avene A-Oxitive S.O.S. Antioxidant Sheet Mask immediately post-treatment to provide cooling relief.

• Apply ALASTIN Skincare Regenerating Skin Nectar with TriHex Technology immediately after treatment to reduce recovery time and minimize redness. Use the product at least 14 days or more after treatment.

• Seal in moisture and protect lasered skin with an occlusive ointment like EltaMD Laser Post Procedure Balm or PCA SKIN Skin Procedure Healing Ointment.

• Cooling compresses or ice can be applied as needed. In the days after treatment:

• Swap your normal regimen for a complete post-laser skin care kit, like the Avene SOS Post-Procedure Recovery System. It contains a gentle cleanser, protective cream, thermal water spray and mineral sunscreen to help soothe redness while restoring the skin’s protective barrier.

• Another option is the Epionce Essential Recovery Kit, which contains a cleanser, calming cream, mask and facial oil. Just be sure to follow up with a sunscreen designed for post-procedure like EltaMD UV Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 40.

• For itchy hot spots, apply FixMySkin 1% Hydrocortisone Healing Body Balm to heal and soothe, up to four times a day.

Avoid:

• Avoid direct sun exposure for at least a month. Wear sunscreen, seek shade and cover the treated area with clothing or a hat.

• Discontinue skin care products with exfoliating actives, such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, glycolic acid and retinoids immediately after treatment. It can take up to two weeks for skin to comfortably accommodate your normal regimen.

• Steer clear of products that contain fragrances or perfumes that could cause an allergy, and wash your face with lukewarm water instead of hot.

IPL and BBL treatments

Including ICON MaxG IPL, BBL HERO, BBL HEROic, BBL Forever Clear, BBL Forever Young, SkinTyte

Before treatment:

• Prep and strengthen skin with ALASTIN Skincare Regenerating Skin Nectar with TriHex Technology for up to two weeks before treatment. Make sure you wear sunscreen in advance as your doctor won’t perform treatments of this sort if you are tanned or burned. Consider EltaMD UV Sport Broad Spectrum SPF 50 for the body and EltaMD UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46 Facial Sunscreen for the facial areas.

Immediately after treatment:

• If you received laser treatment on the face, apply Avene A-Oxitive S.O.S. Antioxidant Sheet Mask immediately post-treatment to provide cooling relief.

• Apply ALASTIN Skincare Regenerating Skin Nectar with TriHex Technology immediately after treatment to reduce recovery time and minimize redness. Use the product at least 14 days or more after treatment.

• Seal in moisture and protect lasered skin with an occlusive ointment like EltaMD Laser Post Procedure Balm or PCA SKIN Skin Procedure Healing Ointment.

• Cooling compresses or ice can be applied as needed.

In the days after treatment:

• Swap your normal regimen for a complete post-laser skin care kit, like the Avene SOS Skin Barrier Recovery Routine. It contains a gentle cleanser, protective cream, thermal water spray and mineral sunscreen to help soothe redness while restoring the skin’s protective barrier.

• Another option is the Epionce Essential Recovery Kit, which contains a cleanser, calming cream, mask and facial oil. Just be sure to follow up with a sunscreen designed for post-procedure like EltaMD UV Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 40.

• For itchy hot spots, apply FixMySkin 1% Hydrocortisone Healing Body Balm to heal and soothe, up to four times a day.

• For acne lasers like BBL Forever Clear, use LovelySkin LUXE Clarifying Gel Cleanser, which contains afaLUXE™, salicylic acid and glycolic acid to support your acne laser results.

Avoid:

• Avoid direct sun exposure for at least a month. Wear sunscreen, seek shade and cover the treated area with clothing or a hat.

• Discontinue skin care products with exfoliating actives, such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, glycolic acid and retinoids immediately after treatment. It can take up to two weeks for skin to comfortably accommodate your normal regimen.

• Steer clear of products that contain fragrances or perfumes that could cause an allergy, and wash your face with lukewarm water instead of hot.

Ablative laser resurfacing and combination laser treatments

Including Contour TRL, Lumenis AcuPulse or UltraPulse, NanoLaserPeel, ProFractional, Fraxel Re:Pair, CO2RE, HALO and Fraxel Dual

Before treatment:

• Prep skin with LovelySkin LUXE Advanced Retinol Serum or your regular form of tretinoin, but discontinue use four days before your laser treatment. If you don’t discontinue it, you may have more irritation than normal. Some practitioners will not do a procedure if you have used tretinoin a day or two before.

• Strengthen skin with ALASTIN Skincare Regenerating Skin Nectar with TriHex Technology two weeks before treatment.

Immediately after treatment:

• Apply CO2Lift Pro Carboxy Gel Treatment, a medical-grade carboxytherapy mask treatment, to provide comfort and facilitate healing.

• Apply ALASTIN Skincare Regenerating Skin Nectar with TriHex Technology immediately after treatment to reduce recovery time and minimize redness. Use the product at least 14 days or more after treatment.

• To prevent bacterial growth and facilitate healing, apply EltaMD SilverGel, a wound dressing with antimicrobial silver.

• Seal in moisture and protect lasered skin with an occlusive ointment like EltaMD Laser Post Procedure Balm or PCA SKIN Skin Procedure Healing Ointment.

• For itchy, hot spots, apply FixMySkin 1% Hydrocortisone Healing Body Balm as needed, up to four times daily.

In the days after treatment:

• Swap your normal regimen for a post-procedure skin care kit, like the SkinMedica Procedure 360 System. It contains a gentle cleanser, a growth factor healing cream, a repair complex, ointment and mineral sunscreen to protect, help facilitate healing and minimize scarring.

• If you’ve had laser treatment around the eyes, use Colorescience Total Eye 3-in-1 Eye Renewal Therapy SPF 35 to protect and conceal redness.

• For cleansing, consider LovelySkin LUXE Clarifying Gel Cleanser.

Avoid:

• Avoid direct sun exposure for at least a month. Wear sunscreen, seek shade and cover the treated area with clothing or a hat.

• Try not to let your skin dry out. Keeping it moist will help facilitate healing.

• Skin will ooze and swell and eventually develop “crusts” as it exfoliates and sloughs away. Don’t pick or pull at crusting skin as it can lead to scarring or damage.

• Do not use hot water or rub your face when cleansing.

• Avoid exfoliating active ingredients or anything with fragrance until you get the “all clear” from your dermatologist.

• Pools, lakes and oceans contain contaminants that can contribute to infections in your lasered skin. Avoid them until the area completely heals.

Are you looking for more dermatologist-recommended skin care products? You can read more about Dr. Joel Schlessinger’s top products as well as Dr. Daniel Schlessinger’s favorites on the LovelySkin Blog.