CO2RE Laser Skin Resurfacing

• Sleep with your head elevated on pillows above the level of your heart for 2-3 nights.
• If a medication was prescribed for you, continue to take as directed.

• Be sure treated areas are completely covered in Aquaphor at all times.

Cleanse:

Always wash your hands before touching your face. Gently cleanse the skin nightly with plain, lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser (such as CeraVe Gentle Cleanser) beginning the morning after the treatment.

White Vinegar Soaks:

White vinegar soaks are very cleansing and soothing. These soaks help with the pain, dissolve some of the residue and are anti-microbial which decreases infections. These soaks can be done starting immediately after treatment.

Mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 1 gallon of water for your vinegar soak solution. Do not use more vinegar, as the level of acidity is important. If you have burning, you may use less vinegar. Soak the gauze in the vinegar solution for 5-15 minutes then apply the gauze to the face. Soaks can be done every several hours.  
Keep the vinegar solution in the fridge.

Moisturize:

After gently cleansing your face (beginning the morning after treatment), generously apply Aquaphor Healing Ointment (creating an occlusive barrier), taking care to cover all treated areas. The occlusive barrier is needed to provide a protective layer that will hold moisture in the skin and provide protection to the skin from pollutants in the air as the skin heals. Do not be alarmed if you experience “pinpoint” bleeding. This is normal and appears worse than it is because the Aquaphor causes it to spread. Gently blot your face. Reapply the Aquaphor as needed. Do not allow the treated area to dry out.

DO NOT RUB YOUR SKIN UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES

Avoid:

• No exercise, gym, or other strenuous activity for at least 4 days.
• Avoid hot environments, saunas, and swimming pools. You can shower but hot water/steam should be avoided.
• Avoid “picking at” and aggressively scrubbing the skin – allow it to gently exfoliate with the washing process.
• Avoid direct sun exposure. Do NOT apply sunblock during the first 4 days of healing.
• Wear a protective hat for the first 2 weeks while outdoors.
• Avoid dirty, dusty environments, perfumes, and hairsprays on treated areas.
• Avoid topical Retinol based products for one week after treatment.

• DO NOT apply makeup to the treated area until your skin has fully healed (i.e. no crusting).

• DO NOT put any other creams or lotions on the skin except for the CeraVe Face Moisturizer. Stay out of the sun.

Post Laser Skin Pinkness:

Pinkness is the most common complaint of post laser patients. Pinkness is a normal healing process and is a sign of newly formed skin. Pinkness is extremely variable and can last several weeks in some patients and several months in other patients. A general rule is that the longer the pinkness, the better the result as more collagen is being formed. When pinkness is extreme or longer lasting than expected it can be a sign of over aggressive scrubbing or rubbing, or a sign of some irritating substance being applied. This is new, sensitive skin, so you need to be very careful about what you apply to your face – avoid products with active ingredients such as salicylic acid, glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide, etc.

AFTER WEEK 1

After the first week you can resume most activities other than SUN EXPOSURE. DO NOT undergo waxing, microdermabrasion, exfoliations, or chemical peels over the area for 3 months from the day of treatment.  Avoid sun exposure for at least 4 weeks after treatment. In addition, a sunblock (such as EltaMD UV Clear SPF46) should be worn daily to help prevent any discoloration issues that could occur from both indirect and direct sunlight.

Call our office if you have any signs of infection: (413) 253-2214