After your treatment
The night of
Cleansing
If you need to cleanse the treated area tonight, use SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser with lukewarm water.
Use your fingertips very gently. No rubbing, scrubbing, cleansing devices or face washers.
Pat the skin dry with a clean, soft towel. Do not rub the treated area.
If the area is clean and you haven't worn makeup or been exposed to anything that needs removing, there is no need to over-cleanse it. Keep things simple.
Cooling the skin
If the treated area feels warm or uncomfortable, you can use a cool, damp towel for a few minutes at a time.
Do not place ice directly onto the skin and do not use frozen packs directly over the treated area.
What to apply
Keep your skincare very simple tonight.
Apply the gentle moisturiser recommended by us to keep the skin comfortable and support the skin barrier.
If we have provided you with a specific post-laser recovery product, use this exactly as directed.
Tonight is not the time for active skincare.
Avoid tonight
Please avoid:
- Retinol or retinoids
- Vitamin C or other strong active serums
- AHA/BHA or exfoliating acids
- Scrubs or exfoliating cleansers
- Peels
- Exfoliating brushes or devices
- Strong pigment-correcting products
- Perfumed or potentially irritating skincare
- Makeup over the treated area if the skin is hot, irritated or sensitive
Also avoid hot showers, baths, saunas, steam rooms and strenuous exercise tonight. Anything that creates significant heat, sweating or friction should be avoided while your skin is settling.
What you may see tonight
The pigment may look darker or more pronounced before it begins to clear. Don't panic. We have deliberately targeted the pigment, and your skin now needs time to process the treatment response.
Some treatments may also produce small, pinpoint areas of crusting as the treated pigment moves through the healing process.
Do not pick, scratch, rub, peel or attempt to remove any darkened pigment or crusted areas. Allow your skin to naturally progress through its healing process.
Picking at the skin can prolong healing and increase the risk of unwanted marks.
Before bed
Keep the area clean, moisturised and untouched.
If your skin is comfortable, leave it alone and allow it to recover overnight.
First 48 hours
For the first 48 hours, your skin needs calm, gentle care and protection. This is not the time to push your skincare. Allow the skin to recover and let the treatment do its work.
Morning
Gently cleanse with Dermaviduals Gentle Cream Cleanser and lukewarm water.
Use your fingertips only and be very gentle around the treated areas. Pat the skin dry, do not rub.
Apply Dermaviduals Base Cream to keep the skin comfortable, hydrated and supported while your skin settles.
Evening
Gently cleanse again with Dermaviduals Gentle Cream Cleanser and lukewarm water.
Follow with Dermaviduals Base Cream as directed.
Keep your routine simple. Your skin does not need additional active products during these first 48 hours.
If your skin feels warm
It is normal for the treated area to feel warm or sensitive following treatment. If needed, you can use a cool, damp towel for a few minutes at a time for comfort.
What to avoid for the first 48 hours
Please avoid heat, excessive sweating and friction. This means no saunas, steam rooms, hot baths, very hot showers or strenuous exercise.
Do not use exfoliants, scrubs, retinol, acids, peels or other active skincare unless we have specifically instructed you to do so.
Most importantly, do not pick, scratch, rub or peel the treated areas, even if the pigment becomes darker or you notice small areas of dryness or crusting.
Sun protection
Strict sun protection is essential following your laser treatment. Avoid direct sun exposure as much as possible and protect the treated area with clothing, a hat and your recommended SPF 50+.
Reapply throughout the day when you are exposed to sunlight.
For these first 48 hours, think cleanse, hydrate, protect and leave it alone.
Day 3 to 7
By day 3, your skin should be starting to settle. You may notice darkening of the treated pigmentation, dryness, small areas of crusting or light flaking. Depending on the depth and type of pigmentation treated, some areas may look more noticeable before they begin to clear.
This is the stage where I want you to stay consistent and resist the temptation to help the pigment come off. Let your skin do the work naturally.
Use your fingertips and be particularly gentle over any areas that are dry, crusted or flaking.
What you may notice
You may also see small dark dots, dry areas or light crusting, particularly where individual pigment spots have been treated. These areas will gradually lift and shed as the skin heals.
Depending on the depth of treatment, you may also notice some areas taking longer to clear than others. This is expected.
Still no exfoliation
Do not exfoliate during days 3 to 7.
I also want you to avoid retinol and other strong active skincare during this healing period unless I have specifically advised you otherwise.
Even if your skin looks almost normal, give it the full 7 days before you begin introducing exfoliation or stronger actives.
By the end of the first week
Your skin should be progressively settling, although the exact recovery time depends on which laser was used, the type and severity of pigmentation and how deeply we needed to treat it.
The most important thing is that you don't rush the process.
Cleanse gently. Use Dermaviduals Base Cream as directed. Protect with SPF 50+. Leave the treated pigment alone.
Your skin will continue to improve as the treated pigment is naturally cleared.
Week 2 to 4
By week 2, the surface healing should be well underway. You may still notice areas of pigmentation gradually fading, particularly if we have treated deeper or more established pigment.
This is the time to maintain your skin barrier, protect your skin from UV exposure and allow the treatment to continue working beneath the surface.
Continue to keep your routine gentle and supportive rather than adding lots of active products. Your skin is still responding to the treatment.
What you may notice
Don't be concerned if the result isn't completely visible yet. It's progressive, and different areas of the skin can respond at different rates.
Can I exfoliate now?
Once you have passed the first 7 days and your skin is completely healed, with no crusting, open areas, significant sensitivity or active flaking, gentle exfoliation can be reintroduced if we have recommended it for you.
Do not exfoliate simply because you can. If your skin is still dry, sensitive or healing, continue with Dermaviduals Gentle Cream Cleanser and Dermaviduals Base Cream and give it more time.
The same applies to retinol and other stronger active ingredients. We will advise you when your skin is ready to return to them.
Sun protection remains essential
Sun protection is particularly important at this stage. Even though your skin may look healed on the surface, it is still recovering underneath, and UV exposure can encourage pigmentation to return.
Apply your SPF 50+ every morning, generously and consistently, along with hats and physical sun protection when outdoors.
Remember, particularly here in Australia, your skin is continually exposed to UV. Even excellent skincare cannot completely prevent new pigmentation from developing, which is why professional maintenance and consistent home care are both important.
By weeks 3 to 4
Your skin should be looking and feeling increasingly normal, and the treated pigmentation should continue to improve.
We will assess your response at your follow-up and determine whether the skin needs further treatment or whether we are ready to move into a maintenance phase.
Don't chase the result at home. Let the treatment work, keep the skin healthy, and protect the progress we have made.
Long term
Once your skin has completely recovered, I want you back on an active, personalised skincare routine. Depending on your skin, treatment history and goals, this may include:
Skin renewal
We may introduce glycolic acid, AHAs, BHAs or SkinCeuticals Cell Cycle Catalyst, depending on your skin and treatment plan.
Please tell me about anything your doctor has prescribed for you, including any skin treatments, before we start.
The important part
You do not need everything.
We'll select the products your skin actually needs, and your routine can change as your skin changes. My goal is always the same: healthy, clear, hydrated, glowing and beautifully maintained skin.
What is normal, and what is not?
Laser pigmentation treatments can create some changes that look more dramatic than clients expect. Some of these changes are a normal and intended part of the treatment response.
These things are usually normal
- Warmth or mild sensitivity: The treated area may feel warm, tender or slightly sensitive immediately after treatment. This should gradually settle.
- Mild redness: Some redness or pinkness can occur following treatment and should progressively reduce.
- Pigment becoming darker: Treated pigmentation can become noticeably darker, more defined or almost look as though it has been "drawn in". This can be a normal response as the targeted pigment reacts to the laser.
- Small dark dots or pinpoint areas: Depending on the laser used and the type of pigment treated, you may notice tiny dark spots or areas of pinpoint crusting. These can be part of the normal healing process.
- Dryness and flaking: The treated areas may become dry and lightly flake as the skin naturally clears the treated pigment.
- Some areas taking longer than others: Pigmentation is not always uniform. Deeper or more established areas can take longer to clear and may respond differently from lighter pigment.
- The pigment looking worse before it looks better: This is one of the most common things clients panic about. Don't judge the final result during the first few days. The skin needs time to process the treatment.
What is not normal
Please contact us if you experience:
- Severe or increasing pain rather than mild tenderness or sensitivity.
- Significant swelling that is increasing rather than settling post two days.
- Blistering, open or weeping skin or areas that appear significantly damaged.
- Severe or rapidly increasing redness or heat, particularly if it continues to worsen rather than settle.
- Increasing pain accompanied by swelling, warmth, discharge or spreading redness, which may indicate infection.
- Unusual white, grey or markedly changed areas of skin that concern you.
Most importantly
If you are unsure about something you are seeing, contact us and send us a photograph if possible. We would rather check than have you worry at home.
What signs mean I should call you or see a doctor?
Anytime you want. But if you need a reason, please read below.
Please contact us immediately if you experience:
- Severe, worsening or persistent pain
- Blistering or significant skin lifting
- Open, broken or weeping skin
- Significant swelling that is increasing
- Severe or rapidly worsening redness or heat
- Increasing pain, swelling, warmth or discharge
If you cannot reach me and you are worried, see your GP or go to your nearest emergency department. In an emergency, call 000.