What to Expect, Do, And Not Do After Your Fraxel Treatment

Before Treatment

1. Please Avoid Products and Medications That Make Your Skin Photosensitive. To prevent burns from occurring, please avoid antibiotics, Retinols, and sun exposure for at least 2-weeks prior to treatment. (Some rashes or pre-existing conditions can also prevent a treatment session; however, we can advise you better when we see the area in-person.) 

2. Have you ever had a cold sore? Please let us know so that we can get you a preventative medication to prevent a break-out. (Sometimes the stress of the treatment can cause an occurrence on areas that have been previously infected with the virus.)

1. Who Should Not Get Fraxel Treatments? Fraxel treatments cannot be performed on patients who are currently undergoing or have had Accutane treatment within the past six months, are currently pregnant or breastfeeding, using antibiotics or any kind of retinol, have a predisposition to keloid formation or excessive scarring, have suspicious lesions, or have recently had a lot of sun exposure.

The Rest of the Day After Treatment:

1. Your face will feel very warm. Soothe your skin by placing ice-packs (or bags of frozen vegetables) on the treated area for 20-minute increments throughout the rest of the day.
2. To prevent unnecessary swelling, keep your head elevated when lying down by using an additional pillow or two.
3. When looking at your skin up-close, you may notice a grid texture to your skin. This is completely normal, each of those microscopic dots represents an area of skin that was treated today. (The criss-cross pattern marks the actual path of the laser beam as it treated your skin.)
4. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. (However, diuretics such as alcohol or caffeine should be avoided.)
5. If your skin feels tight or itchy, apply a non-comedogenic moisturizer* liberally, as many times as needed. (Leave your moisturizer and sunscreen in the refrigerator! It makes applications feel especially soothing.)
6. Your skin needs to be shielded from the sun. Sunscreen (at least SPF-30) is a must.

After Treatment: Days 2 to 7

1. Wash your face with warm water. (Hot water will not do any damage to your skin, but warm water will feel much nicer against the skin.)
2. Be gentle with your skin! Please avoid harsh skin care products such as Retinols, exfoliating products, mechanical cleansing brushes, Benzoyl Peroxide, Glycolic or Salicylic Acid products. (If you have questions about a product, please feel free to ask us! 215-923-5001)
3. Make sure to apply ample sunscreen after washing face in the AM. (Even if you are not going to be outdoors, you can still be exposed to incremental sunlight from windows, or being in the car, etc. Protect the skin you are trying to perfect!)
4. It is normal for your skin to feel tight, dry, or itchy. Continue to apply noncomedogenic moisturizer as often as needed. (You may be applying moisturizer at least 3-times a day.)
5. Although cold compresses will no longer benefit your healing process, the coolness against your skin will still feel good. For comfort’s sake, you are welcome to apply cold-compresses to your skin for as long as you like.
6. If you are experiencing uncomfortable swelling, any over-the-counter anti-inflammatory (such as Aleve or Motrin) can be beneficial in reducing puffiness. (The most common areas of swelling are under the eyes and around the mouth. Do not worry, if this happens to you, it will go away!)
7. You may notice tiny white bumps all over the skin. These are pockets of solidified oil, and will wash/slough away within a day or two if left alone. (Do not try and pick these! Your skin is very sensitive right now, and even the gentlest of attempted extractions can greatly complicate a situation that would naturally resolve itself.)
8. You may experience peeling. If this occurs, do NOT pick or peel it off. The skin will slough off naturally as the healing progresses, and in the meantime any forced peeling can result in scarring or permanent discoloration.
9. Gentle shaving or tweezing is fine, however please do not wax or use a depilatory cream on treated areas.

After Treatment: Two Weeks

1. You should be able to go back to your original skin care regimen a week after treatment. However, your skin will speak to you, and if your regular products cause irritation after a weeks’ time, you should abstain from using for another day or two.
2. If Acne is a concern, we recommend an Isolaz treatment at the 2-week mark to ensure that your skin is thoroughly cleansed.

* Some moisturizers, such as Vaseline or Aquaphor, are occlusive and too heavy for your skin. To prevent unnecessary clogged pores, our patients are free to run their moisturizer of choice by us.

Please keep in mind that healing time varies from person to person, be patient with your healing process.

Although we would love to help everyone,

if you are not a patient of ours, we cannot safely advise you on anything regarding your Fraxel treatment.

If you have questions, please refer to your treatment provider.