Each evening, I'd rinse with a gentle cleanser, and again slather myself in Aquaphor before going to sleep. Fraxel Recovery Midway through my recovery process I experienced redness, itchiness, and dryness. On the second night after my treatment, I woke up at 3 a. m. feeling like I was going to claw my face off. I was so itchy, as if dozens of ants had been crawling across my skin while I was sleeping. I hadn't anticipated this sensation, so I simply took some Benadryl so I could get a few more hours of shuteye. When I texted Dr. Engelman later that day, she recommended I take Allegra and apply a thin layer of hydrocortisone ointment, which delivered major relief. She also advised me to soak cotton pads in a solution of one tablespoon of white vinegar in a cup of water, then apply them to my face several times throughout the day. This was not only to help accelerate the peeling process, but to alleviate the itching. The next two days (three and four post-Fraxel) were spent tending to my brownish-red, scaly face.
It's normal for the skin to take on a bronze hue over the first couple of weeks after a Fraxel laser treatment. The skin will repeat the sunburn-to-bronze cycle after subsequent treatments and continue to exfoliate normally. Your physician will instruct you on how to care for your skin as it rejuvenates. This usually includes the use of a moisturizer with an SPF of at least 30; direct sun exposure should be avoided for at least three months. The full results of your Fraxel laser treatment will evolve over several months. Fraxel Laser Risks The most common side effects of Fraxel laser treatment are edema (swelling) and skin redness; both should subside within a couple of days. Other temporary side effects may include minor itching, dry skin, peeling or flaking, and a bronzed skin appearance. The risk of infection or scarring is very limited. The best way to minimize your Fraxel laser risk is to choose an experienced physician. Ask how often he or she uses the Fraxel laser and request to see before and after pictures of others who have undergone the procedure.
Advanced Dermatology is one of only a handful of practices in Illinois that have this upgrade. This was named because it has two different wavelengths, the Re:store wavelength which is 1550 nm and the Thulium laser which is 1927 nm. The Re:Store works better for scars and deeper wrinkles whereas the Thulium helps with superficial sun damage including fine wrinkles and sun damage, and occasionally melasma. These wavelengths can be used by themselves or together. When used alone we call the procedure the Thulium or Re:Store, when used together we call the treatment Fraxel® Dual. Fraxel Laser Treatment is cleared by the FDA for soft tissue coagulation, skin resurfacing procedures, and for correction of periorbital wrinkles and pigmented lesions, including age spots, melasma, sunspots, and skin discoloration as well as actinic keratoses. Good candidates for this procedure are people with skin of any color who have sun-damaged, aging skin, melasma, irregularly pigmented skin, mild to moderate wrinkles, acne scarring, irregular texture of the skin or other skin condition that could be expected to be improved with this treatment that understands the risks, costs and time necessary to achieve the full benefit of the procedure and who has realistic expectations of the ultimate outcome.
During treatment, many patients feel a tingling or increased sensation of heat. After the procedure, the heat sensation lasts for a couple of hours. The procedure itself, depending on the area treated and the strength of pulses generated, lasts from 30 to 60 minutes. Recommendations after the procedure Two weeks of intensive moisturizing is necessary for the skin. After the procedure, trauma to the skin, agents irritating skin, sunbathing should be avoided and sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher filters should be used. Is it safe? Only lasers with established clinical safety and efficacy are approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Safety and quality of procedures performed by Fraxel laser has been proved by research: Fraxel lasers have had 20 favorable estimates by FDA, more than 100 scientific articles have been published about them. These procedures can only be performed by certified doctors who have accomplished a special training course. In what areas is the procedure performed?