Photorejuvenation uses laser light to treat brown spots caused by sun damage as well as vascular lesions, broken blood vessels and redness from rosacea (*). During this treatment we use one of two lasers or both to specifically address your concerns. Each laser has a specific wavelength of light that is attracted to a particular color. One laser likes the color brown and is therefore used for brown pigmented lesions while the other laser likes the colors red, blue and purple and therefore is used to treat vascular lesions, blood vessels to the face and legs as well as rosacea and discoloration to the neck caused by poikloderma and “red spots” (hemangiomas) to the torso (*).
What To Expect
- Average number of treatments for sun spots is 1-3 (*).
- Average number of treatments for broken blood vessels and rosacea is 3-5 (*). Maintenance treatments are recommended every 6-12 months for rosacea (*). In some instances broken blood vessels around the nose may require greater than five treatments and patients my elect to return for maintenance or “touch-up” treatments as needed (*).
- Treatments are generally performed every 4 weeks (*).
- During the treatment it feels like an elastic band snapping against the skin with heat dissipating from the area.
- Common side effects include redness and swelling that lasts 20 minutes to a few days (*). Mild to moderate bruising may be seen when treating blood vessels and rosacea (*).
- Rare side effects include blisters and scabs or pigmentation changes. To minimize this we do not treat tanned skin and test patch skin types that are predisposed to pigmentation changes.
How To Prepare For Your Treatment
- Ensure that the area being treated is free from tan or a residual tan. If self tanner is present in the treatment area, please remove it with Head & Shoulders shampoo prior to arrival.
- If you are having a facial area treated, discontinue using Retin A or facial products that contain glycolic, beta or alpha hydroxy acid three days prior to treatment and do not resume using it until the treatment are is free of any irritation.
- Accutane should not be used within 6 months prior to laser treatments and chemical peels typically should not be used for 2-3 weeks prior to and after laser treatments, depending on the peel.
- All moisturizes and make-up should be removed prior to having the treatment.
- If you have a history of cold sores, herpes, or shingles in the area being treated you may need to start an antiviral medication to reduce the likelihood of recurrence. If there are any active cold sore, herpes or shingles lesions in the area being treated, treatment should be deferred.
What To Do After Your Treatment
- It is common to have mild redness and swelling after the treatment and therefore icing for 15-30 minutes is recommended.
- Within a few days of treatment brown spots will become more brown. They may even appear somewhat wrinkled but will gradually fade over the course of 1-3 weeks.
- Mild to moderate bruising may occur when broken blood vessels or rosacea or poikloderma (discoloration to the neck and chest) is treated. Bruising will typically last a few days and in rare instances may last a few weeks. Initially after treatment the blood vessels may appear blanched but then refill with blood within a few minutes to a few days. For this reason multiple consistent treatments are required.
- Make-up may be applied immediately after treatment.
- The area may be washed with a gentle cleaner and Retin A may be resumed once the area is free from irritation, typically within three days.
- Shaving my be resumed once the irritation to the skin has resolved.
- Refrain from having a chemical peel for a minimum of 2-3 weeks, depending on the peel.
- If an antiviral medication was prescribed complete the course of medication as directed.
- Refrain from tanning for the duration of your treatments and for two weeks after your final treatment. If you intend on tanning you may do so two weeks after a treatment however you may not return for a treatment until your skin as returned to its baseline color. If you are uncertain if you have a residual tan please call the office as a test patch may need to be performed prior to resuming treatments.
- If you experience blisters or hyper or hypopigmentation changes (brown or white spots) or any other adverse effect please call us at 603-882-9334.
