Avoid direct sun exposure, tanning beds, and sunless tanner for two weeks prior to your session.
Stop using retinoids and other irritating skincare ingredients like AHAs and BHAs (i.e., glycolic or salicylic acids) a minimum of 3 days prior to your session around treatment.
If you have a history of oral herpes infection ("cold sores") and you are having treatment around the mouth, it is recommended to start an anti-viral medication (i.e., acyclovir or valacyclovir) one day prior to treatment and continue for 5 days after to reduce the risk of an outbreak. Notify the office if you need a prescription.
Post-treatment instructions
You may feel a warm, sunburned sensation for approximately one hour post-treatment.
Sleep with a clean pillowcase and head slightly elevated. This will help reduce infection and swelling. After 24 hours, you may begin using a gentle cleanser and moisturizer, but do not resume any harsher skin care products such as retinoids, AHAs, BHAs, or benzoyl peroxide until skin is fully healed (approximately 2-4 days after treatment).
Makeup can be applied after 24 hours, but it’s best if mineral based to allow the skin to continue to breathe and heal.
Avoid intense workouts and other conditions where you will sweat significantly for 48 hours, or until skin is healed.
Having a sandpaper texture to the skin for 3-4 days is normal. Treated brown spots or vessels will be darkened temporarily for a few days and then usually flake off within about 1-2 weeks. DO NOT pick the skin.
Avoid sun exposure for 2 weeks post-treatment and use SPF 30+ daily. Your skin will be more sensitive and prone to burning.
