CO2 Laser Treatment Near Me: Contraindications, Take Care, Side Effects

Generally speaking, CO2 laser treatment is possible for anyone with normal skin and no wounds or scabs. However, in special groups such as those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is not recommended. Therefore, it is essential to know the dos and don'ts of laser treatment in order to get better results.

Contraindications and take care:

Theoretically, the fractional laser only affects the eyes and exposed areas of the skin and has no radioactive effects on the fetus. However, pregnant women may experience discomfort such as tension and pain during the treatment. So, it is not recommended at special times.

In addition, laser treatment does not usually require special tests, but there will be some basic questioning during the interview. For example, some people with scarring, light allergies, high blood pressure, and diabetes need to be careful. Diabetic patients in particular have difficulty in healing and recovering from fractional laser treatment. This is why it is important to communicate truthfully with their treating doctor before treatment.

Besides, the attending physician will need to be aware of the patient's recent medical condition, medication, and surgery. They are also informed of the possible risks to avoid medical disputes due to factors other than the treatment affecting the outcome.

After fractional laser treatment, you can usually wash your face after 24 hours. At this point, the microscopic holes formed by the fractions have crusted over and will fall off on their own in a few days.

Further, the skin loses some of its moisture and is dry and fragile after laser treatment. So make sure to moisturize and protect it from the sun. Otherwise, there is a risk of adverse reactions such as hyperpigmentation.

Possible side effects after CO2 laser treatment:

For treatment, the immediate side effect is pain. However, there are other side effects due to the patient’s autologous differences, the surgeon’s operation, and post-operative care, such as:

Erythema:

These include temporary erythema and persistent erythema. Patients may develop transient erythema, most of which do not require intervention, as they are short-lived and fade on their own.

Persistent erythema that lasts for more than 4 days after non-ablative laser skin rejuvenation, or for 1 month after ablative laser surgery. The treatment mostly uses light-emitting diodes (633 nm ± 10 nm) to reduce the intensity and duration of the erythema. Intense Pulsed Light and Pulsed Dye Laser accelerate the fading of persistent erythema.

Pigmentation changes:

• Hyper-pigmentation:

The probability of fractional laser causing hyperpigmentation (PIH) is approximately 1% ~ 32%. And both ablative and non-ablative fractional lasers can be present. Compared to conventional lasers, fractional lasers have a lower intensity and shorter duration of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Pigmentation is related to individual skin tone, post-procedure cooling, pre-procedure sunburn, degree of the inflammatory response, and the parameters of the laser.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation usually fades on its own without treatment. Topical application of some mild chemical peeling agents (e.g. retinoid acid, azelaic acid, vitamin C and hydroxyacetic acid) and the use of sunscreen creams can reduce their symptoms.

• Hypochromic:

A rare complication that occurs in patients with multiple treatments and darker skin tones. The incidence of hypopigmentation is somewhat higher with an ablative laser.

Infections:

Viral, bacterial, and fungal infections are likely to develop 1 to 2 weeks after surgery. Try to avoid extensive trauma, and enhanced skin wound care to prevent infection.

In particular, those patients with low immunity need to be alert to various opportunistic infections when undergoing fractional laser treatment.

Scarring:

Any kind of invasive laser treatment carries a risk of potential scar formation. Treatment is often with topical glucocorticoids or topical glucocorticoid closure.

Care needs to be taken in setting the laser parameters and in caring for the skin after the procedure, especially when treating specific areas, for example, the neck and chest.

Patients who have had wound infections, contact dermatitis or keloid scars, or laser treatment of the neck need to be more alert to scar formation.

Contact dermatitis:

Contact dermatitis is mainly due to an allergic reaction to anesthetic drugs such as lidocaine ointment. It may manifest clinically as flushing, papules, and blisters with self-induced itching.

It is not directly related to the type of fractional laser machine chosen. Treatment options include anti-allergy and symptomatic management.

In clinical practice, doctors will encounter different patients. Each patient has a different skin condition, and it is difficult to say whether laser treatment will work better or worse for any one person. However, patients with darker skin tones (Asian) are generally more likely to develop post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) after laser treatment. This is also the biggest challenge in treating Asian patients.

However, overall, due to its advantages of minimal trauma and quick recovery, the fractional laser reduces stimulation and damage to melanocytes in the epidermis, greatly reducing the incidence of postoperative hyperpigmentation. It facilitates the rapid repair of wounds and the improvement of skin appearance and effectively prevents post-operative scar re-darkening.

In summary:

In short, it is important to choose the right hospital, doctor, and fractional laser machine to get a good treatment result.

A high-effective fractional laser machine can emit a high-intensity and uniform energy that reaches the treated area with precision. If a professional and experienced surgeon is available, post-operative adverse effects will be reduced to a large extent.

BESTVIEW is a professional supplier and manufacturer of medical and aesthetic laser equipment. BESTVIEW's co2 fractional laser machines have been FDA-approved, and you can use them without worry. Equipped with an intelligent operating system, fractional laser machines are easy to operate. In addition, we offer professional technical training to help operators quickly master the techniques.