It’s almost full blown laser season and one of THE most important aspects of having a laser treatment is how you treat your skin BEFORE the actual laser procedure.
Laser treatments create an injury to the skin, allowing healing mechanisms to occur which create the formation of collagen, skin tightening, improvement of discoloration, acne scarring and wrinkles. When the skin is prepped appropriately, the benefits of the laser treatment are seen at a much higher degree. Properly hydrated, exfoliated and retinized skin will respond much more positively than skin that has not been prepped.
I’ve been performing laser treatments for many years and began to notice a significant difference in patients who had used a customized skin care regimen for 4-6 weeks prior to their laser treatments when compared with patients who had not. The results were better, the healing time was shorter, and patients were happier!
Ideally, the skincare used prior to laser treatments should have these components but do need to be customized to your individual skin needs:
- Daily SPF of 30 or greater
- Retin A/Tretinoin/Retinol use for several months prior to the laser
- A mechanical exfoliation product 2-3 times per week
- Antioxidant Serum
- Hydrating product if needed
- Alastin Nectar Serum for beginning the 2 weeks prior to the laser
My favorite skincare line for patients to use prior to laser procedures is ZO skincare. These products have a vast array of options for every skin condition (melasma, rosacea, sensitive skin, aging skin, ect) and provide the fastest way to normalize the skin barrier and enable the cells within our skin to produce hydration. Alastin Nectar is then added in 2 weeks prior to laser treatments to further prepare the skin for a controlled amount of injury to occur. This combination is in my opinion, the best way to set yourself up for success prior to any laser procedure.
At Citrine MedSpa in Lincoln, NE, we will develop a complete regimen during your laser consultation and assist along the process . If you’re interested in having a laser treatment, please set up a consultation and we can get your laser skin care prep started!
