Pre Treatment Instructions

TANNED SKIN CANNOT BE TREATED!

1) You may not have a tan (real or chemical) at the time of the treatment. This may lead to abnormally high absorption of the laser beam that can result in scarring or permanent pigment change. We suggest waiting 6 weeks after a real tan and 1 week after complete fading of a chemical tan.

2) If you naturally tan easily, tan before you burn, or if your skin wounds tend to pigment, you are at risk for permanent pigment changes, especially increased pigment (hyperpigmentation). We prefer to treat you with a "skin-bleaching" agent for 1 month prior to the procedure and restart the bleaching agent 10 days after the procedure. This means you may be on the cream up to and including your next laser procedure. We also recommend continuing the bleaching agent for 4 months after the last laser procedure.

3) If you are subject to cold sores around your lips, the laser beam can activate the virus that causes these sores. If we are treating near your lips, we prefer to treat you with an anti-viral agent like acyclovir starting the day before the treatment and continuing for a total of 7 days.

During the Treatment

PLEASE DO NOT WEAR MAKE-UP FOR YOUR TREATMENT.

Your eyes will be protected with protective glasses or shields.  Usually no topical anesthesia is necessary; but it is available for small areas, if you wish.  Each time the laser fires (a pulse) you will feel a cold spray (called cryogen) followed by what some describe as a "rubber band snap".  The cryogen spray serves two purposes.  It protects the skin by cooling it and decreased the discomfort.