How to Heal Perfectly After CO₂ Laser Treatment?

Taking care of skin after CO₂ laser can seem scary when nobody tells you what to do. Face might look red and hurt, making you think something is wrong but making skin better is easy when you know simple things like washing soft, not touching sore spots and staying away from sun. This guide shows exactly what to do so skin gets all better and looks really nice.

• Washing your face after laser treatment means using very soft soap like baby soap. Use cool water and touch your face very gently with your hands. Never rub hard because it will hurt your skin and make it take a long time to get well.
• Put thick cream on your face that the doctor gives you or use simple jelly from the store. Put it on when your face is a little wet so it stays nice and soft. Do not use creams that smell good because they will make your face burn.
• Do not use rough towels on your face or take very hot baths for one week. Do not put makeup on and stay inside so the sun cannot touch your face. Do not go swimming because the water has things that can hurt your healing face.
• Keeping your face wet with cream helps it to get better fast because skin likes to be soft and wet. When skin is dry it cracks and hurts more. Wet skin grows back smooth and nice without ugly marks that stay forever.

• Skin naturally makes small scabs and then peels off like sunburn after CO₂ laser treatment. This looks bad but it is normal and good because old skin comes off to make new pretty skin grow underneath.
• Itching can be stopped without hurting skin by tapping it softly with fingers or putting a cold wet cloth on it. Standing near a fan to feel cool and better helps too but never scratch with nails.
• Never pick scabs off, pull loose skin or rub face hard even when it itches really bad.
• When picking at healing skin happens new wounds form that take forever to get better and leave ugly marks forever.

• Put sunscreen on after CO₂ laser treatment when the doctor says okay usually after one week. Before this time skin is too hurt and red for any cream. Putting sunscreen too early will make skin burn and take more time to get well.
• Good sunscreen for hurt skin after laser has zinc or white powder in it because it sits on top of skin like paint. This kind does not hurt or burn like other creams do. Use baby sunscreen that says SPF 30 or bigger numbers on the bottle.
• Clothes that keep sun away from treated skin are big hats that cover all of face and neck. Dark thick clothes work better than light thin ones to stop sun. Big dark sunglasses also keep sun away from eyes where laser work was done.
• Mistakes that make skin get dark spots after laser are forgetting sunscreen when clouds are out or putting it on just one time. Many people forget to put more cream on every two hours or miss spots near hair. Even a little bit of sun makes ugly dark marks.

• Put makeup on after CO₂ laser treatment when all the dry skin pieces fall off by themselves usually after two weeks. Start with light makeup like colored cream instead of heavy thick makeup. Always take makeup off very soft with gentle soap.
• Know about exercise during laser healing that waiting one week is important before doing things that make lots of sweat. Easy walking is okay after three days but no hard gym work or running.
• Swim or take hot baths again after three to four weeks when skin looks all good like before. Pool water and hot water tubs can hurt new baby skin and make it sick if used too early. Always wash face with clean water after swimming.
• Start using strong face creams again after treatment very slow beginning around week four with easy ones first. Use things like special night creams just one time a week and look for red skin before using more. Wait two months for very strong face treatments.

Following these easy steps will make skin look really great after it gets all better and healed also being nice and waiting now saves you from having ugly marks or dark spots that stay forever on your face. Skin needs lots of time to get well so just wash it very soft keep it away from bright sun and never touch any peeling parts with your hands.

1. Is it normal to have yellow discharge during healing?
   Yellow discharge may indicate infection, contact your doctor immediately.
2. Can I use ice directly on treated skin?
   Never use ice directly, wrap in cloth first.
3. What if scabs fall off too early accidentally?
   Keep area moist with healing cream, call doctor immediately.