No sun exposure, tanning beds and sunless tanning cream for 2 weeks before treatment. Sun exposure decreases the effectiveness of the laser treatment and can increase the chance of post treatment complications.

Wear loose-fitting clothing over the area to be treated.

Avoid taking aspirin and ibuprofen: They may cause you to bruise after your treatment.

For the first three days, cover the area with a layer of antibiotic healing ointment. Keep it bandaged with sterilized gauze. 

You may also apply Vaseline, Aquaphor, or hydrocortisone cream to moisturize the area as it heals.

Vitamin E ointment is helpful too, as it helps to restore damaged skin cells.

Don’t apply any other creams or makeup to the treated area within the first few days.

Avoid high-pressure water. Clean the treated area twice a day with water and mild soap, and then pat the area dry.

Don’t soak the area until it’s completely healed. Avoid baths, hot tubs, and swimming pools, as all of these can increase your chances for infection.

Discomfort may be relieved by using cool gel packs or acetaminophen.

If crusting/scabbing occurs, do not rub or pick on the area. Apply Hydrocortisone 1% to the treated area twice a day after treatment until redness resolved (5-7 days).

Keep the area moist (apply Aquaphor ointment twice a day) and let the crusting/scabbing resolve on its own.

If blistering occurs, apply Anti-biotic ointment twice a day for 7 days, and cover the skin with bandage/gauze.
Physical exercise (aerobics, sport activities) should be discontinued for 1 to 2 days. Rough physical activities (playing football) should be discontinued for 10 days post treatment.

Avoid sun exposure to the treated area 2 weeks before treatment and 1-month post treatment. If sun exposure is unavoidable, apply sunblock 30-50 (physical blocker with zinc and titanium oxide) every 2 hours and it is recommended to make this a part of your skin care routine.

The stronger your immune system, the faster your skin heals. A healthy immune system helps your body repair the wound and fight off infection.

Drink lots of water. Keeping the body hydrated is key to maintaining a strong immune system. It helps flush out toxins and restore blood cells, which are key to preventing infections.

Decrease alcohol consumption. Too much alcohol intake can cause dehydration, which slows down the healing process. If possible, avoid alcohol entirely.

Don’t smoke. When you smoke, your immune system has to work harder to remove the pollutants. Your body won’t be able to work as hard at healing your skin. Non-smokers see better results and usually need fewer treatments.