In this article:
Why post-treatment skin care is important
What to expect after your skin procedure
Post-treatment skin care tips and advice
Hydration is key to recovery
Check your skin care stash for soothing ingredients
Practise sun safety
Avoid these skin care ingredients during skin procedure recovery
What else to avoid after skin procedures
There's no shortage of info online about all types of cosmetic skin procedures, but dermatologist-vetted advice on what to do post-procedure isn't as easy to come by--until now. We've done the work for you and consulted board-certified dermatologist Dr. Corey L. Hartman, MD to help find research-supported answers about how to best care for your skin post-procedure and treatment. This article shares top tips and other vital information to know before you book that appointment.
Why post-treatment skin care is important
Post-procedure care is an investment in your skin’s health and recovery that helps ensure the best possible results. Think of a post-procedure skin care routine as any procedure’s final act; it’s a vital part of completing the story. Dr. Hartman expands, “It’s like an insurance policy for the investment you’ve made in the actual procedure, where the responsibility for the success of the procedure transfers from the doctor to the patient.”
Skin treatments, although typically great in the long-term, cause injury and/or stress to skin in the short term; it’s just how they work. For example, microneedling’s benefits come from creating a series of tiny wounds on skin to help reduce the appearance of post-blemish marks. Skin doesn’t distinguish wounds based on the intent behind them, it just registers them as an injury. And like any injury, they require a recovery process that calls for TLC.
What to expect after your skin procedure
Skin treatments and procedures vary greatly and can impact skin differently. What to expect highly depends on the type of skin treatment, the provider, skin type, how well you heal and more. Discuss what to expect and how to best approach your post-procedure skin care with your dermatologist or esthetician.
Generally, you can expect:
- Laser treatments (Intense pulsed light therapy, fraxel, etc.): sun sensitivity, temporary redness, swelling, itching, tightness and dryness. Skin might feel like it has an intense sunburn. After a few days (dependent on the type and depth of laser treatment), skin might begin to flake and peel.
- Chemical peels: increased sun sensitivity, redness, flaking, dryness, uneven skin tone and swelling. Your usual skin care products may feel sensitising for a few days.
- Microneedling: sun sensitivity, temporary bleeding (microneedles are needles, after all!), redness, peeling and some swelling.
- Light therapy (red light therapy, phototherapy): sun sensitivity, temporary redness and an uncomfortable skin sensation.
Post-treatment skin care tips and advice
As a general rule, it’s wise to follow the post-procedure tips provided by the dermatologist or esthetician that performed your procedure; however, we also acknowledge that sometimes this information may be incomplete or less than ideal for your situation. As such, we’ve created a comprehensive list of general post-procedure skin care tips below. Best case scenario? It’ll match and likely expand on what you are told in office.
Hydration is key to recovery
We’re not just talking skin hydration — we're talking full body, 360° hydration. So, get ready to break out your best moisturiser and your favourite water bottle.
Research demonstrates that dehydration reduces blood volume and hinders the intricate system that moves nutrients around the body (1). This might sound inconsequential, but it isn’t: it slows down wound healing. To prevent this and boost results, work hydrating into your daily routine and aim for six-to-eight cups of water a day (keeping in mind this water can come from numerous non-caffeinated and non-alcoholic beverages, not just plain water).
Skin also requires hydration to help heal wounds and maintain a healthy skin barrier (2). Since treatments like lasers, chemical peels, microneedling and platelet rich plasma injections (PRP) can disrupt the barrier temporarily and exacerbate dryness, the best post-procedure moisturiser is one that treats skin to ingredients that promote hydration like hyaluronic acid, ceramides and glycerine.
Invest in a recovery balm or cream if your moisturiser isn’t enough
If your skin’s still raw, flaking or tight, it might be time to bring out the big guns: an emollient recovery-focused balm or lotion. These more intense, recovery-geared balms differ from hydration focused humectant moisturising products because they contain emollient or occlusive ingredients that create a protective layer between skin and the environment, allowing skin to recover with optimal hydration and without stressors or unwanted microorganisms. Some of these top-notch recovery balm ingredients include plant butters, like shea butter, lanolin, petrolatum, manuka honey and skin-safe silicones, like dimethicone (3).
Emollient and occlusive balms may not be suitable after all procedures, so verify with your care provider before application.
Check your skin care stash for soothing ingredients
For all their eventual benefits, procedures and treatments are particularly stressful for skin. Depending on what you have done, they can subject our body’s largest organ to extreme circumstances that can cause skin redness.
To help relax skin and reduce redness, look for ingredients that specialise in handling skin during freakouts, like allantoin, bisabolol, colloidal oatmeal and panthenol. Each of these ingredients interacts with skin in a special way, allowing it to return to a less frenzied, soothed state. Outside of sensitive skin moisturisers, these ingredients are often the stars of repairing serums, boosters and treatments.
Practise sun safety
On an average day, safe sun practices are essential. However, post-procedure they are absolutely non-negotiable. This is because many skin treatments, most notably resurfacing chemical peels and lasers, make skin more sensitive to the sun and its UV rays can negatively impact the effects of skin procedures and slow down wound healing (4). Dr. Hartman notes that beyond this they can also impact tone. You don’t want that, of course.
To avoid this, keep away from the sun in the days after your treatment. This is particularly true for the first 24 hours after your procedure, when applying sunscreen and other topicals is frowned upon. After you’re cleared for SPF application, opt for a creamy mineral sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection because synthetic sunscreens can sensitise skin post-procedure (5).
Pair sunscreen usage with a wide-brimmed hat, UPF clothing and UV protective sunglasses while staying out of the sun’s rays from 10AM-2PM (when the sun’s strongest) and you’re on your way to a smooth skin treatment recovery.
Avoid these skin care ingredients during skin procedure recovery
As a rule of thumb, you’ll want to take it easy on skin care active ingredients (vitamin C, beta hydroxy acid, retinol etc.) after a skin procedure. Actives really get to work on skin, sloughing off dead skin cells, encouraging turnover and targeting concerns. While this is usually fine, applying these ingredients to abraded skin can cause irritation, sensitisation, stinging, tightness and dryness. Depending on the procedure, you may need to wait a week or more before returning to using such products.
On the other hand, some actives can be applied to skin after certain procedures, so check with your care provider to verify.
Beyond actives, you’ll want to stay far away from skin care products with fragrance. When included in skin care products, fragrance is like a back-stabbing best friend. Upfront, it’s lovely. But where you can’t see, it’s wreaking havoc, creating sensitisation through the same volatile reaction that creates scent. This is particularly worrisome for post-procedure skin, as it’s already compromised and sensitised. It’s for this reason that we recommend fragrance-free skin care not only post-procedure, but year-round.
What else to avoid after skin procedures
Outside of skin care, you should also temporarily halt the following post-procedure:
- Face-touching. We know it’s hard, but your hands are germ magnets and can easily transfer harmful microorganisms to your face where they can slow down, or even reverse, the healing process post-procedure.
- Intense activity. Go ahead, skip the gym for a few days. Sweating (no saunas!), increased body heat and physical exertion can slow down the healing process of certain skin treatments.
- Makeup application. Pausing on cosmetics for a little bit allows skin to heal more efficiently, not to mention if you’re using a recovery balm makeup will slip right off. This too, is procedure dependent!
Remember, post-procedure skin care is a personalised journey and experience that varies greatly based on the procedure, provider, skin type and person. However, the general tips on post-procedure skin care are a great place to start. Happy healing!
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References for this information:
- Advances in Skin & Wound Care, March 2006, pages 97-102
- Journal of Investigative Dermatology, April 2014, pages 1,044-1,055
- Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, January-March 2023, pages 14-20
- Photochemistry and Photobiology, July-August 2015, pages 909-916
- Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine, November 2021, pages 521-529