If you suffer from breakouts and acne regularly, it’s important to let your doctor know before having your skin treated with a laser of any kind. The reason? Some lasers can make existing acne worse and even spark breakouts days after the treatment. “Any laser that disrupts the skin barrier can cause breakouts to occur,” says Miami dermatologist Dr. Deborah Longwill. If breakouts only happen after a laser, it could be caused by the treatment, the ointments or both.
Featured Experts
- Dr. Deborah Longwill is a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami
- Dr. Matthew Elias is a board-certified dermatologist based in Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Kelly Bomer, MD is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon based in Scottsdale, AZ
- Anita Saluja, MD is a board-certified dermatologist based in Melbourne, FL
What is laser-induced acne?
“The question is always is it the laser or is it the occlusives used before and after treatment?” notes Fort Lauderdale, FL dermatologist Dr. Matthew Elias. Melbourne, FL, dermatologist Anita Saluja, MD explains that the post-treatment oils are often petrolatum-based which can clog pores.
When do you get laser-induced acne?
Dr. Elias says that while any laser can lead to acne or exacerbate existing breakouts, it’s most commonly seen with laser hair removal or resurfacing procedures. “Breakouts often arise from laser hair removal because the hair is dense and coarse. Afterward, a portion of the hair follicles contain dead hair fragments, which the body tries to expel,” says Scottsdale, AZ, facial plastic surgeon Kelly Bomer, MD. “When this happens, there is an inflammatory response, which can cause red bumps with pus, resembling a red pimple with a whitehead.” But it’s not just hair removal that can cause it—any heat-based laser can lead to a breakout because many of them stimulate sebum production.
If you experience more severe laser-induced acne, see your board-certified dermatologist for treatment that may mirror standard acne therapy, says Dr. Elias. However, there are a couple of steps you can take to try to prevent this from happening altogether.
How can you prevent laser-induced acne?
“I always recommend cleansing the skin gently prior to and post-treatment,” says Dr. Longwill. “Be careful with what you apply to the skin pre and post-treatment due to the skin barrier being disrupted during treatment.” She suggests refraining from using creams with fragrances and other comedogenic ingredients.
How do you treat laser-induced acne?
If you get more intensive resurfacing procedures, like Fraxel or CoolPeel, Dr. Elias suggests asking your doctor which creams and ointments can be used on your skin without being super occlusive. It’s important to keep your skin moisturized after a laser, but if you know your skin is breakout-prone, you may want to skip the heavy, occlusive salves and ointments. “Instead, you can use your favorite moisturizer with hydrocortisone (0.05-1.0 percent) and bacitracin for a day or two if the laser causes peeling,” says Dr. Bomer.
Rather than waiting for a breakout, play it safe and ask your doctor to prescribe an antibiotic for a few days before and after the laser. This can help reduce any existing inflammation and clear up whatever may be lurking in your pores. If that still doesn’t help, you may want to consider doing a different type of treatment on your skin, like a chemical peel, which shouldn’t instigate breakouts.
