From Laser to Needling, An Expert Shares Exactly What to Put on Your Skin After a Treatment
Yads Cauchi is a Dermal Clinician, Nutritionist (BHSc, MSc) and Beauty Journalist. She's also a mum of four. Evidence based skin health and nutrition are her thing and she works from her own skin clinic based in Canberra - you can find her there, or on Instagram and TikTok @yadscauchiskin.
Booking your face in for regular skin treatments is important. And I'm not just saying that because it's my job.
Think about regular skin treatments like workouts with a personal trainer, but for your face. Your clinician can check in with how you're going and make you're using the right products for your skin type.
Then, think of skin care like your food. The two work synergistically to maintain skin health and the best results come from incorporating both. Hence, I recommend skin treatments constantly.
However, what you do and put on your skin after your skin treatment is just as important as the treatment itself. This should always be discussed with your clinician, but let’s chat through a few generic aftercare rules below.
Why Is Skin Treatment Aftercare Important?
Firstly, how vulnerable your skin is/feels following a skin treatment depends on the particular treatment. Skin will tend to look glowy and feel hydrated following a 'fluffy' facial that involves light exfoliation and a little hydration.
But in the days following a stronger treatment like chemical peels, skin needling or laser, it may feel dry, tight, and even hot and painful like sunburn. Then again, some might not even notice a difference post-treatment.
No matter what treatment you have, every skin is different. This is why it's still very important to follow the aftercare instructions provided, even if you think you don't need to.
You can learn more about skin care, including professional treatments, in this episode of the Beauty IQ Uncensored podcast below.
Skin Treatment Aftercare and Skin Care.
Now, let’s touch on some popular clinical treatments and ways to look after your skin post-treatment for best results.
1. Skin Needling Aftercare.
Skin needling or micro-needling creates tiny, evenly spaced micro wounds in the skin delivered by a clinical grade needling device. The minor injury triggers a wound-healing response in the skin to boost collagen production.
Skin needling is great for ageing, uneven skin tone and pigment, as well as improving the appearance of acne scars. You can learn more about professional skin needling and at-home derma-rollers in this YouTube video below.
Best skin needling aftercare product: Aspect Red-Less Serum.
Aspect Red-Less 21 30ml is chock-full of anti-inflammatory ingredients including seabuckthorn oil, which is very good at managing redness and inflammation following a treatment like needling.
You can use it in place of your regular serums, morning and night. Plus, if you are already using Aspect serums, you can cocktail it (mix it with your other ones) to keep skin redness at bay later down the track. This is actually one of my favourite ways to use this serum.
What not to do after skin needling:
- No makeup straight after treatment is recommended.
- Avoid skincare products with active ingredients including vitamin A, vitamin C and exfoliants for 1-5 days (depends on level of treatment).
- No waxing, laser or hair removal.
- No high intensity exercise.
- Wear sunscreen always, and staying out of the sun is recommended.
2. Chemical Peel Aftercare.
Chemical peels use a chemical solution to remove the outermost layer of skin. There are many different types and depths.
They treat the appearance of texture, wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and dryness.
Best chemical peel aftercare product: Mesoestetic Post Procedure Fast Skin Repair.
The way you look after your skin following this procedure will depend on the strength of your peel, as well as any other treatments it’s combined with. I love mesoestetic melan recovery 50ml post-treatment because it soaks in nicely and feels extremely light, something that is especially handy if your skin feels sensitive or is sore to touch.
Use it in place of your moisturiser. You can also keep it on hand and use it whenever your skin is irritated, or if you’re prone to sensitivity/rosacea. It’s loaded with a bunch of anti-inflammatory properties, so it is a great moisturiser for anyone with those concerns.
What not to do after a chemical peel:
- No makeup straight after treatment is recommended.
- Avoid skincare products with active ingredients including vitamin A, vitamin C and exfoliants for 1-5 days (depends on level of treatment).
- No waxing, laser or hair removal.
- No high intensity exercise.
- Wear sunscreen always, and staying out of the sun is recommended.
3. Laser Hair Removal Aftercare.
This treatment removes hair from all over the body through exposure to pulses of laser light. The laser light destroys the hair follicle, reducing hair and slowing down overall growth.
You can learn more about at-home IPL laser hair removal in our YouTube video below.
Best laser hair removal aftercare product: Skinstitut Laser Aid.
Skinstitut Laser Aid is a cooling anti-inflammatory gel lotion that will help reduce inflammation and heat in the skin. Apply to areas where you have been treated in place of moisturiser.
Bonus: this gel is also great for treating sunburn, and if you get breakouts, it can be applied as a mask to affected areas. It’s multi-purpose and the tube is very big and cost-effective, especially for anyone who lasers their whole body.
What not to do after laser hair removal:
- Avoid skincare products with active ingredients including vitamin A, vitamin C and exfoliants for 3-5 days.
- Area should be kept clean and dry.
- No high intensity exercise or excessive heat (hot, steamy showers or hot yoga) in the day that follows as heat can irritate hair follicles.
- Wear sunscreen always, and staying out of the sun is recommended.
4. Laser Resurfacing (Fraxel and Clear and Brilliant) Aftercare.
Clear and Brilliant is a very popular, gentle laser resurfacing treatment. It creates microscopic wounds in the skin with a laser, essentially stimulating collagen and elastin production. It’s used to treat the signs of ageing, sun damage, tone, and texture, and is great for general skin rejuvenation.
Fraxel (or fractional laser) is another common and more powerful laser treatment that stimulates collagen and elastin and treats similar concerns. The difference? Fraxel can penetrate deeper, so it's often recommended for treating deeper wrinkles, stubborn pigmentation and textured acne scars such as ice pick, boxcar or rolling scars.
More power = more downtime (six to 14 days). In contrast, a lot of people often go back to work the day after a Clear and Brilliant treatment. You can learn more about lasers for skin in this episode of Beauty IQ Uncensored podcast below.
Best laser aftercare product: Cosmedix Rescue Intense Hydrating Balm.
Cosmedix Rescue Intense Hydrating Balm & Mask is a very thick, hydrating balm that works well to hydrate and heal your skin following laser resurfacing treatments. It does feel a little sticky upon application, although your post-treatment skin will eat it up.
If you’re not at work, I’d re-apply throughout the day to help with the dry, flaky, itchy phase of the skin healing process. Proper hydration is very important following these treatments. It may also help you stop picking at your skin, which can lead to scarring.
What not to do after laser:
- No makeup straight after treatment is recommended.
- Avoid skincare products with active ingredients including vitamin A, vitamin C and exfoliants for 1-10 days (depends on level of treatment, follow your clinician's advice).
- No picking or peeling off flaky skin.
- Wear sunscreen always, and staying out of the sun is a must.
A final word: Like baking a soufflé, skin treatment aftercare is not the time to make up your own rules. Always follow your clinician's aftercare instructions. Capeesh?
You can shop more post-treatment skin care here. Want more expert skincare advice from Yads? Check out her stories below!
