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Picoway Laser Treatment Guidelines

The document provides detailed pre-treatment, day of treatment, and post-treatment instructions for patients undergoing Picoway laser treatment, including avoiding sun exposure and certain medications before treatment, arriving hydrated on the day of treatment, and caring for the treated area delicately with moisturizer and sunscreen until healing is complete to reduce risk of infection, trauma, or skin irritation. Conditions like pregnancy, infections, recent tanning, or certain medical devices or medications could influence a patient's ability to undergo the laser treatment.

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Alyssa Azhar
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57 views3 pages

Picoway Laser Treatment Guidelines

The document provides detailed pre-treatment, day of treatment, and post-treatment instructions for patients undergoing Picoway laser treatment, including avoiding sun exposure and certain medications before treatment, arriving hydrated on the day of treatment, and caring for the treated area delicately with moisturizer and sunscreen until healing is complete to reduce risk of infection, trauma, or skin irritation. Conditions like pregnancy, infections, recent tanning, or certain medical devices or medications could influence a patient's ability to undergo the laser treatment.

Uploaded by

Alyssa Azhar
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Patient Instructions for Picoway Laser Treatment

Prior to treatment:

1. Avoid sun exposure for 2 weeks before and after treatment. A sunscreen of SPF 30 or
greater should be used when exposed to the sun for several months before and after
your treatment, or as long as you plan to continue treatment. Darker melanin or
pigment from the sun may produce side effects or make the treatment less effective.
2. Aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen should be discontinued 7 days prior to treatment and two
weeks after treatment (please check with your primary care physician if prescribed for
medical reasons).
3. The following herbal supplements should be discontinued 7 days prior to treatment:
gingko, ginseng, garlic, fish oil, vitamin E, and iron.
4. Discontinue retinol or retin-A (tretinoin) 7 days prior to treatment.
5. If you have a history of perioral herpes simplex virus infection (cold sores), antiviral
medication will be prescribed prior to treatment (please inform us if you require a
prescription).
6. Please be well hydrated (drink 3 liters of water) on the day prior to treatment.

Day of Treatment:

1. Please arrive 10 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time.


2. Please continue to hydrate on the day of treatment, especially if your treatment is not
scheduled in the early morning.
3. Topical anesthetic cream or local injection of anesthetic may be administered prior to the
treatment for your comfort. You may choose to be treated without local anesthesia. If
you prefer to be treated with topical anesthesia, please arrive 30-40 minutes prior to
your scheduled appointment time.
4. The skin must be clean and dry. If you apply lotions, perfumes, make-up, deodorant, self
tanners, please clean them off with gentle soap and water provided.
5. Please do not use hairspray or other flammable products on the day of treatment.
6. If applicable, please take the prescribed antiviral medication at least 2 hours prior to
treatment.
7. If you are wearing a wool sweater, please change into a patient gown prior to
treatment.

Post-treatment:

There may be discomfort/pain resulting from the treatment.


A white-gray discoloration may appear immediately after treatment and last for a few minutes to
a few days. This may be replaced with an erythema or purpura for several days. A scab may form
at the treatment area and drop off in 7-10 days.

Following the treatment of a tattoo:


1. Apply a lubricant (Aquaphor® Healing Ointment or Vaseline®) to the area and cover with
a non-stick dressing and paper tape.
2. Apply the lubricant and dressing for 7-10 days following treatment and then re-cover the
treatment site with a non-adherent dressing affixed with paper tape.
3. Prevent trauma to the treated area for the first 7-10 days following treatment.
4. Avoid physical exercise (aerobics, lawn mowing, sport activities) for 1- 2 days to reduce
the risk of infection. The patient should not participate in any rough physical activities
(playing football or ice hockey, etc.) for 10 days after treatment.
5. Avoid excessive perspiration to the area as it may cause tissue disruption.
6. Use daily a broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen SPF 30 or greater for 4-6 weeks before
starting the treatment and throughout the treatment duration.
7. Once skin irritation or crusting resolves, you may resume your routine skin care
regimen.

Following the treatment of pigmented lesions:


The treated area should be cared for delicately until healing is complete.
1. Prevent trauma to the treated area for the first 7-10 days following treatment.
2. Avoid physical exercise (aerobics, lawn mowing, sport activities) for 1- 2 days to reduce
the risk of infection. The patient should not participate in any rough physical activities
(playing football or ice hockey, etc.) for 10 days after treatment.
3. Avoid excessive perspiration to the area as it may cause tissue disruption.
4. Apply Vaseline or a barrier repair moisturizer to treated and crusted areas twice daily
until complete healing occurs.
5. Use daily a broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen SPF 30 or greater for 4-6 weeks before
starting the next treatment and throughout the treatment duration.
6. Once skin irritation or crusting resolves, you may resume your routine skin care
regimen.

The following conditions may influence the ability to undergo treatment:

1. History of keloids
2. Pregnancy
3. Autoimmune disease
4. Cold sensitivity or Raynaud phenomenon.
5. Active skin infection or open wounds at the time of treatment
6. Outbreak of perioral herpes simplex virus infection (cold sores) at the time of treatment
7. History of Accutane (isotretinoin) or Soriatane (acitretin) within 6 months of treatment
8. History of photosensitivity
9. Light-triggerd seizure disorders
10. Photosensitizing medications. Stop the medication if possible for 3-5 days prior to
treatment.
11. Recently tanned skin: Do not treat recently tanned skin. Blisters and hypopigmentation
or hyperpigmentation may occur. Allow tan to fade prior to treatment.
12. Implanted medical devices: pacemakers, cardioverters and other implantable devices or
fillers: consult your physician prior to treatment.
13. Medications: daily anti-coagulation therapy, iron supplements, vitamin E, fish oil, herbal
supplements such as ginkgo, ginseng or garlic may interfere with treatment.
14. Topical medications and skin care products: stop 72 hours pre- and post- treatment.
Self-tanning products must be removed.

Alison Young, MD PhD, Young Dermatology

Common questions

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Topical medications, including retinol or retin-A, can cause increased skin sensitivity or adverse reactions when used in combination with laser treatments, thus they should be discontinued 7 days prior to treatment. Furthermore, self-tanning products and other topical skin care products should be stopped at least 72 hours before and after treatment, as residual ingredients can interact negatively with laser energy and impede healing .

Medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, as well as herbal supplements such as gingko, ginseng, garlic, fish oil, vitamin E, and iron should be discontinued 7 days prior to treatment and for two weeks after to avoid complications such as increased bleeding. Patients on daily anti-coagulants or those requiring medications like Accutane should consult with their healthcare provider, as these can influence treatment success or increase risk of adverse effects .

After treatment, patients should apply a lubricant like Aquaphor or Vaseline to the treated area and cover it with a non-stick dressing using paper tape. This should continue for 7-10 days, and the area should be kept free from trauma. Avoiding physical exercise and excessive perspiration is also recommended to prevent infection and ensure proper healing .

Patients should avoid physical exercises like aerobics and sports activities for at least 1-2 days to reduce infection risks. Particularly strenuous or contact sports should be avoided for up to 10 days post-treatment. Additionally, excessive perspiration should be minimized as it may disrupt tissue healing and increase the risk of complications .

Hydration is crucial before Picoway Laser Treatment to potentially improve skin condition and reduce recovery time. Patients are advised to drink 3 liters of water the day before the treatment to ensure they are well-hydrated, and to continue hydrating on the day of the procedure, especially if their appointment is not in the early morning .

On the day of treatment, the skin must be clean and dry, with no lotions, makeup, or perfumes. Patients should remove self-tanners and opt for mild soap and water for cleaning. Additionally, wool sweaters should be replaced with a patient gown to prevent interference with the treatment area; strong, potentially flammable products like hairspray should be avoided to ensure safety and treatment efficacy .

Conditions such as a history of keloids, pregnancy, autoimmune diseases, active skin infections, or outbreaks of herpes simplex virus significantly impact the individual's ability to safely undergo treatment due to potential adverse effects or interference with healing. Recent use of drugs like Accutane or certain photosensitizing medications can also complicate treatment, requiring adjustments or additional consultations with a healthcare provider .

Patients should avoid sun exposure for 2 weeks before and after the treatment. Additionally, they should use a sunscreen with SPF 30 or greater for several months before and after the treatment to mitigate the risk of side effects or reduced efficacy due to the production of darker melanin from sun exposure .

Patients with a history of herpes simplex virus should be prescribed antiviral medication to prevent outbreaks triggered by the stress of the laser treatment. The medication should be taken as per prescription at least 2 hours before treatment to ensure optimal therapeutic levels, thereby reducing the risk of an outbreak during or after the procedure .

Use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or greater is crucial both before beginning and during the course of Picoway Laser treatments. It helps to protect the skin from UV damage, which can exacerbate side effects such as hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation, and ensures better treatment outcomes by providing a uniform skin tone .

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