What should you know about your face after CO2 laser?

CO2 laser resurfacing removes or heats selected layers of skin to encourage a healing response. Soon afterward, the face may feel tight, raw, hot, or sunburned; redness and swelling can be followed by flaking or crusting. The depth and pattern of treatment affect recovery, and darker skin tones may need particular discussion about temporary or longer-lasting colour changes. The final appearance does not become clear while the surface is still healing.

Use only the cleanser, ointment, dressing, and medicines provided or approved by your treating clinician. Keep hands clean before touching the face, do not peel crusts, and avoid heat, intense sunlight, swimming, vigorous exercise, and irritating products until cleared. Protect healed skin from sunlight as directed. Take photographs of changes if your clinic requests them, and attend follow-up so healing and pigment changes can be checked.

Contact the clinic promptly for increasing rather than settling pain, spreading redness, pus, fever, foul-smelling drainage, blisters, or delayed healing. Seek urgent help for eye pain, vision change, severe eyelid swelling, breathing difficulty, or facial swelling with hives. Do not restart active skincare or use a home treatment to correct colour or texture without medical advice.

Ask which symptoms are expected for your treatment depth, when to resume cleanser, moisturiser, makeup, retinoids, and exercise, and how to protect the skin from sunlight. Clarify who to contact after hours and how infection, cold sores, or pigment changes will be managed.