What should you know about pico laser treatment side effects?

Immediately after treatment, the skin may feel warm, look red or become mildly swollen. Treated pigment can look darker before it fades or flakes away. Tenderness, dryness and temporary light or dark marks are also possible. Irritation is more likely when the skin is tanned, inflamed or exposed to strong products around the procedure. Rarely, blistering, infection, prolonged pigment alteration or scarring can occur. The risk depends on the device, settings, body site, skin tone and healing history.

Keep the area clean and use only the products recommended by the treating team. Do not scratch, peel flakes or apply exfoliating acids, retinoids, fragrance or heat unless you have been told they are suitable. Use shade, protective clothing and sunscreen once the skin can tolerate it. Avoid tanning and postpone another procedure until the area has recovered. Take photographs if the appearance is changing so the clinician can compare it with the expected healing pattern.

Ask for prompt clinical advice if pain or swelling is increasing rather than easing, blisters appear, redness spreads, pus develops, fever occurs, or a pale or dark patch persists or expands. Urgent help is needed for breathing difficulty, widespread hives or swelling of the lips and face.

Before treatment, ask which reactions are expected for your skin tone, what products to stop, how to manage discomfort, and who to contact outside clinic hours. Ask how a reaction could affect melasma or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and when review is needed.