Q-switched Nd:YAG laser: before and after

The clinician first checks the target area, your recent sun exposure, tendency to develop dark marks, and any active irritation or infection. The laser delivers brief pulses of light to the selected tissue. During treatment, you may notice snapping or warmth, followed by temporary redness, swelling, or a darker appearance of treated pigment. These changes can settle gradually as the skin recovers. The visible result depends on the target, settings, skin tone, and whether more than one session is appropriate.

Arrive with clean skin and tell the clinic about tanning, cold sores, previous laser reactions, and all prescribed or non-prescribed products. Follow the clinic’s instructions about pausing irritating skincare. After treatment, use the recommended gentle cleanser and moisturizer, avoid picking or scrubbing, and limit heat and direct sun. Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen as directed. Do not compare your healing with another person’s photographs; ask for a review if the treated area is not following the plan.

Contact the treating clinic promptly for worsening pain, spreading redness, marked swelling, blisters, pus, fever, or an area that becomes increasingly tender. Seek urgent medical help for facial swelling with breathing difficulty or a rapidly spreading allergic reaction. A change in pigment can occur during healing, but persistent or worsening darkening or lightening deserves assessment.

Which concern is being treated, and what change is realistic for my skin tone? What should I stop or continue before treatment? How should I manage redness or pigment changes afterward? What symptoms mean I need an earlier review?