Question
Has anyone experienced a crusty brown scabbing after Fraxel?
I got fraxel laser done on my entire face on Friday morning, it is Sunday afternoon and I still have extensive swelling all over my face, but more concerning to me is that my whole face has turned a crusty brown colour and is one big scab. I'm not sure what to do and it doesn't sound as if this is a normal reaction.
Has anyone had this kind of experience and how long should I expect it to last? I was told I would be able to return to work Monday but there is no chance at this stage. I'm actually a bit scared.
Answers (2)
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1
October 20, 2008
Very Unusual With Fraxel re:store
Board Certified
Facial Plastic Surgeon
Facial Plastic Surgeon
Answer by Michael A. Persky, MD
Hi Trin,
Keep your face moisturized for now and see your treating physician first thing Monday. It is unusual to have such extensive swelling from the non-ablative Fraxel re:store treatment, but it happens to some patients with sensitive skin, or in those patients who have a bit of alcohol during the immediatel recovery phase. Most likely you will be fine, and the good news is that you will likely get an ultimate better result due to your increased downtime.
Protect your skin the lovely spring Australian sunshine, and please let us know how you are later this week. Be well.
Dr. P
2
October 19, 2008
Don't panic
Answer by Virginia Stevens, MD
It sounds like you had a somewhat aggressive Fraxel session, which is fine. Perhaps the treating individual did not anticipate quite such an ablative result. Your job at this point is to keep your face moisturized with a bland, non perfumed ointment or heavy medical cream. You face must not be allowed to dry out, as this can increase the chances of scarring or abnormal pigmentation. You can use Vaseline in a pinch, applying a thin film every 2 hours. Stay INSIDE, out of the sun, eventhough it is late fall. Ultraviolet light can increase post inflammatory hyperpigmentation from the UV hitting lower skin levels. Hopefully you are on Valtrex to prevent cold sores from breaking out, and my advice would be to probably be on some antibiotics, and possibly Diflucan as an anti-fungal, although experts differ in these recommendations.
The bottom line is, that with proper care, your face should be just fine. It would be helpful to know what Fitzpatrick skin type you have: whether dark such as of African or East Indian descent, or medium dark as from Asian descent or Hispanic, or Caucasian, and what your ethnic background is if Caucasian. Any type darker than Caucasian, is at even increased risk for the hyperpigmentation, and needs to have special care. Call your doctor first thing in the morning.
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10/20/08
I had the same thing happen to me. I haven't been out of the house in almost a week, except for absolute necessity! I had two abdominal surgical scars treated, and two non-acne scars on my face. One of them is on my chin, just under my bottom lip. It immediately turned into the weird white bumps, and within an hour I had grainy-sandy feeling stuff on the area. None of the areas ever had any swelling. Within a couple days, the area had infected pimple-like things on it, and was hard as a rock... rough... one big scab. Then it started peeling, and I realized today I needed Neosporin. Now its just red with one tiny scab left. This is HORRIBLE!!! I can't get my doctor's office to answer the phone (the nurses station; the receptionist won't help me.) My other areas got really red and ended up with tiny pin dot-sized scabs. I would NEVER EVER get this done to my whole face. It is not supposed to break the skin but it did, and I have no idea why. I'm not even sure I will continue treatments. I just want my chin back!!!! Does anyone have any more information about why this happened to me?
Thanks.
10/20/08
I should also say that it was definitely Fraxel Re:store that I had done, and I told her to turn it all the way up and zap the scars away!! I guess she did!!
10/22/08
Thanks for everyone's advice, it really helped ease my mind. The scabbing has mostly gone away now but I'm still very red underneath and have broken out in horrible white heads all over my face! (The area around my chin has also gone really hard?) My face is very dry and peeling a lot now too so fingers crossed that what is underneath is a whole lot better and hopefully I don't have to look like this for much longer!
I did finally leave the house for work today (6 days later), not pretty but I didn't really have a choice. Am very glad the day is over though so that I can go back into hiding for the night...hopefully will see more improvement by tomorrow. Thanks again.
10/22/08
My injuries from Fraxel have improved, too... but I don't see much improvement in my scars :(
1/7/09
I had my fourth fraxel restore this Monday. Today is Wednesday. Every time I have had bad, extensive swelling. Especially on day two. This time, the doctor turned up the energy to 30. And my eyes were swollen shut this morning. My fraxel restore treatments have required much downtime because of the extensive swelling. Not so much because of redness.If anyone has had similar experience I would like to know!