Plasma skin resurfacing (PSR) is a wondrous, nonsurgical cosmetic procedure that uses plasma to heat and tighten any loose or sagging skin. It uses radio frequency (RF) energy to ionize gas into plasma. Once the plasma touches your epidermis, it creates a thermal effect on the skin. The release of thermal energy or heat eliminates oxygen from the targeted surface. This removes layers of dead and damaged skin cells. While we may not be able to prevent skin laxity due to the decline in collagen and elastin production that naturally comes with the aging process, PSR helps to slow it down. Since it’s considered a soft surgery, it’s a safer alternative to traditional and invasive cosmetic surgery. Although complications and side effects post-treatment are minimal, aftercare is of the utmost importance.
As you recover from the treatment, it’s important to take extra care of your skin during this time. Here are some useful tips for aftercare following your PSR treatment.
Minimize Sun Exposure
Overexposure to the sun is one of the biggest culprits to skin laxity in the first place. Therefore, it only makes sense to avoid the sun and its harmful UV rays while recovering from your PSR treatment. During the recovery process, your skin is extremely sensitive to photo damage. Therefore, patients must protect their skin from the sun as much as possible.
If you absolutely must go outside during the week following your treatment, remember to apply sun protection frequently. Your sunscreen should ideally be formulated for sensitive, recovering skin. “If you’re unsure of which sunscreen is best for your face, seek advice from your surgeon,” advises Pauline Depp, a blogger at Academicbrits and Phdkingdom.
After recovery, wearing SPF protection is an amazing habit to develop if you haven’t already. Protecting your sun from the sun’s harmful rays can drastically slow down the impact of aging on your skin. Remember to reapply sunscreen every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating profusely. This ensures your skin is protected from the sun at all times.
Wearing sunscreen indoors is good practice as well. UV rays can easily filter through windows. Therefore, it’s better to be safe and wear sunscreen daily regardless of whether you step outdoors or not.
Resist the Urge to Pick the Skin
As your skin starts to peel, it might be tempting to pick or peel the layer of dead skin. While this may seem harmless, it’s important to allow your skin the time to heal itself properly. The last thing you want to do is rush the healing process and interfere with the results. Moreover, picking off areas of your skin might potentially result in scarring or an infection.
Keep Your Skin Moisturized
Our skins love moisture. Moisturizer has always been essential to maintaining skin health, but even more so following a laser treatment. Many people commonly use petroleum jelly to boost their skin hydration after a treatment. In addition to hydrating your skin, petroleum jelly and occlusive moisturizers also create a protective barrier that helps heal your skin. Your surgeon will likely specify which moisturizer is safe to use on your skin during this time.
When in Doubt, Ask Your Surgeon
“Your surgeon wants your treatment to succeed as much as you do,” explains Linda Dixon, a writer at Originwritings and Nextcoursework. “If you’re ever uncertain of which products you can use on your skin, don’t hesitate to consult with your surgeon.” Your surgeon will likely provide recommendations for skincare that are safe for your recovering skin. Only use the products that they recommend or instruct you to use. It’s better to be cautious than take liberties and assume the products in your regular skincare routine are safe for your skin immediately after your skin resurfacing treatment.
Get Plenty of Rest and Hydration
Like any other procedure, it’s important to prioritize rest after a plasma skin resurfacing treatment. Getting the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep per night and drinking between 9-13 cups of water daily are good practices to maintain after your recovery as well. Your skin, body, and mind will love you for it.
Conclusion
If you’re still considering PSR, it would be beneficial to read about what you need to know to prepare for laser skin resurfacing treatment. However, if you are currently recovering from the treatment, the good news is that recovery is relatively short at approximately 7 days. Giving your skin a bit more ‘TLC’ than usual during this time helps the healing process tremendously. After the peeling stage is over, your skin should appear smoother and more rejuvenated. Although the results are permanent, your skin will nonetheless continue to age. At least now you know you can turn back the clock without going ‘under the knife’ using plasma skin resurfacing.
George J. Newton is a content manager and editor who loves finding and sharing creative solutions to life’s problems. He has been married for ten years, perfecting the art of the apology throughout.
