Post treatment...red burn marks

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
1

Hey to everyone on the forum. I’ve been reading most of the posts for a few months. I started laser treatments in mid-July. I bought a full body package and got a good deal on 8 treatments all over with GentleLase. (I believe my skin is Type III). So far, everything has been good on face, underarms, back, abdomen, brazilian, etc. I’ve gotten lots of good info here…and everything seems as it should. :slight_smile: I’ve had good shedding, a few missed spots, etc, but until now, no problems.

Yesterday I went for my second treatment on my arms (last treatment 8/4) and legs (last treatment 7/24). The new hair growth had began growing on both about a week and a half ago. I’m a trooper and am good with pain. Yesterday the tech told me that she was raising the settings, which was fine with me. She has been telling me the settings all along, but I haven’t paid much attention to them because there are so many different areas and so many different settings…I know I can’t remember them all and since all has been good, I didn’t think I’d need to.

Well, she started in the area of my knee and it was PAINFUL. My skin turned red right away, so she said she would decrease the settings slighty. She did…and then continued with the treatment. Although it hurt a lot, I gritted my teeth and dealt with it. I want the treatment to work since I paid for full removal and I don’t mind having pain for a short amount of time so I can be (almost) hair-free for (hopefully) most of my life. Anyway, when I got home, I was in a LOT of pain. I took 2 Benedryl just incase it was a hystamine reaction. I put on aloe and sat still most of the night and went to sleep. I had a hard time sleeping because the front and back of my arms and legs were sore. There was a lot of redness which I thought would have calmed down by this morning.

Today I have rows of hudreds of red circles all over my arms and legs. Some are starting to scab…all of them are sore. I’m at work (though I’d rather be home with packs of ice). Is there anything anyone can recommend to take or do? And is this normal for the laser? Will the spots go away?

About a week prior to the treament, I had spent one day in the sun and wore 45 Sunblock that I applied repeatedly throughout the day. There was no visible sun damage to my skin (no burn, no tan)…could that have caused it?

Any info is appreciated. :slight_smile:

2

Sounds like you got burned this time. Definitely show it to your clinic; they may prescribe something to speed up the healing. The only settings on GentleLASE you need to know are joules (power) and spot size (diameter of laser head). You should keep a record of the settings for each treatment.

and yes, being out in the sun, even with sunblock could have made your skin more sensitive and you may have gotten a slight tan even if it’s not very noticeable. but it was probably more the combination of this and the raised settings.

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Thanks for the info. I know I am slow responding. I went back to the clinic after about a week of scabbing. They gave me a scrub to use in the shower to help take the scabs off, appologized profusely and made a note to reduce the settings for next time.

The nurse who usually does my treatments called another nurse in to have a look at it as well and they took pictures for my file.

I go back for my torso, axilla, etc in 6 days. I will make sure I don’t get burned this time…and I’ll find out the settings!