Redness after IPL & Laser Treatments: DeepFX & ActiveFX

For those who are seeing a lot of redness after DeepFX & ActiveFX treatments:

I am getting lots of redness which is lasting 6 weeks and longer.
Checkerboard where I did Deepfx. Any suggestions about how to avoid or help
it fade faster. It fades to the point where it can be covered up within 2 weeks,
but still would like to know any tricks you have come up with.

Also for men, they don't use coverup makeup! - so this is more of a problem.

Finally, any tips for better visualization of where you have treated with
DeepFx? Hard to see pulse patterns and with blood and serum oozing, hard to tell exactly where you have been. Any tips??? Are you all having the same problems?

I do Deepfx at 17.5 j with Density 3
I do ActiveFx over deepfx at density 1 energy 70 (to blend color).
I try to place pulse patterns right next to each other without leaving
spaces. I do Activefx around the eyes (not deep)

Sciton BBL treatment parameters for pigment & redness.

Not to be left out of the IPL section, the Sciton BBL IPL treatment parameters for pigment and redness.

I have a Q regared the 515 filter and lentigines. With the 10ms pulse widths I have seen moderate rxns at 11-12J with 25 cooling in type 2s ( moderate erythema with accentuation and darkening of lentigines). When I moved to 20ms 9-10J with 18 cooling in type 3 and 4s I saw no immediate response (eythema or darkening). I spoke with a patient today who stated minimal darkening 24hr out. These are the recommended settings but they do not appear to have the punch. Has anyone tried lowering pulse widths to 15ms or even 10ms with cooling let's say 15 to protect surrounding skin?? I have lot's of type 3-4s with lentigines. Your suggestions appreciated...

Live Physician Chat: Sciton BBL (Cosmetic IPLs & Lasers)
Tuesday February 24, 2009 9 - 10 PM EST

Fraxel 1500: Rashes, reactions and treatment protocols.

More from the Fraxel 1500 crew here at Medical Spa MD Forums; Fraxel 1500 treatment protocols, rashes, and reactions.

In response to a complaint of redness after a treatment with the Fraxel 1500:

Maybe this can help...

I have seen rashes like this occuring after thedoctor (chiropractor) at my office performs a fraxel treatment. He is known to not wipe the numbing cream off thoroughly and then puts the gliding gel on directly after. After performing the treatment he does not thoroughly clean the skin and immediately puts aloe on the skin. Clients usually come in days later complaining of a rash and itchiness, especially on the cheeks and chin. Im guessing the rash is from a combination of the heat and multiple substances still being on the skin. It is very important to make sure that the skin is very clean before, during and after the treatment. The topical we use is a 7/7 lidocaine/tetracaine combo and most clients that I've treated come out pretty good without any complications after aside from the swelling.

After the treatment I let the client sit with cold aloe vera along with the simmer chiller blasting cold air onthe face for about 15 mins. Then I have them rinse the skin and I immediately apply the Neocutis BioRestorative Gel that is very light in texture and great for post op care. The Neocutis line is great for burns, scars, rashes, irritations and is best for after fraxel treatments for the first week. It helps the skin get back to a normal state. i usually sell these products along with the Fraxel package so that the client can use the products at home and continue caring for the skin properly. Using anything thick like a vaseline base, bacitracin, heavy creams immediately after the treatment and during the first week post op will irritate and clog the skin and cause more complications.

Fraxel 1500: Pain control when performing fractional treatments.

There are some new comment threads of interest in the Physician to Physicain Forums including this one on the Fraxel 1500 and pain control when performing treatments.

What is the strongest numbing cream that you can order from a compounding pharmacy?

I currently get a combination of lidocaine/prilocaine that the pharmacy will not tell me how and what concentration it is. It is better than Emla, but is there anything else out there? Currently we are getting people through the CO2 first pass with my cream, a 10 mg of Vicodin and 2 mg of Ativan, all PO, but when it comes to the dynamic phase where I blend, they start squirming. I am at the point, I may start to do conscious sedation with Fentyl and Versed. If anyone is using the Lutronic CO2, my settings are 100-160 mJ and 100-150 spots/cm2(density is automatically calculated for you)...