What are some of the side effects from using an ablative laser?

The side effects from ablative and non-ablative treatments differ and therefore can result in separate and varying reactions. For example, side effects from using an ablative laser may include the following:

• Swelling, itching, and redness may be experienced. Sometimes the redness may last several months.
• Milia, or tiny white bumps, may appear on the skin if you apply a thick cream after treatment. If you have acne, the condition can worsen.
• Ablative procedures may trigger bacterial or viral infections, such as a flare-up of the herpes simplex virus (HSV) – or a strain of the virus that produces cold sores.
• Changes in skin color can result from ablative resurfacing, which causes the treated area to darken (hyperpigmentation) or lighten (hypopigmentation). Permanent changes in skin color are more likely to occur to people with darker skin.
• In rare instances, ablative skin resurfacing may lead to permanent scarring.
• In some very rare instances, ablative therapy, when performed close to the lower eyelid, can lead to the condition of ectropion – causing the eyelid to turn out and expose the eye’s inner surface.