Light Therapy Treatment - Patient Advice Sheet

1. Skin Preparation

The area to be treated should be free from make-up, perfume, deodorant and body or face creams. Please avoid spray deodorant prior to treatment.

2. Sun and Tan Restrictions

• There should be no active or fake tan in the area to be treated
• Use of sunbeds or prolonged exposure to sunlight is not allowed in the month prior to treatment
• An SPF30+ must be used on the area between treatments
• Suntans must be left to fade completely before treatment can start
• Fake tans must also be fully faded before treatment can commence

3. Appointment Policy

We reserve the right to charge for any appointment booked but abandoned due to active sun-tan or fake tan. Please call us to discuss if you are worried. We’re here to help!

4. Medical History Updates

A medical history is taken at consultation, but we rely on you to inform us of any changes to this. We need to know of any medication you are taking including those bought from a chemist or herbalist.

5. Arrival Time

Make sure that you arrive in good time for your appointment; this will allow us to pre-cool the skin if this should be required.

1. Cooling the Treatment Area

In order to minimise skin heating and to reduce the likelihood of skin reactions, the treatment area may be cooled before, during and after the procedure. If the area still feels hot at home you can apply a cold flannel or cool pack. Do not allow ice packs or ice into direct contact with the skin.

2. Normal Initial Reactions

Following treatment, the area may appear red and raised and you may experience a tingling sensation. This is completely normal and should settle over the next few days.

3. Managing Swelling and Bruising

Occasionally you may experience swelling or bruising and this can last anything from 1-2 days up to 1-2 weeks. If you experience swelling, it is usually worse one to two days following treatment.

For facial treatments: Sleeping with your head raised on pillows will minimise its appearance. Cool packs will also help to reduce the swelling. If your skin is particularly sensitive and prone to histamine reactions, you may also wish to consider taking an anti-histamine medication.

4. Vascular Treatment Aftercare

Following vascular treatments a bruise may appear at the treated area. This may last up to 15 days and as the bruise fades there may be brown discolouration of the skin. This usually fades in 1-3 months. When larger vessels are treated they may take on a darker colour. Again, this may take up to four weeks to resolve as the body re-absorbs the damaged vessels.

5. Pigmentation Treatment Aftercare

Following pigmentation treatments, the lesion may appear darker – this is normal. Over the following weeks it may form microcrusts which will flake away over the coming days. Do not exfoliate the area and allow the microcrusts to fall away naturally.

6. Make-up Application

Make-up can be applied after several hours if the skin is not sore or broken. However, we advise caution if the area is feeling sensitive. Remove make up carefully as rubbing the skin can cause irritation or infection. If the skin at the treatment area becomes broken, then make-up should be avoided.

7. Activity Restrictions

Care should be taken to avoid trauma to the treated area for 4 or 5 days after treatment. Avoid:

• Strenuous activities
• Sauna and steam
• Excessively hot baths
• Massaging the area
• Wearing tight clothing on the treated area

8. Bathing and Skin Care

• Wash and bathe as normal but take cool showers rather than hot baths
• The skin should be patted dry and not rubbed
• Use a light moisturiser or aloe vera gel to keep the area moisturised and the skin protected
• If there is any discomfort, treat the area as you would sunburn

9. Sun Protection (CRITICAL)

Use an SPF 30+ to protect the area from sunlight as much as possible between treatments and for at least one month after treatment ends. Failure to do this can lead to sunburn and hyper-pigmentation of the treated area.

Note: Most cases of changes in pigmentation occur when the treated area has been exposed to sunlight, or in people with darker skin types.

10. Emergency Care – Blistering

If blistering occurs, contact the clinic immediately for further advice.

• Keep the area clean and dry and allow to heal naturally
• Do not use any lotions or creams on open skin as this may increase the risk of infection
• DO NOT pick grazes or blisters – as this may increase the chance of a scar occurring
• Once the skin has healed, a high protection sunscreen should be used daily for 12 months to prevent pigmentation changes to the skin