Plasma Pen Pre & Post Care Instructions
PLANNING BEFORE: Remove contact lenses and any eyelash extensions prior to treatment.
- Stop any acid washes or retinols to the area 5 days before BEFORE your treatment.
- Set up an area in your bathroom that is clean to cleanse skin and apply products. Have some Q-tips available to clean the eyelashes without getting the area treated wet.
- You may want to use eyedrops if the eyes feel irritated-make sure they are preservative free saline (when applying drops, tip your face so that the eyedrop comes out by the nose, use a tissue to gently blot in order to avoid getting the area treated wet.)
- Use ONLY fragrance-free detergent and fabric softener on bedding post treatment. NO dryer sheets of any kind. Please change your pillowcase every day or every other day for 1 week post treatment. It’s important to keep chemicals away from the area treated while keeping the skin as clean as possible
- You should have a FRAGRANCE FREE, CHEMICAL FREE cleanser and SPF to use once the scabs have fallen off. Make sure to purchase Cicalfate in office for after the procedure.
DOWNTIME: There will be moderate and even excessive SWELLING to the treated areas, and this is normal, especially around the eyes. Swelling and inflammation for 1 to 5 days post-treatment is normal. If swelling lasts beyond the 5 days, contact the office.
- We recommend you sleep on your back with your head elevated for several days (up to 7 days if eyelids were treated) to minimize swelling
- You will also have small scabs that appear and darken and finally fall off completely at about 7 days. These must be treated very delicately and should NOT be picked. Keep your hair pulled back avoid treated area while healing.
You may experience a stinging sensation or hot feeling to the skin immediately after treatment and up to 24 hours after treatment. This is normal and is simply the heat exiting the skin. It is normal for the area that has been treated to feel tight and dry and slightly itchy. Occasional weeping will settle, tiny crusts will quickly form on the treated area. These may be visible for up to about a week. The crusts/scabs will become darker before they fall off.
You will NOT look your absolute best during the initial healing process (usually 5 to 7 days). We recommend you do NOT wear makeup in the area treated during the 5–7-day healing process because the application and/or removal of makeup could prematurely disrupt the scabs before they are ready to flake off. • Plasma Pen treatment is the gift that keeps giving and, on top of the immediate rejuvenation, lifting, and tightening affects you will likely experience, it can take 8 to 12 weeks for the full effects of
your treatment to be seen. Any additional treatments that may be required must only be performed once the skin is completely healed and has returned to its normal color. This usually takes about 12 weeks.
SKIN CARE: You must treat the little scabs that form with EXTREME CARE – do not rub them. To apply products, only use a Q-tip or pat gently with clean fingers. We recommend applying small amounts of Cicalfate at MINIMUM in morning, noon and evening to soothe inflamed skin and promote healing.
- Do NOT pick crusts off as this will delay the healing process and could cause scarring.
- Post Plasma Pen skincare is considered a “DRY HEAL”. Do NOT wash or get water over the treated areas until the scabs are off. Use the facial sponge provided or a clean face cloth with the provided face wash to clean untreated areas of the face or neck not until the scabs come off. If the area becomes wet while showering, gently blot dry. Avoid getting treated areas wet in shower when washing hair for the first 7 days. Try to avoid shower gels or hair products running on to your face as this could cause irritation. If water does get on the area treated, blot very gently with a clean cloth or towel.
- Do NOT rub or abrade the area(s) or use exfoliating products. This could result in scarring and/or pigmentation. Absolutely do NOT use any lotions or creams EXCEPT Cicalfate for the first 7 days.
- When the crusts have fallen off then your skin may be a little pink as it is fresh, new, and rejuvenated baby skin. This pinkness will fade in as little as 2 weeks, or it may take up to a few months. In rare cases it may take up to 6 months.
- Once the crusts/scabs have all fallen off, it is OK to use a FRAGRANCE-FREE gentle wash. Stick with FRAGRANCE FREE, gentle wash for another 7 days.
SPF IS NECESSARY: Once the scabs come off, you absolutely MUST apply a CHEMICAL FREE AND FRAGRANCE-FREE SPF while your skin is in the healing stages (pink in color), and you should continue to do so for at least the next 12 weeks. Use a physical sunscreen that contains Zinc Oxide and or Titanium Dioxide. The treated areas are producing brand new skin and may burn and/or pigment without adequate protection from the sun and indoor light. Please incorporate the SPF into your routine EVEN WHILE INDOORS for 12 weeks.
AVOID ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES AND ICE: Swelling is a minor inconvenience to achieve the desired outcome, and we want inflammation to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes to achieve the desired result. Any medication that blocks inflammation (such as ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin, Aleve) could interfere with the mechanism of action performed by the device.
AVOID OTHER PROCEDURES:
- Shaving in the area treated should be avoided until it is fully healed (5-7 days).
- Avoid any other type of procedures for 4 weeks on the same area which you had treated with Plasma Pen, such as laser therapy, Oxygeneo, diamond glow, chemical peels, Botox/fillers, or any surgical procedure to the area as it may pull on the delicate skin. Also avoid any facials, waxing, or massage that would touch or pull at the area for 4 weeks after treatment.
ABSOLUTELY NO HEAT: We recommend NOT exercising straight after a treatment because any heat, steam, or sweat could add to
the inflammation already present. Ideally you want to avoid excessive sweating for 5-7 days during the healing process.
- Stay away from heat & steam for the next 2 weeks while the skin may be pink and very sensitive.
- You absolutely must NOT use saunas or sunbeds during your 12-week healing period and ideally for longer. Avoid the midday sun and do not go to the beach for at least 2 weeks after treatment.
AVOID AFTER TREATMENT: Retinols, Retin-A, Tazorac, acid-based washes, face scrubs and Vitamin C products that you are not sure of the pH of, for at least 7 days and until skin is back to normal. These do not need to be stopped before treatment. DO NOT use any toners or makeup that contain alcohol for at least 7 days after treatment
COLD SORES: If you have a history of herpes or cold sores occurring anywhere on the face, please let us know before your appointment. Prevention dose of valacyclovir is 500-1000 mg daily for 3-5 days. If you get an outbreak, your dose needs to be increased and it depends on the location: lips, take 2000 mg 2 times per day for 1 day. For outbreaks in other locations on the face,
please call the office for guidance.
INFECTION AND DERMATITIS: Plasma Pen at Pure Dermatology is performed in a sterile environment. It is unlikely you will ever get an infection from a Plasma Pen treatment as the wound is superficial. However, the first 12 hours post-treatment is of vital importance in protecting you from any kind of potential infection. Please avoid any activities where you could expose yourself to contaminants, meaning going to the gym, sauna, hot tub, swimming and other public places where you can pick up germs by touching things then touching your skin.
PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE IMMEDIATELY IF YOU HAVE SWELLING THAT IS NOT RESOLVING AFTER 5 DAYS, INCREASED REDNESS, OR IF YOU DEVELOP BLISTERS, A RASH, OR HAVE PAIN OR PUSTULES. IF YOU CAN, PHOTOGRAPH IT BEFORE APPLYING MAKE-UP, WE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU WITHOUT HAVING TO COME TO THE OFFICE. EMAIL THE PHOTO TO DRHOLCOMB@PUREDERMNOLA.COM OR DRHASELTINE@PUREDERMNOLA.COM AND CALL THE OFFICE AT 504-226-7873 IMMEDIATELY.
TANNING: Please no tan of any type for at least 12 weeks before or after treatment. Tanning beds and lying in the sun increase aging
and lessen your chance of success with this and any aesthetic procedure.
RE-TREATMENT: Patients typically need a series of 3 treatments, spaced 4-6 weeks apart to achieve optimal results. You may not actually require further treatment once the effects of your original treatment are more determinable. Please note that if you do require a longer period of time between treatments then the delay will not alter the outcome/results. Most patients report seeing improvement 3-6 months after the last treatment.
