Although generally not as strong as a CO₂ laser, an erbium laser is capable of creating significant change in the skin, which necessitates some downtime. The most common side effects include generalized discomfort and mild swelling. Some patients may experience redness that may remain for the duration of the healing period. This first stage of skin healing after erbium laser resurfacing generally lasts 1-2 weeks, followed by some peeling or flaking as new tissue is generated. It is very important that patients keep the skin moisturized and do not scratch or pull at any peeling areas, which may damage the skin and increase the risk of scarring or infection. The complete healing process after an erbium laser treatment will take from 5 to 21 days depending upon the laser used and the nature of the treated condition. During this erbium laser recovery period, some patients may experience persistent redness in the treated area which may be covered with makeup generally one week after erbium laser resurfacing.

Because the energy produced by an erbium laser is readily absorbed by water in the skin cells, an erbium laser works instantly to vaporize target tissue. Afterwards, it is just a matter of allowing the skin to heal and generate new replacement cells. Some treatments may include multiple passes to achieve deeper resurfacing. For this grade of erbium laser resurfacing, the full results may take 4 to 6 months to realize as new collagen and elastin is formed.

Erbium laser resurfacing may be ablative or non-ablative depending upon the erbium laser used and the goals of treatment. Generally, an ablative laser will be more painful because it removes, or ablates, the top layer of skin. Therefore, there is a range of potential discomfort that may accompany erbium laser resurfacing. Thankfully, an erbium laser resurfacing is performed with the use of a topical or local anesthetic to thoroughly numb the area to be treated by the erbium laser. After the erbium laser session, different levels of discomfort may be experienced depending on the patient’s wound response and individual pain threshold. Pain medications or other pain management strategies may be prescribed to mitigate patient discomfort after an erbium laser.

Erbium lasers refer to the lasing medium, erbium, that is used to create a wavelength of light that is absorbed by water in the skin. The laser energy is delivered in a controlled manner to the skin, creating microscopic wounds that stimulate the body's natural healing process.

Fraxel^® lasers use a proprietary technology called fractional photothermolysis. This technology delivers laser energy in a grid-like pattern to the skin, creating numerous microscopic treatment zones surrounded by unaffected skin. This stimulates the body's natural healing process, promoting the growth of new, healthy skin cells.

Fraxel^® lasers may used different lasing mediums. For example, the Fraxel^® Re:pair laser system uses carbon dioxide as the lasing medium¹ , while the Fraxel^® Duo system combines an erbium laser (1550 nm) with a thulium (1927 nm) fiber laser.²

Depending on what is being treated, follow-up sessions of erbium laser may or may not be needed. Because of the high-precision of an erbium laser, treatment may be limited to specific areas of scarring or discoloration which most likely will not require an additional session. For more generalized sun damage or signs of aging, additional erbium laser resurfacing treatments will likely be recommended. How soon the additional erbium laser treatments are performed will depend in part on the reaction and healing speed of the skin. In general, the skin needs about 21 days to completely heal after erbium laser resurfacing. Once a patient’s goals have been achieved, maintenance sessions will likely be needed once or twice a year to maintain the erbium laser results.

Healthy and nourished skin will not only heal more quickly, but also achieve a better final result from any esthetic procedure. This explains why professional skin care clinics may “prescribe” facial treatments such as gentle massage, LED or microcurrent before and/or after a procedure such as erbium laser resurfacing. The proper pre and post-treatment care has a huge impact on the final results of an erbium laser. But there are many ways to prep the skin for an erbium laser at home, but pre and post-care instructions will differ based on the type of erbium laser used, the area treated, and the patient’s unique skin condition. For this reason, it’s important to consult with a trusted clinician on specific pre and post-care instructions.