Patient Information

• You may continue your normal skincare regimen leading up to your procedure, unless Dr. Karhade has specifically instructed you otherwise.
• If you have a history of cold sores (herpes simplex), please let our office know before your procedure — some treatments can trigger a flare-up, and preventive medication may be recommended.
• We advise staying out of direct sun exposure for one week prior to your procedure.
• These are general guidelines. Please follow any specific instructions given to you by Dr. Karhade for your particular procedure.

For most procedures, the main instruction is simple: strictly avoid sun exposure, or fully protect the treated area from the sun, until your skin has returned to normal. Healing time varies from person to person, so please follow the specific timeline given to you at your appointment.

For resurfacing laser treatments, more detailed aftercare is needed — see below.

Post-Resurfacing Care Instructions

The first few days after your procedure are about gentle, careful care. Some redness, swelling, or minor bleeding is normal and expected — this guide walks you through what to do (and avoid) during recovery.

The timelines below are general guidelines. Always follow the specific instructions given to you by Dr. Karhade, as your recovery timeline may vary.

Right after your procedure

• Your skin will be covered with a layer of ointment (such as Aquaphor or Vaseline).
• A warm or burning feeling is normal and should fade within about 3 hours.
• For about 12 hours, light pinpoint bleeding or oozing is normal — this can look more dramatic than it is. Gently dab with clean, wet gauze as needed.
• Avoid sun exposure. This remains important until your skin is fully healed.

The first 2 days (night of your procedure through Day 2, morning and night)

• Rinse gently with water and clean hands.
• Apply a thin layer of ointment (Aquaphor or Vaseline).
• Avoid sun exposure.
• Hold off on all other skincare products — your skin is healing and more sensitive during this time.

Around Day 3 (roughly 48-72 hours after your procedure, unless otherwise instructed by Dr. Karhade)

• Start wearing sunscreen daily.
• You can typically resume your regular skincare routine, including cleansers, retinoids, moisturizer, and makeup — unless Dr. Karhade has given you different instructions.

A note on vinegar soaks: These are not needed for everyone. If Dr. Karhade has instructed you to do vinegar soaks, please follow the specific directions provided to you at your appointment.

Please arrive without makeup on. If you do wear makeup, we'll ask you to remove it once you're in the office — at minimum, over the treatment area and around the eyes, so you can wear eye protection. We provide makeup remover wipes and a gentle face wash, but you're welcome to bring your own preferred products if you'd like.

Please wear comfortable clothing you don't mind getting dirty, depending on treatment area. Topical numbing cream, cleansing agents, treatment gel, or other substances that are used may get on clothing despite best efforts to avoid it.

A medical assistant will escort you to the treatment room, where your history and treatment plan may be reviewed and photographs taken. If applicable, topical numbing cream will be applied at this time. If you have long hair, you'll be given clips or a headband to keep it away from your face. If additional comfort measures have been recommended for you, such as nerve blocks or nitrous oxide, those may also be started at this point.

If your treatment plan includes multiple lasers/devices, your treatment may be done in more than 1 exam room; if needed, we will escort you to a second exam room after one part of your treatment.

Please contact our office if you experience any of the following:

• Increasing pain
• Increasing redness
• Significant itching
• Blisters, cold sores, pus, fever, or any other symptom that concerns you

Call our office at (415) 923-3377 during business hours.