Prior to your treatment day, you will want to grab a few things at the grocery store. I can assure you that you will not want to go to the store after your treatment. Some of the items are available at DCCM and can picked up on the day of treatment.
Grocery list prior to the treatment
White Vinegar
Paper towels
If you are not going to be purchasing the Alastin Nectar from DCCM your second best option will be a tube of Aquaphor.
Available at DCCM
ZO gentle Cleanser
ZO Sun Screen
Alastin Nectar
Please arrive on the day of your appointment with a clean face free of any lotions and or makeup; even eye makeup. We recommend showing up about 10 minutes prior to your appointment time so that you can fill out your necessary treatment consents and for us to review your medical history.
After consents are signed a member of the team will take your pictures to document the skins health and appearance pre treatment. Once the pictures are completed, a numbing cream will be applied to the treatment area and you will wait for the numbing to take effect. This process can be about 45 minutes. A member of our team will then wash the treated area while removing the numbing cream. Once you are prepped and ready; Tara will then begin your treatment which will take about 20-30 minutes.
After your treatment a staff member will apply a thin barrier ointment onto the skin. You will go home with that in place and continue applying your Alastin Nectar or the Aquaphor in order to keep the skin with a thin layer of ointment on it at ALL times. Change your pillow case every night or lay a fresh clean white towel over the pillow each night to sleep. Be sure you have allowed yourself proper healing time before you put on a mask. If you need to go out and are wearing a mask it is essential that you wear a clean mask or you could risk infection.
Post-Care
Your skin will be hot for the first 4 hours after the treatment, then it will become red, dry and look like you have little grids all over it. You may even notice it gets dry, cracks and oozes a bit. All of these changes are normal. Do not pick or peel your skin. Once you are ready to go back outside you must wear sunscreen and a hat. It is advised that you stay out of the sun completely for 4-6 weeks. You can cause serious damage to the skin if you expose it to sun post treatment. You must directly avoid the sun for a minimum of 4 weeks. Apply sunscreen even to go in the car as you can cause hyperpigmentation to the skin if not.
4 hours Post Treatment
Gently apply a thin layer of aquaphor to your entire face where it was treated. Re-apply the aquaphor every time the treatment are begins to feel dry or cracked.
The Morning after your treatment
The following morning you will create a mixture of 1/3 White vinegar and 2/3 warm water. You will soak a paper towel in your solution and allow it to sit on the skin for 5 minutes. This is a natural antibacterial and it will also help to cut the grease from the ointment you have been keeping on your skin. After your vinegar soak, you will GENTLY wash your face with a very mild cleanser (we recommend ZO gentle Cleanser retailed here at DCCM). Do not rub or pick the skin, you only want to very gently pat your skin. It is best to just use the tips of your fingers and avoid a face cloth or face brush to wash until the skin is healed. Be sure the skin is throughly rinsed and then apply your ointment again and keep reapplying all day.
At Bed time repeat your vinegar soak process.
You will be dry and red for up to 7 days, your skin will remain pink and slightly tender for up to 3-4 more weeks. Makeup can be worn once the skins texture is even again and all of the scabs and flaking are gone. This usually occurs by day 3-5. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call the practice and a member of our team can help guide your care.
For 30 days avoid: Direct sunlight, Swimming, Sweating, exercise, and vigorous activities that cause sweating; and, Tanning beds all together Powered cleansing brushes, Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids, Retinol (Vitamin A), Vitamin C (low-pH formula) scrubs; and, Anything perceived as “active” skincare.
We want to thank you for choosing the team here at DCCM. As always, please call us with any questions or concerns that may arise. We are here for you and want you to feel confident in the process just as much as in your skin!