Nd:YAG Laser: Treatment Advice & Aftercare

Pigmentation • Red Veins • Tattoo Removal

At Eco Skin Clinic, our Nd:YAG laser can be used for selected pigmentation, visible red veins and tattoo removal.

The laser works by delivering controlled light energy into a specific target within the skin. Depending on the treatment, this may be pigment, tattoo ink or haemoglobin within a visible blood vessel.

Your practitioner will assess your skin and the area being treated to determine whether Nd:YAG laser treatment is appropriate.

Before Your Treatment

Before your appointment:

• Avoid deliberate tanning and sunbeds before treatment.

• Do not use fake tan on the treatment area.

• Protect the area from excessive sun exposure.

• Avoid irritating or aggressively exfoliating the treatment area immediately beforehand.

• Tell us about all medication, supplements and herbal remedies you take.

• Tell us if you have recently started any new medication.

• Let us know if you have recently had another laser, peel, injectable or advanced treatment in the area.

• Tell us if you have a history of cold sores when treating an area where they occur.

• Let us know if your health or skin has changed since your consultation or patch test.

A real or artificial tan can interfere with laser treatment and can increase the risk of unwanted skin reactions.

Is Nd:YAG Laser Suitable for Everyone?

Please tell your practitioner if you:

• are pregnant or breastfeeding

• have an active infection, cold sore, wound or significant inflammation in the treatment area

• have recently tanned or have sunburn

• are taking medication that may affect your skin's response to laser or healing

• have a condition affecting wound healing

• have a history of abnormal or keloid scarring

• have a history of significant pigmentation changes following skin injury

• have recently undergone another treatment in the same area

• have a significant medical condition or your health has changed since your consultation.

Not every condition or medication automatically means you cannot be treated. We will assess your individual circumstances and the type of laser treatment being considered.

Do not stop prescribed medication for laser treatment unless the healthcare professional who prescribed it has advised you to do so.

Patch Testing

A consultation and patch test may be required before treatment, depending on the area, indication and your treatment history.

A successful patch test reduces uncertainty but does not guarantee that a reaction cannot occur during a subsequent treatment. NHS laser guidance similarly notes that absence of a reaction or scarring after a test does not completely remove the risk from later treatments.

Pigmentation Treatment

Nd:YAG laser can be used for selected benign areas of pigmentation.

The laser targets pigment within the skin, breaking it into smaller particles that are gradually cleared by the body.

Important: Pigmented Lesions

We do not laser suspicious or undiagnosed pigmented lesions.

If a pigmented mark is new, changing in size, shape or colour, repeatedly bleeding or crusting, or cannot be confidently identified as suitable for cosmetic laser treatment, we may ask you to have it medically assessed before treatment.

This is an important safeguard because inappropriate treatment of pigmented lesions can potentially delay diagnosis of conditions such as melanoma.

What to Expect After Pigmentation Treatment

Immediately following treatment, the area may:

• look darker

• appear red or swollen

• feel warm or sensitive

• develop temporary whitening or 'frosting'

• occasionally blister

• form a light crust or scab.

The pigmentation may initially look darker rather than lighter. This doesn't mean the treatment hasn't worked.

As the area heals, the pigment may gradually break down and fade.

Pigmentation Aftercare

• Treat the area gently.

• Do not scratch, rub or pick it.

• Allow any crusting or scabbing to come away naturally.

• Avoid retinoids, exfoliating acids and scrubs until healed.

• Avoid excessive heat while the area is sensitive.

• Avoid swimming if the skin has blistered or crusted.

• Protect the area carefully from the sun.

• Once appropriate for the healing stage, use a broad-spectrum SPF 30–50.

  
  

Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation

Laser treatment can cause temporary changes in skin colour, including post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH)where the treated area becomes darker.

This risk is greater in darker skin tones and in people who have previously developed pigmentation following inflammation or injury.

Pigmentation changes can take several months to settle and, occasionally, hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation can be long-lasting or permanent. NHS laser guidance similarly warns that gain or loss of pigmentation can last for several months and, rarely, may be permanent.

Red Vein Treatment

For selected visible blood vessels, laser energy is absorbed by haemoglobin within the vessel. This heats and damages the vessel so that it becomes less visible as the body gradually clears it.

What to Expect After Red Vein Treatment

Immediately afterwards you may experience:

• redness

• warmth

• mild swelling

• tenderness

• temporary darkening of the vessel

• occasional bruising.

The treated vessel doesn't necessarily disappear immediately. It can gradually become less visible as the area recovers.

Several treatments may be required, depending on the size, depth and number of vessels being treated.

Red Vein Aftercare

For the first few days:

• Treat the area gently.

• Avoid rubbing or massaging the treated vessels.

• Avoid strenuous exercise if the area remains hot or flushed.

• Avoid saunas, steam rooms, very hot baths and excessive heat while the area is recovering.

• Avoid strong exfoliating skincare on the area.

• Protect exposed areas from UV exposure.

• Use broad-spectrum SPF 30–50.

Redness and swelling following vascular laser treatment can persist for several days.

Tattoo Removal

Nd:YAG laser tattoo removal uses short pulses of laser energy to fragment tattoo pigment, allowing the body's immune system to gradually clear the smaller pigment particles over time.

Tattoo removal is a gradual process. The number of treatments required varies considerably according to factors including:

• ink colour

• ink density

• depth of pigment

• professional or amateur tattoo

• location on the body

• your individual response.

Complete removal cannot be guaranteed.

What to Expect After Tattoo Removal

Immediately following treatment you may experience:

• temporary white 'frosting'

• redness

• swelling

• warmth or tenderness

• bruising

• pinpoint bleeding

• blistering

• crusting or scabbing.

Frosting immediately after treatment is a common response to pigment/tattoo laser treatment and normally subsides.

Tattoo Removal Aftercare

• Keep the area clean.

• Avoid touching it unnecessarily.

• Do not deliberately burst blisters.

• Do not pick scabs or crusts.

• Avoid rubbing or scratching the area.

• Avoid swimming, hot tubs and saunas until the skin has healed.

• Avoid strenuous exercise if it causes significant heat, sweating or friction over the treated area.

• Avoid shaving directly over blistered or crusted skin.

• Protect the area from sunlight.

• Once the skin has healed sufficiently, use broad-spectrum SPF 30–50 on exposed areas.

Allow the area to fully heal before another laser session. Tattoo removal sessions are commonly spaced by at least several weeks because clearance of fragmented pigment continues after the visible skin reaction has resolved.

Tattoo Colour Changes

Not all tattoo pigments respond in the same way.

Some colours can be more difficult to remove, and certain pigments can darken following laser treatment rather than lighten. This is known as paradoxical darkening and can occasionally persist.

Laser treatment can also result in temporary or, rarely, permanent hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation.

When Should I Contact Eco Skin Clinic?

Some redness, swelling, tenderness, darkening, crusting or blistering may be expected depending on the treatment you've had.

Please contact us if:

• pain is becoming significantly worse

• redness or swelling continues to increase

• the area becomes increasingly hot

• you notice pus or signs of infection

• you develop significant blistering that concerns you

• the skin isn't healing as expected

• you develop an unexpected pigmentation change

• you're concerned about your reaction.

Seek appropriate medical attention for severe or rapidly worsening symptoms.