Aftercare for Acne Scar Treatment: What to Know Before Washing Your Face or Working Out
1. Even your usual face washing and workouts can start to feel tricky
Hello, this is Datena Clinic.
After a scar treatment, even your everyday face wash can suddenly feel like something to be careful about.
Questions tend to pop up one after another: Is it okay to get it wet? Should I take a break from working out?
If your skin stings or looks red, you may worry about touching it the wrong way.
Here's how to care for your skin based on the treatment you had while easing back into your normal routine.
2. Wash gently, and don't pick at scabs
We'll let you know when you can start washing your face, based on the type of treatment and the condition of your skin's surface.
Once you do start washing, don't rub hard with your hands or any cleansing tools.
If you notice small scabs or flaking, it's best to wait until they come off on their own.
If you were given a dressing or ointment for the treated area, please also follow the instructions for how to use it before and after washing.[1]
3. Keep up moisturizing and sun protection, without irritating your skin
Dry skin can make tightness and stinging feel worse.
Apply the moisturizer we recommended gently, without rubbing.
UV exposure can affect healing skin and any remaining marks, so it's important to limit your time in the sun.
When to start using sunscreen depends on how your skin is healing; until you can use it, protect yourself from the sun with a hat or an umbrella.
4. Ease back into exercise and saunas while watching how your skin reacts
Sweat, heat and friction can put extra strain on skin that's sensitive after treatment.
When you start exercising again, consider both the intensity and the environment.
Activity | What to watch for while healing |
|---|---|
Light daily activities | Minimize friction and sun exposure, and keep an eye on how your skin responds |
Intense exercise | Talk with us about when to resume, keeping sweat, heat and repeated friction in mind |
Saunas / hot baths | Follow our guidance and avoid staying in hot environments for long |
If there's still redness or a warm feeling in your skin, don't jump straight back to your usual workout intensity.
5. You may need to pause exfoliating products for a while
Retinoids or exfoliating ingredients you normally use may sting on your skin after treatment.
When to start using them again will depend on how your skin is healing and the type of product.
If you add several new products at once, even ones that are supposed to be good, it can be hard to tell which one is causing irritation.
While you heal, stick mainly to the products you were prescribed or recommended, and if stinging gets worse, check with us before continuing to use them.
6. Take your time with aftercare, too
After scar treatment, you'll need to keep up with cleansing, moisturizing and sun protection suited to the procedure you had.
You can return to exercise and makeup once we've checked that your skin's surface and any discomfort have settled.
If pain increases, redness spreads, or you notice warmth, pus or a fever, don't wait it out at home. Please come in to be seen.
As long as you're healing steadily, simply keep up with the care you were given.
Give yourself plenty of time to recover, and treat your skin gently along the way.
You can find details on our treatments and directions on the Datena Clinic official website.