fraxel spots

Hi Dr. Rivken,
I have had one Fraxel treatment. I had a light brown spot on my cheek and over my lip before treatment. After treatment they have gotten darker and new ones have appeared. There are also lines on the top of my cheeks (where the blades and level was changed). My skin is darker below the line where the higher levels were used. I was given bleaching cream and was told the pigmentation needed to come to the surface. I am very concerned more brown spots will surface and they will not fade.
Should I continue with the Fraxel? It has been 6 weeks and the brown spots have not gone away yet.
Thank you for your help.


hi,
the spots will fade with time, however i would certainly wait until they are faded before doing any more fraxel. i would also carefully evaluate the settings on your fraxel treatment. first, make sure that your doctor has the upgraded sr1500 fraxel - it is a safer machine, especially for people who are prone to hyperpigmentation like you. then, make sure that your next treatment is less intense, and they spread out the energy over more passes.
last, i would make sure that you are out of the sun and on daily bleaching cream for 2 weeks prior to your next fraxel treatment.
hope that helps.
cheers,