CO2 Laser Aftercare: What to Do and Avoid
Good aftercare protects your results. The rules are simple: keep the skin moist, keep it clean, keep it out of the sun, and let it heal without help from your fingers.
What is the right aftercare after a CO2 laser?
Keep treated skin constantly moist with a bland ointment, cleanse it gently with lukewarm water, sleep with your head raised, and stay out of direct sun. Do not pick peeling skin. Skip makeup, retinoids, acids, heat and heavy exercise until your provider clears you, then use mineral SPF every day.
Aftercare at a Glance
A thick, bland occlusive until the skin surface closes.
Switch to a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer when cleared.
Mineral SPF 30+ once healed, plus shade and a hat.
Retinoids, acids and vitamin C wait until you're cleared.
Your Aftercare Plan in Three Phases
Timing is for deeper fractional CO2. After CoolPeel each phase is shorter, often a few days in total.
Calm and protect
Cool compresses for heat and swelling. Gentle cleansing as instructed, then a thick layer of ointment right away. Sleep elevated. Take any prescribed antiviral or medication exactly as directed. Avoid ibuprofen or aspirin unless your provider approves.
Let it shed
Peeling and itching peak. Keep cleansing gently with lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free cleanser. Keep the ointment on. Do not scrub, pick or peel. Ask your provider before using anything new.
Protect the new skin
Switch to a gentle moisturizer when cleared. Mineral SPF 30+ every day, plus a hat outdoors. Reintroduce actives slowly and only when your provider says the skin is ready.
When Is It Usually OK Again?
Typical timing after deeper fractional CO2. Your provider confirms each step.
| Activity | Usually OK | Why it waits |
|---|---|---|
| Gentle face washing | Same day | Clean skin heals better; be gentle and use lukewarm water |
| Makeup | About day 7–10, when cleared | Makeup on open skin can irritate or infect it |
| Exercise and heavy sweating | About 2 weeks | Heat and sweat increase swelling and irritation |
| Sauna, steam, hot tubs, pools | About 2 weeks or more | Heat and chlorine irritate healing skin |
| Retinol, glycolic, salicylic, vitamin C | 2 or more weeks, when cleared | Actives sting and inflame new skin |
| Direct sun | Avoid for weeks; SPF for months | New skin pigments easily, the main cause of dark marks |
| Alcohol | After the first few days | It can increase swelling and flushing early on |
Aftercare Do's and Don'ts
Do
- Keep the skin moist at all times in the first week
- Cleanse gently with lukewarm water
- Sleep with your head raised
- Use cool compresses for heat and swelling
- Wear mineral SPF daily once healed
- Call us with any question, any day
Don't
- Pick, scrub or peel flaking skin
- Use hot water, saunas or steam on your face
- Apply makeup before you're cleared
- Use retinoids, acids or fragranced products early
- Work out hard in the first two weeks
- Go in the sun without protection
Aftercare Is Part of Your Treatment
At Mirror Mirror, aftercare is planned before your treatment, not after. You leave with written instructions for your depth of treatment and know exactly what to use, what to skip and when.
Wondering what the days ahead look like? See the day-by-day recovery timeline.
- Written aftercare plan for your treatment depth
- Antiviral guidance if you get cold sores
- Follow-up while you heal
- Sun-protection plan for the weeks after
Have a question while you heal? Call us. That's what we're here for.
Book Now →CO2 Aftercare FAQ
Answers to the aftercare questions patients ask most.
What can you not do after a CO2 laser?
Don't pick or scrub peeling skin, use hot water or saunas on your face, wear makeup before you're cleared, use retinoids or acids early, exercise hard in the first two weeks, or go in the sun unprotected. Each of these slows healing or raises the risk of dark marks.
What should I put on my skin after a CO2 laser?
In the first days, a thick, bland occlusive ointment, kept on continuously so the skin never dries out. Once the surface has closed, most patients switch to a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer, then add mineral sunscreen. Use only what your provider recommends.
How soon can you wash your face after a CO2 laser?
Usually the same day or the next. Use lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free cleanser, pat dry with clean hands or a soft cloth without rubbing, and reapply ointment right away.
Which moisturizer is best after a CO2 laser?
A simple, fragrance-free, barrier-repair moisturizer without acids, retinol or essential oils. The best one is the one your provider recommends for your skin, introduced only after the surface has healed.
Can I wear makeup 7 days after a CO2 laser?
Often yes, if the skin has closed and peeling has stopped. Choose clean mineral makeup, apply it with clean tools, and wait for your provider's okay. After CoolPeel, makeup is usually fine after two to three days.
How long do you do vinegar soaks after a CO2 laser?
When providers use them, diluted vinegar soaks are typically limited to the first several days, until the skin surface closes. Only use them if they're part of your aftercare plan, and follow the dilution you're given.
How can I make my CO2 laser heal faster?
Follow your plan exactly: moist skin, gentle cleansing, head elevated, cool compresses, no picking, no heat and no sun. These steps don't just speed healing, they also lower the risk of marks and infection.
Can a CO2 laser cause permanent damage?
Serious complications are uncommon, but scarring or lasting color changes can happen, most often after picking, infection or sun exposure while healing. Choosing the right depth for your skin and following aftercare closely are the best protection.
CO2 Laser Near You in Los Angeles
Mirror Mirror Med Spa is in Westwood, a short drive from much of the Westside and central Los Angeles.
