After your child has had skin laser treatment

This information explains how your child might feel after skin laser treatment and how you can best care for them.

Looking after your child’s skin

• The area treated with the pulsed dye laser will seem bruised and may feel like mild sunburn. The skin is very fragile and needs gentle handling. Some lasers do not cause as much surface bruising, but your child’s skin still needs care afterwards. 

• We will give you some ointment or spray to keep the area moisturised. Apply this to the treated area three to four times a day or more frequently if the skin is itchy or dry.  
• Your child will be able to have a bath or a shower, but do not use bubble bath or rub the treated area with soap while it is still bruised. 
• The treated skin will be dry and may crack or form a crust or blister. If this happens, you should contact your laser nurse who will arrange for an antibiotic cream such as Bactroban^® to be applied twice a day for five days.
• Your child should avoid PE, games or swimming for three weeks after treatment.
• Your child should not use camouflage cream for at least five days after treatment.
• You can relieve any discomfort soon after treatment by putting an ice pack on the treated area. Paracetamol is also helpful. Children under 16 years old should not have aspirin or any medicines which contain it unless prescribed for other reasons. 
If your child had an eye shield put in during treatment, you should apply chloramphenicol ointment close to their eyes four times a day for two days to prevent infection.

Using sun blocks

It is important to follow these instructions about sun block creams. Sunlight can cause birthmarks to turn brown, particularly after laser treatment. This could delay your child’s next treatment until the birthmark is back to normal.

You should not expose your child’s birthmark to strong sunlight while they are having laser treatment and for at least a year afterwards.

• You can get sun block cream on prescription from your GP. You can also get tinted sun block, but this is not available on prescription.
• Your child should use a total sun block (factor 30 or higher) at all times in the UK from April to October.
• If you are visiting a sunny country at any time of year, your child should wear sun block all the time.
• Your child should put sun block on at least four times a day:
  • first thing in the morning
  • lunchtime
  • mid-afternoon
  • early evening

If your child is at school, they should apply sun block before each school break time, at lunchtime and before going home.

• Your child should re-apply the sun block after swimming, even if the bottle says its waterproof.
• Your child should stay out of direct sun between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its strongest.
• Your child should wear a hat with a peak or wide brim when outdoors if possible. Babies should always have an umbrella to shade their pram or buggy. 

Last reviewed by Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH): April 2012

Ref: 2012F0013 April 2012

Compiled by the Birthmark Unit in collaboration with the Child and Family Information Group, GOSH.

This information does not constitute health or medical advice and will not necessarily reflect treatment at other hospitals. If you have any questions, please ask your doctor. No liability can be taken as a result of using this information.