What Are the Side Effects of Pico Laser?

What is pico laser, in one minute?

Pico laser, or picosecond laser, delivers laser energy in extremely short pulses, measured in picoseconds (trillionths of a second). It’s used mainly for pigmentation such as dark spots, and also for acne scars.

In plain terms, pigment lasers work by breaking pigment into tiny particles, which the body’s immune system then clears away over time.

What are the common side effects of pico laser?

The side effects you’re most likely to notice are redness and swelling, spots that darken or crust before fading, skin that feels sensitive, and some dryness. Most of these settle as the skin heals.

1. Redness and swelling After pigment laser treatment, the treated area can look red and swollen, and sometimes bruised, for several days. This is an expected reaction rather than a sign that something has gone wrong. What helps: keep perfumes, retinoids and other possible irritants off the treated area, and follow the aftercare you were given.

2. Treated spots that darken or crust Lasers can cause crusting or temporary darkening of age spots, and these side effects tend to fade quickly. So a spot can look darker for a while before it fades. What helps: leave the crusts alone. Don’t scratch or pick at them, and protect the area from the sun.

3. Sensitive or sunburn-like skin Straight after laser treatment, skin can feel sensitive, a bit like a sunburn. What helps: avoid products that could irritate the area, and ask your doctor what you can use to stay comfortable.

4. Dryness or peeling With some laser treatments, the skin becomes dry and peels as it heals. What helps: use the moisturiser your doctor recommends and keep up daily sun protection.

For the full day-to-day routine, see our guide to pico laser aftercare: what to do and what to avoid.

What less common side effects should I know about?

Less common side effects include pigment changes, bruising, blistering, scarring and infection. They’re not what most people should expect, but it helps to know the signs.

5. Pigment changes Laser treatment can leave darker patches (hyperpigmentation) or, more rarely, lighter patches (hypopigmentation). Darker skin tones have a greater risk of healing with darker pigmentation. Darker patches that follow an injury to the skin are sometimes called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

6. Bruising Aspirin, anti-inflammatory painkillers and herbal supplements raise the risk of bruising. Tell your doctor about everything you take before treatment, and ask before stopping anything, especially a prescribed medicine.

7. Blistering Depending on the treatment, laser-treated skin can blister. If you notice blisters, contact the clinic rather than treating them yourself.

8. Scarring Scarring after laser treatment is very rare. Scratching or picking at skin that crusts can cause scarring, so let crusts come off on their own.

9. Infection Picking at crusted skin can also lead to infection. Signs to watch for include skin that is red, swollen, hot or getting more painful, or pus coming out. If you notice any of these, contact the clinic.

How long do pico laser side effects last?

Most common side effects settle as the skin heals, but how long they last depends on the type of treatment, the area treated and your skin. Ask your doctor what to expect for your session.

After a pigment laser, treated areas can be red, swollen or bruised for several days, followed by slight crusting. Crusting and temporary darkening of age spots tend to fade quickly. If darker patches do appear, they may need treatment, such as a lightening cream, to help them fade.

For what recovery looks like and when results tend to show, read our pico laser recovery timeline.

Can pico laser make pigmentation worse?

Yes, it can happen. Darker skin is more prone to dark marks after laser treatment, and melasma needs particularly careful handling.

With melasma, lasers may cause post-procedure hyperpigmentation and scarring, so they should be used only by doctors experienced in treating melasma, together with medicines applied to the skin. Some melasma treatments can also irritate darker skin and make melasma darker. Treatments can’t make melasma go away forever, and it commonly comes back when skin is in the sun without protection.

What lowers the risk:

• A skin assessment before any laser treatment
• Avoiding a tan before your session
• Broad-spectrum sunscreen before and after treatment, which helps prevent pigment changes
• Telling your doctor about every product, medicine and supplement you use

Avoiding sun damage is one of the most important ways to prevent and reduce hyperpigmentation, with or without laser.

Is pico laser safe for dark, Asian or sensitive skin?

Lasers can be used on all skin types, but darker skin is more prone to burns and dark marks after laser treatment. That’s why the assessment, the settings and the experience of the person treating you matter so much.

Before laser treatment, your natural skin colour and type should be considered, to lower the risk of adding or losing pigment. If you have darker skin, ask how often the person treating you works with your skin tone and type.

If your skin is sensitive or easily irritated, mention it at your assessment, along with any reactions you’ve had to products or past treatments. For more detail, see our article on pico laser and different skin types.

Who should avoid pico laser or check with a doctor first?

Some people should wait, or talk to a doctor before booking. These include:

• Pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant, the advice is to wait until after your baby is born to treat melasma, as it may improve after birth. For other pigment treatments while pregnant or breastfeeding, tell your doctor and ask whether to wait.
• A tan or recent heavy sun exposure. Avoid getting a tan before laser treatment.
• Certain skin products. You may need to stop products such as topical retinoids beforehand.
• Some medicines and supplements. Some medicines make the skin more sensitive to laser light, so tell your doctor about everything you take.
• A history of cold sores in the area. Laser resurfacing can reactivate cold sores, especially around the mouth, so tell your doctor if you get them.
• Active acne or irritation in the area. Laser resurfacing isn’t advised for people with active acne, so mention any breakout, rash or infection and let your doctor decide whether to wait.
• A mole or spot that is changing or hasn’t been diagnosed. What looks like an age spot could be a skin cancer, so get it checked before any removal.

Are there long-term risks, and is pico laser linked to cancer?

The more serious risks health sources describe for laser treatments are pigment changes and, very rarely, scarring. These are the ones worth taking seriously.

On cancer, the health sources we checked don’t describe skin cancer as a side effect of laser pigment treatment. The cancer-related safety step that matters is different: what looks like an age spot could be a skin cancer, and removing a skin cancer the way you would an age spot can allow it to grow and possibly spread. So get any new or changing spot checked by a doctor before it’s lasered.

Is pico laser safe for your eyes?

Protective eyewear is standard during laser treatments. For laser hair removal, for example, everyone in the room wears protective glasses or goggles during the procedure.

Whether an area close to the eyes can be treated is for your doctor to judge at your assessment.

How can I lower my risk of side effects before I book?

You can lower your risk by choosing carefully and preparing your skin. Use this checklist wherever you go:

• Have your skin assessed by a doctor first.
• Tell them about all your skin products, medicines and supplements.
• Avoid a tan, and use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on skin not covered by clothing.
• Ask whether you need to stop retinoids before treatment.
• Ask about the experience of the person doing the procedure, what results to expect, what the risks are and what recovery looks like.
• Be wary of laser treatment in non-medical settings. The results of a laser procedure depend largely on the skill of the person doing it, and places such as spas and shopping malls may have limited training, supervision and equipment.

After your session, follow the aftercare instructions you’re given.

When should I contact the clinic after pico laser?

Contact the clinic that treated you, or a doctor, if you notice:

• Redness, swelling or pain that is getting worse instead of better
• Skin that feels hot, pus coming out, or a high temperature or feeling generally unwell, which can be signs of infection
• Blisters or open sores
• Crusts that won’t heal
• New dark or light patches
• Any reaction near the eyes

Don’t try to treat it yourself with strong products or home remedies. Let a doctor look at it first.

So, is pico laser worth the side effects?

That’s a personal decision, and it helps to know that the common side effects settle as the skin heals. Pigment changes are the main risk to take seriously, and darker skin and melasma need extra care. A proper skin assessment, honest questions and good sun protection before and after treatment all lower the risk. If you’re considering pico laser, book a skin assessment at Westwood Clinic and talk it through with a doctor first.