What should practitioners advise regarding sun exposure before and after laser treatments?

Patients should be advised to avoid sun exposure to reduce the risk of complications associated with laser treatments. Sun exposure can lead to skin sensitivity and increased chances of adverse effects, such as hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation, particularly in individuals with darker skin types. Laser treatments can make the skin more reactive and sensitive to UV radiation, which can exacerbate these risks.

Avoiding sun exposure before a treatment is essential to ensure that the skin is in optimal condition for the procedure, allowing for effective outcomes and minimizing potential complications. Additionally, post-treatment sun avoidance is crucial as the skin may be more vulnerable to sun damage during the healing process. Thus, advising patients to limit sun exposure before and after treatments is integral to promoting safety and effectiveness in laser therapy.

Using sunscreen is recommended as a protective measure, but only applying it after treatments does not offer comprehensive protection; patients should ideally use it both before and after treatments if they are exposed to sunlight. However, the overall priority remains on minimizing sun exposure around the time of laser treatments to safeguard skin health.