How to Prepare for Pico Laser Treatment: What Should You Tell Your Doctor?

Sep 8

5 min read

Preparing for Pico laser treatment does not usually require a complicated routine. What matters most is making sure your doctor has enough information to assess your skin properly before treatment, including the medicines and skincare products you use, any recent procedures and whether your skin has recently been irritated, sunburned, peeling or damaged.

In the days leading up to your appointment, protect your skin from excessive sun exposure and keep your routine gentle. Do not stop prescribed medicines or active skincare on your own simply to keep the appointment. Whether anything should be paused depends on the product, your skin and the treatment plan.

Quick summary before Pico Laser

Before your appointment, protect your skin from strong sun exposure and avoid unnecessary irritation. Prepare a list or photos of your medicines, skincare products and recent procedures. If you have a rash, open wound, active cold sore, sunburn or unusual skin sensitivity, let the clinic know in advance. Do not stop prescribed medicines, retinoids or exfoliating products on your own; follow individual medical advice instead. [1][2]

What information should you bring?

Take photos of the labels of your medicines and skincare products and note the dates of recent lasers, peels, injections or facial procedures. This gives your doctor a clearer picture of what your skin has recently been through and helps with deciding whether it is ready for treatment. [2]

Information to prepare	Useful details
Main skin concern	Which marks or areas bother you most and when you first noticed them
Medicines and skincare	Product names, label photos, how long you have used them and how often
Recent procedures	What was done, which area was treated and the date
Previous reactions	Significant redness, irritation, wounds, swelling or pigment changes
Medical and allergy history	Medical conditions, medication allergies and any history of facial cold sores

If you cannot remember a device name, bring your appointment record or information from the previous clinic.

Should you stop retinol or exfoliating acids?

If you use retinol, prescription retinoids, exfoliating acids or other products that can make the skin more sensitive, tell your doctor what you are using. There is no single number of days that applies to every product or every person; whether something should be paused depends on your skin and the planned treatment. [2]

There is no need to intensify exfoliation before your visit. Tell us if a product is causing stinging or peeling so your doctor can assess whether your skin needs time to settle.

What if you have just returned from a beach holiday?

If your skin has recently become darker from sun exposure, looks red, feels sore or is sunburned, contact the clinic before your appointment. Depending on the condition of the skin, treatment may need to be postponed until it has recovered. [1]

Tell us when you travelled and whether symptoms remain. Your doctor will assess your skin rather than rely only on how many days have passed.

Do medicines and recent procedures matter?

Tell your doctor about prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, topical treatments and supplements. Some may affect how the skin responds to laser treatment. [1] If any prescribed medicine needs to be changed, discuss this with the prescribing doctor rather than stopping it on your own.

Share the type, area and date of recent procedures so your doctor can review recovery. [2] Contact us about active sores or rashes, and mention previous facial cold sores even if none are present now. [3]

How should you care for your skin in the days before treatment?

There is usually no need to overhaul your skincare routine before Pico laser. The goal is to keep the skin calm. Avoid introducing several new active products, aggressive scrubs or unnecessary exfoliation immediately before the appointment, especially if your skin is already sensitive.

If a product is causing stinging, redness or peeling, mention that when you book or at your consultation. The doctor may recommend allowing the skin to settle before treatment.

Can I have Pico laser if my skin is red, peeling or irritated?

Let the clinic know before the appointment. Redness, peeling, burning, a rash or an open wound may mean the skin is irritated or has not fully recovered. The doctor may need to examine the area first and decide whether treatment should go ahead, be adjusted or be postponed.

Do I need to know which Pico laser setting I need?

No. You do not need to choose the energy level, wavelength or technical settings yourself. Bring information about the problem you want to improve, what you have tried before and how your skin responded. Those details are more useful for planning than trying to select a setting on your own.

Before your Pico Laser appointment at STC

The best preparation is not to stop everything or completely change your routine on your own. Give your doctor enough information to understand your skin and what it has recently been exposed to. If your skin is unusually red, irritated, peeling, injured or recently sunburned, contact the clinic before the appointment so the treatment can be planned at an appropriate time.

Frequently asked questions before Pico Laser

Can I arrive wearing makeup?

If possible, arriving without makeup makes it easier to examine your skin. If you do need to wear makeup, it can be removed before treatment. There is no need to scrub or over-cleanse the skin beforehand.

Can I wear sunscreen on the way?

Yes. Protect your skin during the journey; the treatment area will be cleansed before the procedure. A laser appointment is not a reason to skip sun protection. [1]

How should I plan around an important event?

If you have a wedding, photoshoot, important meeting or trip coming up, mention the date when you book. Recovery varies with the treatment and your skin, so it is usually better not to schedule a first session immediately before an important event without discussing the expected downtime first. [3]

You do not need to choose laser settings or technical parameters yourself. It is more useful to explain what you want to improve, which areas concern you most and how your skin has responded to previous treatments.