Laser care and combination treatments, explained

Your skin's condition before treatment can influence how it responds to laser and light-based therapies. To help achieve the best results, we make the following recommendations:

• Pause exfoliants, retinols, retinoids and other potent active ingredients in your skincare for 3 to 5 days before treatment

• Minimise sun exposure and avoid tanning for two weeks before your treatment

• Avoid tanning products, including self-tanning creams, on the treatment area

• Avoid waxing, chemical peels or other resurfacing treatments in the lead up to your appointment

During your initial assessment, we will review your skincare routine, including any active ingredients you are using. Please bring details of your current products so we can provide personalised advice and help optimise your treatment outcomes.

Every patient's skin responds differently depending on the treatment performed, the area treated, and individual skin characteristics. However, there are some common experiences after laser and light-based treatments:

• Redness and temporary darkening of pigment are common after treatment. Pigmented areas may appear darker before gradually fading as part of the skin's healing process. This typically settles over several days to a week.

• A sensation of warmth, tightness, tingling, or mild swelling may occur. These are normal responses as the skin begins its repair process and usually settle with time.

• Your skin may be more sensitive to sunlight and active skincare ingredients after treatment. Daily SPF 50+ sunscreen and temporarily reducing products such as retinoids and exfoliants can help support your healing and results.

• Flaking, peeling, or mild crusting can occur after deeper treatments and is a normal part of the recovery process. Continue using gentle cleansers and moisturisers, and avoid picking or removing any flaking skin to minimise irritation and support healing.

Dr Gupta and her team will guide you through what to expect after your specific treatment and provide personalised aftercare instructions, including when to contact the clinic if you have any concerns.

Solara offers combination laser therapies that use more than one treatment technology in a single session to address different concerns across the skin's surface and deeper layers. Because skin is made up of multiple layers and structures, combining treatments can allow each area to be targeted in a more tailored way, helping achieve more comprehensive results.

• Epidermis: the outermost layer of the skin, which provides protection and contains pigment producing cells called melanocytes. Treatments targeting the epidermis can help improve concerns such as pigmentation, uneven skin tone, and surface texture.

• Dermis: the deeper supportive layer of the skin, which contains collagen and elastin fibres that contribute to skin strength, firmness, and elasticity. Treatments targeting the dermis can help improve skin quality, texture, and laxity.

• Skin structures: features such as pores, hair follicles, and sweat glands extend between the epidermis and dermis. Addressing concerns involving these structures may require treatment approaches that target multiple layers of the skin.

Common combination treatments at Solara include HALO Tribrid and BBL HEROic combined with Moxi.

While combination therapies can be beneficial for addressing multiple aspects of skin ageing, pigmentation, and texture in a single session, they are not always necessary. Many concerns can be effectively treated with a single technology. Dr Gupta and the Solara team begin every treatment journey with a detailed skin assessment to determine the most appropriate approach for your individual goals.