Do I need to stop Differin before lasers and peels?

Hi!

In my practice, I usually ask patients to stop Differin or Tretinoin 1 day before till 1 day after Lasers and Peels. This is because differin/tretinoin might cause dry skin and affect the healing processes after lasers/peels.

If my patient tends to have dry skin, I would also suggest stopping differin for a longer period of time before/after the Laser/Peel.

Other factors that affect the duration of time to stop Differin:

1. Type of Laser/Peel

- Lasers/Peels differ in terms of intensity and downtime.

- It is best to speak to your doctor on the duration of time to stop Differin as he is the best judge.

2. Intensity/ Settings of Lasers/Peel

- In general, a more aggressive/intense treatment will mean more dry skin and longer recovery. Hence, Differin/Tretinoin might only be able to be restarted later.

Hope this helps!

Warmest regards,

Dr Justin Boey

Hi!

Your doctor should be informed of your skin care regime so that he/she can give you the correct instructions prior to the procedure.

In general, we recommend patients to stop differin for a few days before and after peels. This is because differin may worsen post procedure dryness and also increases photosensitivity.

Best regards

Dr Yanni