These aftercare steps work hand in hand with how you prepared for treatment. If you’re booking a future session, revisit our plasma pen before care guide to set yourself up for the smoothest possible healing.
| Timeframe | What Happens | What To Do | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Swelling, fluid retention, sunburn sensation. Eye area most prone to swelling — allow a full 24 hours for this to subside. | Clean dry cold compress only (DRY — do not dampen or wet the treatment area). Apply healing product every 4 hrs with clean fingers. | Critical |
| Day 1–4 | Swelling peaks mornings, migrates under eyes over days 1–3, subsides through day 3 and mostly normal by day 4. Area feels hot (like sunburn) for first 24 hrs, tight for first 2–4 days, and slightly itchy from days 2–5. | Don’t scratch dots — use Mediquattro (available from Chemist) to ease itch. Apply healing product morning & night. No pain or discomfort should be felt by Day 5. | Critical |
| Day 5 | Carbon dots begin shedding naturally on their own, continuing possibly up to day 10. | Let shedding happen naturally — do nothing to abrade them in any way. Powder mineral makeup permitted and encouraged from Day 3. | Caution |
| Day 10 | Carbon dots gone. | Resume normal body care, physical activity, and full makeup. Continue protecting from sun exposure for at least 8 weeks. | Improving |
| Week 2–4 | Treated areas slightly pink and could be slightly tender to the touch. | Continue SPF 30+ daily; protect from sun exposure. | Improving |
| Week 5–8 | Continual improvement both in sensation, texture, look and feel. Treated area fully blends with untreated areas by week 8. | Maintain sun protection. No further restrictions. | Healed |
| Month 3–6 | Results mature; skin continues regenerating. | Reschedule appointment for next treatment. | Book Next |
Until redness and discomfort have completely resolved, steer clear of all the following:
Increased photosensitivity to UV can occur when taking certain medications. During your treatment plan, if you have commenced or changed dosage with any of the following medications, you must advise your clinician:Antibiotics
Doxycycline (acne), minocycline, tetracyclines, sulphonamidesAntihistamines
Diphenhydramine, cyproheptadineAntidepressants
All antidepressant medicationsHerbal Preparations
St John’s Wort, Ginkgo Biloba, citrus oils, herbal HRT therapies
Taking these medications does not exclude you from plasma treatments; however, extra precautions are applicable in these cases.
Here are the questions our clients ask most often after their plasma pen treatment.
We totally get it — but you need to keep the treated area completely dry for the first 48 hours. No water, no wipes, nothing except the healing product we gave you. After day 2, you can shower and bathe as normal, but avoid scented soaps, loofahs, or scrubbing the treated area. Think gentle and minimal for the first week or so.
We know it’s tough when you’ve got places to be. Powder mineral makeup is fine from Day 3 — and we actually encourage it. But regular foundation, concealer, and liquid cosmetics need to wait until around Day 10 when your carbon dots have fully shed. The last thing we want is product getting trapped in healing skin and causing irritation or infection.
Is this swelling normal? My eyes look really puffy.
Don’t panic — this is completely normal, especially around the eyes. Swelling peaks first thing in the morning and it’s quite common for it to migrate down into the under-eye area over the first 1–3 days. It’ll generally settle through day 3 and look mostly normal by day 4. A clean, dry cold compress can help if it’s bothering you, but honestly, the swelling is your body’s natural healing response. Let it do its thing.
We hear you — the itch around days 2–5 is real and it’s actually a sign your skin is healing well. But no, not even a gentle scratch. Don’t itch, don’t scratch, don’t abrade the dots in any way. Picking or scratching can lead to scarring or infection, and we really don’t want that for you. Grab some Mediquattro from your local chemist — it’ll take the edge off without compromising your results.
We get it — but anything that causes excessive perspiration needs to wait until the redness and discomfort have completely resolved. Sweat can irritate the treated area and increase infection risk. By Day 10, when your carbon dots have fully shed, you should be right to resume normal physical activity. Same goes for swimming, hot tubs, and jacuzzis — hold off until you’re fully healed.
Weeks 2–4 you’ll still see some pinkness and the area might be slightly tender — that’s just your skin continuing to heal underneath. The real magic happens between weeks 5–8, when you’ll notice continual improvement in texture, feel, and how the treated area blends in. By week 8, the treated area should have completely blended with the surrounding skin. Patience pays off with plasma pen — the results are worth the wait.
You don’t need to stop your medication — but you absolutely need to tell your clinician about it. Antibiotics like doxycycline, minocycline, tetracyclines, and sulphonamides can increase your skin’s sensitivity to UV light, which matters during healing. The same goes for antihistamines, antidepressants, and herbal preparations like St John’s Wort or Ginkgo Biloba. These don’t exclude you from treatment, but extra precautions will apply. Always keep us in the loop about any changes to your meds.
We recommend scheduling your next plasma pen appointment somewhere between 3 and 6 months after your treatment. This gives your skin the time it needs to fully regenerate and lets the collagen-building process do its work before we go again. Give us a call or book online when you’re ready.
Yes — from day 3 onwards, apply SPF 30 or greater daily to the treated area, even indoors. UV light comes through windows, and your skin is extra sensitive during healing. Keep this up for at least 4–6 weeks after treatment, and ideally for 8 weeks. It protects your results and prevents pigmentation issues. Think of it as a non-negotiable part of your aftercare.
Should you have any questions or concerns about your treatment, please contact us.
