What can prolonged erythema indicate during laser treatment?

Prolonged erythema during laser treatment is often an indicator of over-treatment. Erythema, which is the reddening of the skin, can occur as a natural response to the laser’s effect on the tissue. When laser treatment is administered, it heats the skin and can cause inflammation, leading to temporary redness.

However, if the erythema persists longer than expected, it can suggest that the energy settings have been too high, or the treatment has been too aggressive for the particular skin type or condition being treated. This prolonged response might lead to further complications, such as potential burns or prolonged irritation, which are undesirable outcomes in laser therapy.

On the other hand, while erythema can also signify effective treatment as it indicates the skin is responding to the procedure, this response should resolve within a reasonable timeframe. Thus, when erythema lingers, it becomes a critical warning sign that something may have gone awry during the treatment, pointing directly to over-treatment as the primary concern.