Handling the Dilemma of Lasers and Seasonal UV Changes

If you use lasers in your practice and live where seasonal light intensity varies, you will be faced with the challenge of balancing safe efficacious laser treatments with increased UV (ultraviolet) exposure. Experience tells us that the equation of UV exposure plus laser exposure is never optimal and risky even with adequate safety measures including selecting the most appropriate and optimal wavelengths. However, the risks can be mitigated with a proactive approach and good patient education. Patient education starts from your website and social media then continues through to the consultation, occurs during treatment and is finally restated with take-home post-treatment instructions. Each of these educational touch points are purposefully meant to echo two key-points; limit UV exposure and use sunscreen.

Limiting UV exposure is a broad statement and, when left without context, it can be misunderstood. Stating to a patient to limit their UV exposure means they need to wear UV blocking attire and ensure areas of skin that are exposed are adequately covered with sunscreen regularly. I guarantee that this is not what the patient hears unless you explicitly state this. Stating that they need to limit UV exposure could be interpreted as reducing their time in the sun, it could mean going out at different times during the day or it could mean alternate days of exposure and the looseness of interpretation possibilities goes on and on. Provide clear written and verbal instructions for your patient to follow and also ensure your website and social media state exactly what "limit UV exposure" means. These small repetitive pieces of information will reinforce your message to your patients. At the time of the consultation, discuss with your patient that UV exposure comes in many forms that they might not be aware of such as when driving to work, mowing the lawn, walking the dog (even on a cloudy day) and other routine tasks that bring us outdoors exposing us to light without us really being aware that UV exposure is occurring. This brings us to the clarification required when giving instructions to your patient for using sunscreen.

Take a poll among your friends and family and ask when they wear sunscreen, when do they apply it, how much do they apply and how often do they reapply. The range of answers will surprise you given the vast amount of information available via websites and social media. Your patients likely will have the same variety of understanding when it comes to sunscreen use so it is very important to be clear with written and verbal instructions. Ensure they understand that proper sunscreen application and use is a requirement while undergoing laser treatments and thereafter for healthy skin maintenance. I like to take it a step further and include a sunscreen in the treatment package. When a patient has the product immediately available, and they don't have to source it out or buy it separately, compliance is much higher. By including the sunscreen product you recommend to your patients, you control what they apply to their skin and you know that they are using a quality product that performs as you require. Including the sunscreen in the package with laser treatments establishes your patient in the habit of using a sunscreen because long-term, this is what is best for your patient and their skin. The sunscreen included in the package should be accompanied by a clear short instruction sheet indicating when to apply sunscreen, how much to apply and the frequency of reapplication all of which reinforces what you discussed during the consultation. Between your website instructions, social media posts, comprehensive consultation and post care instructions, your patient is now prepared for safe and successful laser treatments while still enjoying the seasonal benefits of longer brighter days.