Who is a poor candidate for laser resurfacing?

The mistake is deciding you are a good candidate because the before-and-after photos look appealing. Read the list of people who should hold back first.

Four reasons to hold back

my.clevelandclinic.org puts it this way: "You may not be a good candidate for laser skin resurfacing if you have: Active acne. Very dark skin. Deep wrinkles. Excessive or sagging skin."

That is four separate flags: active acne, very dark skin, deep wrinkles, and excessive or sagging skin. Notice the wording "may not." The source does not say any one of them rules you out, which is why someone has to examine you.

What the list does not settle

It does not tell you how much any flag matters, or whether two together change the answer. It also does not say what a clinician would do in place of a laser if you land on the list.

Fill those gaps with a consultation, not a guess. The Aesthetic Society's page on laser skin resurfacing is a reasonable overview to read first, and how dermatologists treat sun-damaged skin covers sun-damaged skin more broadly.

The call you should not make in the mirror

Do not sort yourself onto or off this list by looking at your own face. Whether a flag applies to you, and how heavily it counts, is a decision for a trained professional who has examined your skin.

If you live near Mt Olive, bring the list to the consultation and ask which flags the provider sees in your skin. Ask what they would offer instead if the answer is not a laser.

If you see yourself on the list

A provider who says everyone qualifies has not read the list. If you recognize yourself in any of the four flags, say so out loud before you agree to treatment.