Jason Emer, MD, FAAD, FACS
Why Dr. Emer Preps Darker Skin With A Chemical Peel Before Ablative Laser
How Dr. Jason Emer uses the Enlighten Peel by ReveSkin to exfoliate and suppress pigmentation in melanated skin before his RE:BIRTH laser protocol for acne scars.
Dr. Jason Emer MD · FAAD · FACS
The practice's own photographs
Patients of the practice, from Dr. Emer's published before and after gallery. Each case is one patient. Individual results vary.
Dr. Emer preps melanated skin with the Enlighten Peel 14 days before deep ablative lasers, exfoliating and suppressing pigmentation so the laser works deeper and cleaner without the risk of post-treatment hyperpigmentation.
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From the filmed session
What Dr. Emer did · RE:SKN
Gentle AHA with vitamin C, vitamin E and papaya to exfoliate the skin before the peel application.
“So, in this case, the first step was we used our enzyatic polish by Emmer Skin. This is a combination of a really gentle uh AHA with some vitamin C and E in there.”
Dr. Emer, in the film
Medical-grade acetone applied to remove all oil from the skin so the peel penetrates evenly.
“So right now I am degreasing the skin with some medical grade acetone. This is going to smell a little strong but this is going to ensure that I get rid of any kind of oil on the face.”
Dr. Emer, in the film
Retinol, kojic acid and vitamin A applied thick like a paste, heavier over areas with more scars and texture, left on the skin for 8 to 9 hours to create controlled turnover and suppress pigmentation.
“So, this is going to be on his skin for about 8 to nine hours.”
Dr. Emer, in the film
AOIXC (20% stable vitamin C with blueberry), Botanical Serum (chlorophyll, vitamin C, green tea, hyaluronic acid), Hila A (hyaluronic acid with salicylic acid), retinol and Fortified Lightener (hydroquinone), morning and night through the healing phase.
“Dr. Emmer has tailored a really specific protocol here for our patient, and that's using uh antioxidants, growth factors, hyaluronic acid, retinol, morning and night. We're going to be using some hydrokinone.”
Dr. Emer, in the film
Why patients fly in
Dr. Emer preps melanated skin with a chemical peel 14 days before the laser to remove dead cells and suppress pigmentation, so the laser does not have to burn through as much to reach the scar tissue.
“I almost compare it to like sweeping before you mop. If you exfoliate the skin, clean up right before laser, there's not so much dead skin cells that the lasers need to go through to achieve a better result.”
Hydroquinone, kojic acid and vitamin C suppress melanin production before the laser and continue through the entire healing phase, preventing hyperpigmentation in darker skin types.
“If we're, you know, more of a darker Fitzpatrick, darker skin type, Hispanic skin, Latin skin, or melanated skin types, you know, it's always best to kind of use tyrosines inhibitors prior to lasers because we're open we're helping to suppress the pigmentation.”
Many patients do a second Enlighten Peel after the laser to address any leftover redness or hyperpigmentation, part of the complete protocol.
“Our patient will be doing the chemical peel about two to three weeks after to address any kind of redness or hyperpigmentation that can be really normal after any strong laser treatment.”
EMERALD SKIN was created for burn victims and post-laser patients, with stable vitamin C, growth factors and hyaluronic acid that work on raw, healing skin.
THE THINKING BEHIND THE TREATMENT
Follow Dr. Emer’s approach through the stages described in this case.
Back to the video ↗The patient in this video is 14 days out from a RE:BIRTH procedure: deep ablative lasers, TCA, silicone into acne scars.
He is Hispanic, with melanated skin that carries a higher risk of post-laser hyperpigmentation if the prep is wrong. Dr. Emer's approach is to exfoliate and suppress pigmentation before the laser ever touches the skin.
Exfoliate and suppress pigmentation so the laser works deeper and cleaner, without the risk of hyperpigmentation.
“So, in this case, the first step was we used our enzyatic polish by Emmer Skin. This is a combination of a really gentle uh AHA with some vitamin C and E in there. But this is helping to exfoliate the skin.”DR. JASON EMER · FROM THE VIDEO
The Enlighten Peel by ReveSkin sits on the face for eight to nine hours, creating a controlled turnover that evens skin tone and clears dead cells so the laser does not have to burn through as much to reach the scar tissue. The skin is degreased with medical-grade acetone first so the peel penetrates evenly, then the peel is applied thick, almost like a paste, heavier over areas with more scars and texture.
“So, pretty much what we're going to do is we're going to lift this little tab forward. This is a foil paper that already comes preferated. So, we're going to rip it open just like that.”DR. JASON EMER · FROM THE VIDEO
Over the next eight hours the peel dries into a mask. The skin underneath turns over: red, raw, feeling like a bad sunburn. That is the point. By the time the peel rinses off, the outer layer of pigment and dead cells is gone, and the skin is primed for the laser to work deeper and cleaner.
“So right now I am degreasing the skin with some medical grade acetone. This is going to smell a little strong but this is going to ensure that I get rid of any kind of oil on the face.”DR. JASON EMER · FROM THE VIDEO
Exfoliate and suppress pigmentation before the laser / Patient story
The patient in this video is 14 days out from a RE:BIRTH procedure: deep ablative lasers, TCA, silicone into acne scars.
He is Hispanic, with melanated skin that carries a higher risk of post-laser hyperpigmentation if the prep is wrong. Dr. Emer's approach is to exfoliate and suppress pigmentation before the laser ever touches the skin.
The Enlighten Peel by ReveSkin sits on the face for eight to nine hours, creating a controlled turnover that evens skin tone and clears dead cells so the laser does not have to burn through as much to reach the scar tissue. The skin is degreased with medical-grade acetone first so the peel penetrates evenly, then the peel is applied thick, almost like a paste, heavier over areas with more scars and texture.
Over the next eight hours the peel dries into a mask. The skin underneath turns over: red, raw, feeling like a bad sunburn. That is the point. By the time the peel rinses off, the outer layer of pigment and dead cells is gone, and the skin is primed for the laser to work deeper and cleaner.
Watch the full prep session on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNb-MnyKNsU
The patient in this video is 14 days out from a RE:BIRTH procedure: deep ablative lasers, TCA, silicone into acne scars, the full protocol. He is also Hispanic, with melanated skin that carries a higher risk of post-laser hyperpigmentation if the prep is wrong.
Dr. Emer's approach is to exfoliate and suppress pigmentation before the laser ever touches the skin. The Enlighten Peel by ReveSkin sits on the face for eight to nine hours, creating a controlled turnover that evens skin tone and clears dead cells so the laser does not have to burn through as much to reach the scar tissue.
Enlighten is a retinol-based chemical peel with kojic acid and vitamin A. It is applied thick, almost like a paste, heavier over areas with more scars and texture. The skin is degreased with medical-grade acetone first so the peel penetrates evenly.
Over the next eight hours the peel dries into a mask. The skin underneath turns over: red, raw, feeling like a bad sunburn. That is the point. By the time the peel rinses off, the outer layer of pigment and dead cells is gone, and the skin is primed for the laser to work deeper and cleaner.
How the prep is built
Exfoliate and suppress pigmentation so the laser works deeper and cleaner, without the risk of hyperpigmentation.
The skin is cleansed with EMERALD SKIN Enzymatic Polish (AHA, vitamin C, vitamin E, papaya), then degreased with medical-grade acetone so the peel penetrates evenly.
Enlighten Peel by ReveSkin (retinol, kojic acid, vitamin A) is applied thick, almost like a paste, heavier over areas with more scars and texture.
The peel dries into a mask. The skin underneath turns over: red, raw, feeling like a bad sunburn. That is the controlled exfoliation.
After eight to nine hours the peel rinses off with cold water. The patient applies EMERALD SKIN Hila A (hyaluronic acid with salicylic acid) and Fortified Lightener (hydroquinone), then continues the full protocol through the laser and healing phase.
The treatment, explained
Also called chemical peel prep for laser, retinol peel, tyrosinase inhibitor peel, pre-laser peel for melanated skin, acne scar prep peel.
Signature procedures
Peptides / biologic optimization
Peptide and biologic protocols for recovery, body composition and longevity, with epigenetic testing. RECODEX™ peptides are available to purchase through the practice after consultation.
Why Dr. Emer
Two decades of results, a global patient base, and techniques other surgeons travel to learn.
Dr. Emer built his reputation on outcomes that read as natural at rest and unmistakable in motion. He pioneered high-definition body sculpting approaches that are now taught internationally, and he personally performs every procedure in his practice.
His acne scar work is no different. Patients come to him when they have been told their skin is too dark for aggressive lasers, or when they have tried lasers elsewhere and ended up with hyperpigmentation worse than the original scars. Dr. Emer has a protocol that makes deep ablative lasers safe for Hispanic, Latin and melanated skin types, and it starts with the prep.
20% stable vitamin C with blueberry, formulated to be gentle on raw, healing skin after ablative lasers.
Chlorophyll, vitamin C, green tea, hyaluronic acid: regenerating, healing, diminishing redness and hydration.
Hyaluronic acid with salicylic acid to suppress breakouts, which are common after chemical peels and lasers.
Retinol exfoliates and stimulates collagen. Hydroquinone suppresses pigmentation. Both are used morning and night through the healing phase.
Asked plainly, answered plainly
Eight to nine hours. It dries into a mask, then rinses off with cold water.
Red, raw and tender, like a bad sunburn. Allergy medication like Claritin or Benadryl at night can calm the reaction. That is the controlled turnover that primes the skin for the laser.
About 14 days. The peel exfoliates and suppresses pigmentation, then the laser works deeper and cleaner without having to burn through as much dead skin.
Yes. Many patients do a second Enlighten Peel two to three weeks after the laser to address any leftover redness or hyperpigmentation. Dr. Emer tailors the plan at consultation.
Dr. Emer has a protocol that makes deep ablative lasers safe for melanated skin. The prep and aftercare, tyrosinase inhibitors before and after, are what make the difference. The risk is not the laser itself, it is what happens in the weeks after if pigmentation is not controlled.
Dr. Emer tailors a specific protocol for each patient: AOIXC (20% stable vitamin C), Botanical Serum (chlorophyll, green tea, hyaluronic acid), Hila A (hyaluronic acid with salicylic acid), retinol and Fortified Lightener (hydroquinone), morning and night through the entire healing phase. The protocol starts before the laser and continues until the skin is fully healed.
Three to ten weeks or longer, depending on the depth of the laser and your skin type. Wearing sunscreen and continuing the skincare protocol are critical during that window to prevent hyperpigmentation.
Yes. Dr. Emer has a protocol for patients on Accutane or other medications. The plan is tailored at consultation.
A consultation with Dr. Emer covers your skin type, your scars, and whether this prep protocol fits your plan.
Schedule ConsultationWest Hollywood and New York City