Laser hair removal can be an excellent way to get rid of unsightly body hair without plucking, shaving or waxing it yourself – however it’s essential that proper precautions be taken prior to and post laser treatments in regards to sun exposure.
Avoiding sun exposure can help avoid unwelcome side effects like blisters and hyperpigmentation, so follow these tips for enjoying summer without worry about an upcoming laser hair removal appointment.
1. Avoid Sun Exposure
Laser hair removal offers a safer and less painful option to shaving and other forms of hair removal that may cause razor burns, ingrown hairs, redness and irritation. Unfortunately, sun exposure can make skin more sensitive, decreasing effectiveness of your laser hair removal treatment – so it is vital that during summer, especially after laser hair removal sessions, you protect it from direct sunlight by covering up to protect it from direct sun rays.
Before getting laser hair removal treatment, it’s best to stay out of the sun for 72 hours prior to treatment. Extended sun exposure can make skin vulnerable, increasing its susceptibility and risking scarring or hyperpigmentation during treatments. A high SPF sunscreen with broad spectrum protection may be the ideal solution to avoid this from happening.
Wear a hat and long-sleeved shirt when heading outdoors, covering as much of your skin with clothing as possible to reduce UV exposure while remaining comfortable and cool in the sun. Furthermore, be sure to apply sunscreen frequently when spending time outside!
Following a laser hair removal appointment, it’s recommended that your skin rest for two days to allow it to heal properly. After receiving laser treatments, your skin may become more susceptible to heat exposure; so staying out of direct sunlight helps ensure any potential adverse side effects, like hyperpigmentation and burns can be avoided.
To protect against sun damage, it’s crucial that your skin be shielded with a broad spectrum sunscreen providing UVB and UVA protection. Tanning increases the likelihood of adverse reactions during laser hair removal treatments; tanning should also be avoided as tanning increases your likelihood of negative side effects.
2. Keep Your Treated Areas Covered
Sun exposure should always be avoided before and after laser hair removal treatments, but especially so during summer. Covering treated skin from direct sunlight will prevent hyper-pigmentation, burns and assist its recovery post treatment.
If your body area that’s often exposed to sunlight, such as legs or bikini lines, requires laser hair removal sessions, consider scheduling them during cooler months – particularly fall and winter when there are fewer sun tans present. While anyone can get laser hair removal anytime of the year, fall and winter offer ideal opportunities for keeping skin smooth and beautiful without dealing with unsightly summer tans.
Along with protecting yourself from sun exposure, it’s also wise to wear clothing and sunscreen whenever outside. This is particularly important when engaging in water-based activities like swimming, taking hot baths/showers/using steamers as the heat and moisture can cause your skin to absorb light from laser treatments, thus altering their outcomes and possibly the outcome of hair removal treatment.
Protecting your skin after laser hair removal treatments requires wearing loose-fitting clothing with light material, applying broad spectrum sunscreen with at least 30 SPF, and exfoliating 2-3 times per week – these steps should help your skin look its best!
3. Avoid Swimming
No matter the season, don’t allow your hair removal routine to lapse just because more revealing clothing will be worn. Shaving and waxing have traditionally been considered the go-to solutions for silky smooth skin; however, both methods can be painful, time consuming, and prone to ingrown hairs (pseudofolliculitis barbae). Laser hair removal offers fast results with little discomfort for fast lasting results!
Many individuals avoid laser treatment because of concerns that sun exposure will impede results. Although it’s true that sun avoidance should be strictly adhered to for two weeks before and after each session, protecting skin during this timeframe should also be top priority.
Tanning makes it more difficult for laser hair removal treatments to detect pigmented follicles and effectively damage them, leading many people to think it is not worth getting laser hair removal in summertime because they won’t be effective anymore if tanned.
Summer activities, including trips to the beach or pool, should still be enjoyed after laser treatment; just make sure that any chlorinated water remains out of reach for 24 hours after treatment, and that you use high SPF sunscreen on parts of your body that may be exposed. This will help avoid sunburns or any skin damage that might impede its effectiveness.
4. Wear Sunscreen
As with most people, most spend an inordinate amount of time plucking, shaving and waxing to rid themselves of unwanted hair. Unfortunately, these methods only produce short-term solutions; new growth may still emerge later on. Now thanks to laser technology you can enjoy smooth skin all year long without the hassle of plucking or shaving!
Prior and post laser hair removal, sun exposure must be avoided as prolonged sun exposure can make your skin extremely sensitive and it would not be safe to treat areas which have already been sunburnt.
Niki advises the use of sunscreen with at least 30 SPF to cover all areas being treated, and to choose physical sunblock over chemical ones as this provides more effective UV ray protection. She further suggests applying sunblock daily, even on days that don’t seem particularly sunny.
Be sure to reapply sunscreen frequently after sweating or swimming to maximize protection from harmful UV rays that could potentially lead to skin cancer and premature aging. This ensures maximum protection.
Even if you don’t plan on having laser hair removal this summer, these tips can help ensure that your skin remains healthy all year round. Be honest with your therapist regarding how much sun exposure you have received recently; avoid tanning before and after laser treatment sessions; and always wear sunscreen!
5. Avoid Sunburn
Sunburn prevention should always be top of mind, but during laser hair removal it becomes even more vital. The heat from the laser destroys pigments in your skin that contribute to hyperpigmentation and permanent damage; sunburnt skin may be particularly sensitive to heat damage and therefore poses an increased risk for burns and scarring.
To minimize this risk, it is wise to avoid sunlight and tanning beds 72 hours prior to any laser hair removal treatment. Not only will this lower risks of hypopigmentation but it will also prevent your skin from being irritated by laser light treatment. Please take this rule seriously.
After your treatment, it’s recommended to limit sun exposure as much as possible for two weeks after. This means limiting beach trips and spending long days outdoors as well as any tanning cream use. When venturing outdoors, use plenty of high SPF sunscreen – and be sure to reapply often!
Before beginning laser hair removal sessions, be wary not to pluck or wax the area being treated; doing so could jar the roots and encourage regrowth. If stubborn ingrown hairs arise, an exfoliator or wash cloth may help gently extract them; if this fails, seek professional medical assistance immediately.
