Laser hair removal involves more than simply “zapping” away unwanted hair; your skin is delicate following treatment and needs special care to recover properly.
Avoid harsh cleansers, deodorant products, sunless tanning products and fragrances during and after laser therapy treatments; heat can damage skin. Here are a few simple tips to help your skin recover after laser treatments.
1. Avoid Sunlight
After laser hair removal, skin can be very fragile, leaving it more susceptible to dark spots and hyperpigmentation than usual. Therefore, it is recommended that you stay out of direct sunlight for at least a week following treatment and always wear sunscreen with at least 30 SPF reapply every two hours when outdoors; wear a wide-brimmed hat and long sleeves when venturing outside if necessary.
Sunlight can deplete moisture from skin, leaving it dry and flaky – leaving hair easier to grow back after laser hair removal. Niki suggests using a gentle moisturizer without alpha-hydroxy acids such as shea butter or aloe vera for aftercare after laser hair removal, and avoid hot showers, tubs and saunas which could irritate and lead to burnt or blistered spots on your body.
Once the area has healed, it’s essential that any unwanted hair grows back thicker and darker – defeating the purpose of laser treatment. Furthermore, tanning skin makes it harder for laser beams to detect melanin levels and target hair properly.
Avoiding direct sunlight is especially crucial if you plan on continuing laser hair removal treatments in the future, since darker complexions are more susceptible to sun-induced effects like burns, scarring and hyperpigmentation. By staying out of direct sunlight after each treatment session, your skin can recover faster while lessening future issues; additionally, waiting until everything has healed completely before getting tanned may also speed recovery time.
2. Exfoliate
After laser hair removal treatments, exfoliation should be undertaken carefully to avoid inducing abrasions and making the area even more sensitive and itchy. A gentle scrub that does not contain harsh ingredients is ideal. Avoid hot showers or baths as these can dry out your skin causing itchiness or sensitivity to arise.
Exfoliation’s goal is to slough off dead skin cells and promote hair shedding in an affected area, typically two weeks following laser hair removal treatment. You can speed this process along by exfoliating gently; at this time of the month try using a body scrub with salicylic acid like this one with over 1,400 5-star reviews as it could accelerate this process further.
Once your body scrub is completed, apply it directly to the area where you have been treating and rub in small circles until the area no longer itches and irritates. Repeat this process at least once weekly until it no longer seems itchy and irritated.
If after 24 hours you still experience intense redness, itching and sensitivity, try applying aloe vera gel or lotion directly to the area to soothe any further irritation. If it continues to bother you it’s wiser to contact a laser hair removal specialist as soon as possible in case there may be anything further you can do to address the situation.
Moisturizing after exfoliating is also recommended, as this helps control inflammation and nurture the skin. Moisturization is especially essential if you regularly shave an affected area – it will keep stubble hairs at bay! However, avoid waxing, plucking or tweezing as these techniques could further irritate your skin.
3. Moisturize
Laser hair removal treatments may leave skin feeling dry and irritated for a day or two after, however keeping it hydrated with gentle lotion will help alleviate these side effects. A soft lotion will keep skin soft, supple, and smooth while relieving any associated discomfort such as pain or itching from laser treatment.
As much as it may be tempting, it is essential that you avoid rubbing or scratching a treated area. Not only is this annoying but it could lead to redness and discoloration as your skin heals – try cooling aloe vera gel or lotion instead to soothe this area and speed healing time.
Water is always good for the skin, but making an extra effort in the days following laser treatments will keep your skin hydrated and help it heal more quickly.
Avoid hot showers, saunas and Jacuzzis which may irritate your skin by stripping it of natural oils that protect it. Instead, it would be wise to try bathing in lukewarm water until your skin feels better.
Apply a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 protection over the area where you had laser hair removal treatment, to protect your skin from UV rays and ensure healthy and smooth-looking results. This will keep the treated area looking smooth and vibrant!
As soon as your treatment has concluded, it is wise to avoid waxing, tweezing, shaving or threading in the area as this could cause irritation and alter the results of laser hair removal treatment. Razors should only be used underarm deodorant; avoid using one anywhere else on your body. Also try not using any fragranced soaps, perfumes or body sprays that could irritate sensitive skin as these could aggravate inflammation further. Finally avoid body scrubs that contain abrasive materials which could aggravate irritation further.
4. Wear Loose Clothes
Laser hair removal treatments can not only remove unwanted hair effectively, but they can also provide another advantage: reduced infection risks. Even with this added advantage, however, the area still requires special care; thus it is essential that loose clothing be worn as it will provide additional comfort as well as help prevent rubbing or friction in the treatment area.
Therefore, after your laser hair removal treatment appointment it is essential that you wear loose-fitting clothing to allow the treatment area to breathe and prevent rubbing and irritation. This is particularly important if having treatment on more delicate areas such as underarms or legs.
Be mindful not to get the treatment area wet after an appointment, including showers and baths as well as saunas or steam rooms, saunas or steam rooms and any body scrubs or exfoliation treatments on that area.
Avoid applying these products again until your treated skin has completely recovered, as doing so could increase irritation or even lead to infections. Allow time for it to heal first before attempting new ones.
At the conclusion of a laser hair removal treatment, your skin may begin to crust and flake as part of its healing process. Do not pick at this crusted skin as doing so could result in bleeding, scabbing and scarring; leave it alone so it falls off naturally.
5. Avoid Heat
Hot showers or heating pads used on your skin after laser hair removal treatments will irritate and burn your skin, so try to limit these activities for 48 hours post treatment as much as possible; this includes hot tubs, saunas and jacuzzis.
Heat can also impede results and slow their effectiveness down, so using cold showers instead of hot ones after your treatment may be helpful and cool compresses may provide additional relief to affected areas.
As well as consulting your doctor first before using any additional beauty products on the area, any cosmetic items could irritate it and make it sensitive. Furthermore, alcohol and smoking should also be avoided as much as possible on both days prior to and during treatment; and make sure you consume plenty of water to hydrate yourself adequately.
As your laser destroys hair in your skin, you may feel something resembling rubber band snapping or sunburn-like sting. The sensation may last several minutes to over an hour depending on the area being treated.
Before beginning laser hair removal treatments, you must shave the area that will be treated. Furthermore, no waxing, plucking or tweezing of this area for two to three days prior to your appointment; additionally you will need to avoid tanning beds as well as natural and artificial sunlight exposure; if you have dark skin your doctor may also suggest bleaching cream to lighten its tone for treatment purposes.
