Laser hair removal is a treatment designed to permanently eradicate unwanted follicles from your skin and leave its surface looking healthy and sleek. In order to maximize results from this therapy, it’s important to follow some post-treatment recommendations.
When going outdoors, it’s essential to wear sunscreen in order to shield yourself from the sun’s harmful rays and aid your skin’s recovery process.
1. Avoid the Sun
Before embarking on laser hair removal treatments, it is advisable to avoid prolonged sun exposure such as sunbathing, spray tanning or using a tanning bed. Such activities increase your risk for hyperpigmentation which is difficult to treat once present on the skin.
After your treatment has been completed, it is wise to avoid exposure to direct sunlight for at least 24 hours afterward, particularly if your skin tone is darker. The laser uses heat energy to target melanin pigments in hair follicles; tanning could interfere with this process and tainting can alter how effectively this happens.
To stay safe, it’s essential that you apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or greater and reapply it frequently. Choose between physical or chemical sunscreen – physical blocks only UVB radiation while chemical provides UVA and UVB coverage – when making this decision.
2. Stay Cool
After having undergone laser hair removal, you don’t want to expose your skin too long and too heavily to heat sources like hot water or the sun; otherwise it could burn and itch badly.
Showering with lukewarm to cool water and using cool compresses several times each day are highly recommended, as are moisturizers that do not contain harsh chemicals and ingredients, such as those from moisturizer brands with “non-GMO” label. Greasy creams or body oils may clog your pores and lead to folliculitis – the condition in which dead skin cells attach themselves to living ones and cause an inflammation on the surface of your skin that irritates its surface.
As with hot tubs and steam rooms, saunas should also be avoided along with strenuous exercise. Wear clothing that covers treated areas if going outside; and make sure you put on ample sunscreen if venturing outside!
3. Avoid Heat
After laser hair removal, your skin may become extra-sensitive to heat. Therefore, for 48 hours following treatment it is wise to avoid hot showers and baths (preferably keeping water lukewarm), saunas, and steam rooms as much as possible. Furthermore, try not to exfoliate excessively as this could clog pores.
Should a crust or scab appear following laser treatment, avoid picking or scratching it – this could irritate your skin and increase scarring risks. Instead, gently patting it with a clean cloth may help loosen it.
After your treatment, take care to limit excessive scrubbing with loofahs, sponges and other abrasive scrubbers such as loofahs. Longer shower sessions or using chemical or perfume-packed soaps could irritate sensitive skin further while increasing risk of infection during healing.
4. Don’t Scratch or Pick at Your Skin
Laser hair removal leaves your skin vulnerable, and any attempt at scratching will only aggravate redness and irritation further. Picking at any scabs that form can lead to scarring and infection – if this happens to you try applying soothing moisturizer with fragrance-free ingredients instead. Indulging in exfoliants could irritate this sensitive area further and clog your pores further than necessary.
Resist the urge to wax, shave or pluck any new hairs that sprout between sessions; doing so may irritate follicles and delay results of your series.
Frequency of laser hair removal treatments should not exceed six weeks between sessions in order to minimize risks such as hyperpigmentation and other potential side effects, and to maximize efficacy and ensure healthy skin after laser hair removal treatments. Talk to your Tulsa dermatologist about proper skin care after laser hair removal for further guidance.
5. Moisturize
After laser hair removal, your skin may feel bumpy and slightly irritated. This is a normal side effect which should resolve within several days or so. To alleviate it, try applying cooling aloe vera gel or lotion directly onto the affected area or cold compress or an ice pack wrapped in cloth or paper towels; also take an over-the-counter pain reliever like Tylenol to decrease redness or swelling as necessary.
Applying fragrance-free moisturizer multiple times daily is also beneficial to soothe sensitive skin and alleviate itching, while exfoliating products may irritate or clog up pores, leading to further discomfort for sensitive individuals.
Be careful to avoid shaving, plucking, and waxing as this can irritate hair follicles and delay results. If necessary, shaving should be done sparingly with a sharp razor; additionally, space recurring laser hair removal treatments no sooner than every four to six weeks apart.
6. Exfoliate
Exfoliation is an effective way to maintain fresh and healthy-looking skin, but it’s best to wait until after laser hair removal to do it. Doing it too early could cause severe skin irritation as well as ingrown hairs or blocked pores if done too soon.
Use of a gentle scrub or brush to exfoliate is an effective way to exfoliate. Be sure to choose one without fragrances and harsh ingredients as this will provide optimal results.
Laser hair removal is one of the most permanent solutions to unwanted body hair, as well as helping address skin conditions associated with its growth like folliculitis and pigmentation issues. By cutting down on depilation, waxing, and shaving sessions needed for removal, laser hair removal can save both time and money compared to these traditional approaches. For more information about laser hair removal’s potential advantages for you personally, book an appointment with Essential Aesthetics now.
7. Stay Hydrated
As soon as laser hair removal, apply a cool compress on the affected area to help alleviate discomfort and decrease redness and swelling. Your laser technician may also suggest applying cooling creams or ointments to soothe your skin.
Makeup, body washes, or deodorant should be avoided immediately after treatment as this can irritate the skin further and exacerbate swelling. Shower loofahs and sponges should also be avoided to avoid excessive scrubbing while fragrance-free body washes may help ease skin irritability.
Wear a wide-brimmed hat and apply sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher when going outside to protect sensitive skin from UV rays that can cause dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Incorporating foods rich in antioxidants, like blackberries and plums, into your diet to improve texture of the skin and decrease inflammation.
8. Avoid Harsh Cleansers
After receiving laser hair removal treatments, some individuals may experience redness and warmth to their skin, similar to what might occur after sunbathing. Cool compresses or moisturizers may help relieve this sensation and soothe symptoms.
If you need to clean the affected area, opt for using a soft wash cloth and lukewarm water rather than hot. Hot water can increase skin sensitivity while stripping it of its essential oils.
After receiving treatment, avoid applying any products to the treated area that might aggravate it – such as makeup, lotions, deodorant and sunless tanning products as well as numbing cream.
Laser hair removal may cause itching, but it is essential not to scratch as this could result in scarring. Applying Aloe Vera-based creams or ointments may help soothe irritations; typically the itching resolves within several days.
9. Take It Easy
After laser hair removal, it’s wise to take it easy for a few days and limit physical activities as much as possible. Avoid hot showers, saunas and Jacuzzis since their extreme temperatures could damage or blister your skin; opt for lukewarm water instead.
Always put on sunscreen and stay out of direct sunlight whenever possible to help heal and protect the skin from UV rays. Doing this will allow it to repair itself while protecting it against further damage caused by these rays.
After your laser hair removal treatment, it’s advisable to exfoliate regularly in order to facilitate faster shedding of destroyed follicles and better prepare your skin for future laser sessions. This will also speed up recovery from treatments.
After laser hair removal, it is essential that you do not shave, wax or pluck the area as this may damage both your skin and hair follicles. By following these simple guidelines you can help your skin remain healthy after laser treatment and continue living life hair-free for life!
