– Avoid unnecessary treatments like tweezing, waxing, depilatories or shaving to achieve results from treatment. These methods could potentially interfere with them.
Dr. Boakye advises using a soap-less cleanser prior to any treatments to ensure your skin is thoroughly clean.
Laser hair removal may not be effective on red, gray and blond hairs.
Is it safe?
Laser hair removal is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments to remove unwanted body hair, yet can be intimidating for people with sensitive skin. Luckily, there are ways to reduce side effects associated with this procedure – one way being consulting a dermatologist before starting this procedure and being offered products and treatments suitable for your particular type of skin.
Lasers used for hair removal produce light of a specific wavelength that absorbs melanin present in both hair and skin, turning into heat energy that damages and destroys hair follicles that produce hair growth. While most people do not experience any discomfort from laser hair removal treatments, some may experience an itching or burning sensation that typically disappears upon completion of laser therapy treatment – these symptoms typically only persist temporarily and only appear during their laser session.
Hyperpigmentation can also occur from laser hair removal and should be easily treatable; Cosmelan peels and other strong skin-lightening creams can help restore natural skin tone and remove any remaining hyperpigmentation after laser hair removal.
Some individuals experience hair growth after laser hair removal treatments; this is actually your body’s way of healing its damaged follicles. Though the new growth may be thinner and lighter than before, patients can reduce regrowth by scheduling maintenance laser sessions on a regular basis.
Many people mistake laser hair removal as an irreversible solution to unwanted hair growth, but that isn’t true. Board-certified dermatologist Winnie Moses indicates that laser treatments only target hair follicles that are active growth phase so some will continue producing new hair after laser treatment has taken place. She suggests scheduling five to six laser sessions one month apart in order to maximize results and ensure optimal results.
Can I go under a laser hair removal procedure while using hydroquinone and tretinoin creams on my face?
Laser hair removal is a safe procedure when performed by an experienced medical professional, however it’s essential to follow pre and post treatment guidelines for optimal results. Some examples include avoiding sun exposure as well as not using waxing or depilatories on the treated area, while tweezing or shaving of this area for several days post treatment is advised to ensure optimal outcomes.
Hydroquinone and tretinoin creams should be stopped at least 3 days prior to receiving laser therapy as these can make your skin more sensitive to light, increasing the chances of adverse reactions during your session. You should also try to stay clear of perfumes, sunless tanning lotions and any numbing agents which might further irritate it.
Patients with darker skin tones are especially susceptible to laser-related side effects, including post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). PIH refers to any temporary or permanent change in skin color caused by inflammation such as acne, eczema and various dermatoses; medications (antimalarial drugs for instance), as well as laser treatments that exacerbate existing pigmentation issues like melasma.
At a laser treatment session, patients sit or lie in a darkened room as the device is activated. Pulses of light loosen hair while disabling cells responsible for new growth – with multiple cooling methods helping ensure gentle and comfortable light pulses are administered by this method.
After receiving laser hair removal treatments, patients will need to moisturize the area that has been treated. Moisturizers without alpha hydroxy acids tend to work best. Hot baths or showers should be avoided as these may irritate skin further and result in adverse reactions of treatment. In addition, sensitive areas may become sensitive for several days following laser sessions and red spots or small bumps may appear; these will eventually fade with time but it is best not to touch or scratch these areas directly.
Can I go under a laser hair removal procedure while using hyaluronic acid on my face?
Laser hair removal has quickly become one of the world’s most sought-after cosmetic procedures, as its results are more permanent than shaving and far less painful than waxing. While laser treatments may cause discomfort for sensitive skin types, certain skincare products like hyaluronic acid can provide extra protection during and post treatment by soothing irritation as well as acting as moisturizers – giving the skin a soft and silky feeling after each session.
For optimal laser hair removal results, it is advised that any other forms of hair removal (waxing, tweezing and chemical depilators) be stopped several days prior to an appointment. It is also advisable not to expose treated areas directly to sunlight and use high SPF sunscreens on all of them.
Makeup, deodorant, lotions and other chemicals should also be avoided on areas of your face that have been treated by laser treatments. If necessary, ensure they are removed thoroughly prior to laser sessions.
Dependent upon the intensity of your laser treatment, you may experience side effects afterward that include mild burning sensations, redness, swelling and sensitivity. To minimise such side effects it may be wise to use over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream.
Patchy hair growth is another frequent side effect. This should go away within several weeks.
Symptoms that suggest you need medical or laser technician attention? Consult with them immediately as soon as you feel any of these are present; they will advise the safest approach to proceeding with your treatments, including possibly lowering energy settings if necessary.
Before your laser treatment, it is advisable to forgo skincare products containing retinol or alpha hydroxy acids as these could increase skin sensitivity, increasing your risk of adverse reactions and leading to adverse side-effects. You should also avoid subjecting treated areas to excessive heat (sun exposure, hot tubs and saunas) for at least 48 hours after their procedure and working out for some time afterward.
Can I go under a laser hair removal procedure while using vitamin C on my face?
No matter whether it is shaving, waxing, or tweezing that caused ingrown hairs on your facial and body hairs, laser treatment offers an easy and effective solution to get rid of unwanted facial and body hair permanently. Before scheduling an appointment though, there are certain key points you need to keep in mind before booking an appointment with them.
Dr. Ann Zedlitz of Baton Rouge Dermatology recommends discontinuing use of skincare products containing acids (AHAs and BHAs) retinol or peptides at least two days before any laser procedure to avoid post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation that can occur after laser procedures. She suggests clients also utilize serum containing Vitamin C, which has proven helpful with improving elasticity and collagen production, in addition to higher Fitzpatrick skin types benefitting from using lightening products like hydroquinone two weeks prior to laser to reduce hyperpigmentation risks.
Your skin will become very vulnerable following laser treatments, absorbing a lot of extra nutrients that it would not usually absorb before. Therefore, sunscreen with an SPF 30 rating or higher should always be applied after receiving laser treatments, and intense physical activities as well as hot showers/bathtubs should be avoided for several days afterward.
If you are uncertain of the number of sessions necessary to achieve your desired results, our laser technicians can suggest an individualized regimen based on which area of the body needs treatment and give a quote depending on how much coverage needs removing.
To achieve optimal results from laser hair removal treatments, it is recommended that appointments be scheduled at least three to four weeks apart to allow your skin time to heal in between each session. We also advise refraining from tweezing, plucking or waxing in order to reduce ingrown hairs.
Clear and Brilliant Laser encourages all clients to disclose all medications, supplements, or vitamins they take as well as any cold sore history or conditions which might impede treatment effectiveness.
