Before initiating treatment, a trained laser technician should review your medical history with you in depth. They’ll inquire as to any medications which might cause photosensitivity such as antibiotics as well as whether your skin has become naturally pigmented over time or whether tanning agents have been applied.
Keep in mind that laser hair removal only affects the roots, which means you should refrain from waxing or plucking before starting laser treatments.
1. Not Taking Prescription Medication
When seeking laser hair removal, one of the biggest mistakes people can make is taking medications which could hinder its efficacy – such as oral contraceptives, antibiotics, anticancer drugs, anti-inflammatories or cardiac medications. To ensure effective results from treatment it’s vital that any medication being taken by you be brought up to your laser technician beforehand so they can take necessary measures to prevent negative side effects of treatment from taking place.
Prior to receiving laser treatments, it’s also a good idea to avoid taking medications that make your skin photosensitive. Laser heat works by cauterizing blood vessels in hair follicles to cause them to die off, thus preventing future growth of new follicles. If taking such a drug makes your skin photosensitive then thermal energy could damage surrounding tissue or cause skin discoloration – that’s why it is crucial that all drugs being taken by you are fully disclosed with medical professionals prior to an appointment date and that no new supplements or medicines be added within 48 hours or unless instructed otherwise by them!
One common misstep people often make when getting laser hair removal is failing to allow their body enough time between sessions for it to regrow new follicles, typically three to eight treatments should suffice; if you’re trying to remove very coarse or dark hair it may take longer.
People frequently make the mistake of waxing or plucking too close to their treatment time, which can reduce its effectiveness as the laser needs to reach the roots of hair for its thermal energy to be effective against them. Furthermore, any form of hair removal other than shaving should be avoided on the day of their laser session for best results.
2. Going Too Long Between Treatments
Laser hair removal takes time as you must wait for your hair to grow back. Unfortunately, many don’t adhere to this rule and wait too long between sessions; often resulting in disappointing results. We recommend waiting at least six weeks between treatments in order to ensure new, fully grown hair is present so the laser can target it effectively. You may shave between appointments; however waxing or plucking removes all the individual hairs at once and leaves nothing for it to target with its laser beams.
If the area being treated contains too much hair, this could cause the laser to overheat and burn your skin – in this instance you will need to reschedule.
Rescheduling may also be necessary if you’re taking specific medications that interfere with laser treatment, such as antibiotics or those that could lead to hyperpigmentation. You will need to discontinue their usage prior to attending your laser session.
People often are unaware of the fact that it’s best to shave before receiving laser treatments, even though this might seem counterintuitive. Shaving allows laser light to more effectively target hair follicles without damaging them with heat – so if you haven’t shaved recently it may be beneficial to do so prior to an appointment.
Prior to receiving laser treatments, sunscreen is also extremely important. Since lasers target pigment in hair follicles, too tanned skin could cause the lasers to mistake it for hair follicles and cause irreparable damage. Therefore, you should start using SPF daily and reduce sun exposure in the weeks leading up to your appointment.
At DermaSmooth Boutique, we suggest undergoing a series of 5-8 laser hair removal treatments in order to achieve maximum effectiveness. This is especially important if you’ve been waxing or shaving in areas such as your face and neck where this could damage hair follicles.
Once your treatment series is over, maintenance visits should only need to be scheduled once or twice annually for continued hair-freedom. Most people remain hair free for months or even years after finishing their treatments; when hair does reappear it tends to be finer and lighter colored than before.
3. Getting a Glowy Tan Before Treatment
As is well-known, laser hair removal requires time, commitment, and accurate execution in order to deliver optimal results. Therefore, it’s crucial that you select the appropriate professional and follow their instructions exactly; otherwise you could end up with an unfortunate laser horror story (or worse – an increase in new hair growth)!
If you’re considering laser hair removal, it is essential that you refrain from sun exposure and tanning beds in the days prior to your appointment. Not only will this ensure that your skin remains free from tans, but it will also maximize its effectiveness as the laser targets and destroys individual follicles more effectively. Furthermore, any other form of hair removal such as waxing and tweezing should also be stopped as these methods pull hair follicles out from underneath your skin, meaning the laser cannot effectively kill them off.
Keep this in mind as a final step: it is best to shower just before, not prior to your treatment session. Furthermore, avoid hot baths or steam rooms the day prior as these can irritate skin further. Finally, after your session it is wise not to exfoliate as doing so can result in severe rashes or blocked pores that could potentially worsen further irritation of skin.
After your laser hair removal treatment, it is wise to bring loose clothing that you can change into afterward. Wearing loose shirt can help your skin recover more quickly than tight clothing can. Furthermore, perfumes or deodorants containing chemicals which could interfere with laser treatments could result in long-term dark spots being created on your skin if used too soon after treatment; just ensure to use gentle soap/shower gel and avoid vigorous scrubbing during shower time! Following your dermatologist’s instructions can go far towards protecting and helping ensure a speedy recovery of skin recovery.
4. Not Choosing a Trained Professional
Laser hair removal can be costly and require multiple sessions before stopping all unwanted hair growth, so it is vital that you select a practitioner with extensive experience and an in-depth knowledge of how the laser works, temperatures used and important factors like skin color and thickness. You can learn if they have this by reading reviews online or scheduling an initial consultation meeting with them.
Avoid spas and salons where nonmedical personnel provide treatments, particularly laser hair removal services. Doing so could pose risks to both your health and outcomes of treatment; look for providers certified in dermatology or cosmetic surgery who offer this treatment with experience treating skin types similar to your own.
Although you won’t be able to see hair follicles under your skin, regular appointments should still be made every few weeks to ensure all unwanted follicles have been destroyed. Otherwise, they could repopulate themselves and require another round of treatments.
People frequently make the mistake of shaving or using other hair removal methods before their laser hair removal session, which can compromise its effectiveness and decrease results. Instead, shave or use other forms of hair removal methods several days before your appointment so the laser can target all the unwanted hair efficiently.
When considering laser hair removal, it’s essential to inform both yourself and a specialist of any medications you are currently taking as some can lead to hyperpigmentation or other side effects which could reduce chances of optimal results.
As a laser technician, you have probably heard horror stories of mishaps that could have been avoided. With this list as your guideline, hopefully some of these mistakes can be avoided and smooth, hair-free skin can become reality for yourself! Saving both time and money over time by forgoing traditional methods of hair removal such as shaving, waxing or using other hair removal solutions is definitely something to think about!
