If you experience a burn during laser hair removal, it’s essential that you notify both the salon or practitioner as soon as possible in order to receive post-treatment advice and instructions.
Mild burns may be treated at home, while severe injuries should be addressed with medical assistance. Doctors may suggest creams to assist in helping your wounds to heal faster.
What to Expect
Laser hair removal may cause some slight discomfort; depending on the area being treated, you may experience itching, redness or bumps post-treatment. Although these effects should only last 24 hours on average, to minimize discomfort it’s wise to use a cool compress or lotion on the affected areas as soon as possible and try not to expose yourself directly to sun or artificial UV rays; sun exposure could aggravate already sensitive skin further.
Your doctor will apply numbing cream prior to your laser session. As light energy from the laser passes through your skin and into hair follicles, they absorb heat energy that destroys them and results in reduced hair growth. Most people require six-8 treatments spread out between four-8 weeks for maximum effectiveness.
When receiving laser treatment, protective goggles will be provided to shield your eyes from the laser light. A team of professionals including a licensed nurse or physician’s assistant will also be on hand to assist with this procedure. Their support may help adjust the position of the laser head should any adjustments be necessary.
Before your treatment begins, it’s advisable to shave and avoid tanning as the laser works best when there is contrast between your skin color and hair color. Tanning, plucking or waxing all interfere with this contrast and should be avoided as these methods interfere with laser effectiveness.
Hair removal products should also be avoided on the treated area as they can negatively impact laser therapy results, so be sure to shave or trim before scheduling an appointment. Likewise, applying sunless tanning cream, deodorant or makeup will only hinder its results and should also be avoided for maximum efficacy.
After your treatment, you should notice a decrease in hair growth within the area being treated. Unwanted hair may begin to shed off naturally as they reach their end of life cycle and fall out naturally.
Dependent upon your location, touch-up treatments may be necessary due to how hair grows at different rates in different places on your body. For example, facial hair might grow slower than elsewhere so fewer follow-up sessions would likely be required than with legs.
Precautions
Laser hair removal can be an extremely effective treatment option; however, it should also be approached with caution as any damages sustained from treatment might qualify for compensation claims. It is therefore wise to take certain precautions prior to beginning.
As with any medical procedure, laser hair removal requires using only accredited, qualified, and experienced laser practitioners. Before initiating treatment, it is also advisable to carry out a patch test first to make sure your skin can withstand it.
If your skin becomes warm during laser hair removal sessions, it is important to inform the practitioner immediately so they can adjust treatment settings and potentially prevent burns from happening.
After having laser hair removal treatment, it is advisable to avoid any topical beauty products as your skin will likely be extra-sensitive during this period and any topical beauty products could irritate it further. Instead, use cortisone cream or aloe vera gel on any burned areas to assist their healing.
Avoid dislodging blisters as these serve to protect the wound. Over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen may help alleviate pain but you should seek medical advice for severe burns.
As tanning the treated area can increase your chances of burns, it is wise to wait until any burned areas have healed before starting another laser hair removal treatment session.
Laser hair removal sessions should take place six weeks apart to allow the skin enough time to recover in between treatments, and reduce any chance of burns arising when returning for further treatments.
Make sure that any laser hair removal treatment takes place at a salon or aesthetic centre that uses genuine, genuine and original medical equipment. Unfortunately, many people suffer from laser burns caused by cheap salons which use replica laser machines just to save money, leaving their health vulnerable and often costlier than paying the extra money for genuine laser treatment with optimal results.
First Aid
Laser hair removal is one of the most efficient ways to rid yourself of unwanted body hair, yet it may cause burns on some individuals. Understanding how to treat laser hair removal burns effectively is crucial in order to get optimal results from treatment.
Laser hair removal burns can be extremely uncomfortable. They also may swell significantly. If you experience severe pain or blisters from laser hair removal, seek medical advice immediately – a doctor can assess their severity and prescribe medication that will aid healing.
Laser hair removal burns are typically caused by improper usage or using too powerful of an intensity level for your skin type. It is best to choose a salon or beauty center which uses FDA approved laser devices. Furthermore, make sure the technician you’re working with has received adequate training.
Existence of preexisting skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis or rosacea increases your chances of laser hair removal burns as these can increase pigment levels in your skin and absorb more laser light to be converted to heat.
If you experience these symptoms, it is essential that you inform your laser practitioner as soon as possible in order to adjust their settings on their machine and reduce your risk of burns.
Avoid applying any greasy or occlusive ointments directly to your burns as this will trap heat, making your burns even more painful. Instead, apply aloe vera gel or over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream directly onto the affected area for relief.
Laser hair removal burns may take some time to heal completely; however, you can speed up their recovery by keeping the area moisturized and avoiding frictional trauma such as rubbing. Also make sure you avoid sun exposure until all burns have fully recovered.
Treatment
If you experience laser hair removal burns following treatment, be sure to notify your practitioner as soon as possible. This will allow them to examine equipment settings and see whether any potential issues could have been avoided, before providing guidance regarding first aid and any available treatment options.
If the burns are minor, they can often be treated at home with just cool water rinsing the affected area to reduce inflammation and cool it down. You could also apply a cool compress or ice pack to further soothe skin irritation and pain relief. Lastly, OTC pain relievers such as Ibuprofen or Paracetamol could provide additional comfort.
More serious burns should be seen by a physician, who will assess their severity and provide appropriate medication to aid healing. This may include creams or ointments to treat and even lighten them if necessary.
Additionally, your doctor can advise on the best care options to facilitate quick healing of burns. This may involve avoiding methods that irritate damaged skin such as shaving or other hair removal methods and taking extra precautions with tanned skin that may increase risk.
Dependent upon the severity of your burns, doctors may advise avoiding sun exposure until your skin has recovered fully as this could cause scarring and discoloration. A sunscreen with an SPF factor of 30 or higher may also prove helpful.
Longer term, if your burns have left scars behind, these may often be eased with treatments such as medium depth chemical peels. A qualified dermatologist should assess your burns to identify which are most suitable and select those accordingly.
