Lasers aim to target melanin to disable hair follicles and prevent future regrowth, yet sunless tanning products contain melanin which competes with laser light to take effect.
Fake tanning should always be removed prior to laser appointments for this reason, including gradual tanning formulations, instant and wash off tans as well as body foundations and shimmer bronzers.
Exfoliate
Laser hair removal treatments leave skin and its hair follicles feeling particularly sensitive for some time post-treatment, causing reddening and swelling (erythema and follicular oedema respectively). As such, it is vital to refrain from applying products onto that area for 24 hours post-laser hair removal session except aloe vera-based remedies.
If you opt for an exfoliator before your laser appointment, make sure that it does not contain heavy scents and is suitable for dry skin. Scrubs or other physical methods of exfoliation that could potentially lead to abrasions should also be avoided; natural body scrubs like homemade sugar or salt scrubs or gentle loofahs offer better results and should start exfoliating 2-3 days before laser appointments in order to slough off dead cells and keep pores open.
At times it can also be beneficial to exfoliate areas that won’t be treated, to minimize unwanted pigmentation and irritation after treatment. Fake tanning refers to any formulations in body moisturisers which contain gradual tanning agents, instant or wash off tans as well as shimmer bronzers; if any such products were present on your day of laser session then treatment will have to be delayed until this has been eliminated from your system.
Tweezing can disrupt the hair growth cycle and cause it to grow weaker or finer, as well as lead to scarring on your skin. Shaving can also be quite harmful; its harsh action causing it to be rough, dry and flaky in places not being treated by laser hair removal technology. When shaving these areas it is important that it is done carefully with little pressure applied – in other words tweezing should only ever be used as an occasional way of removal rather than an everyday practice!
Moisturize
Laser hair removal is a safe and effective way to get rid of unwanted body hair. Additionally, it can also be used to eliminate redness, scarring and sun spots on your skin. As an effective alternative to shaving, tweezing and waxing. However, certain guidelines must be observed when receiving laser treatment: no fake tanning in the area being treated; fake tan interferes with its effectiveness leading to either hyper-pigmentation or hypopigmentation in certain spots on your body.
Lasers are designed to absorb into melanin, the pigment that gives your skin its natural color, so when self-tanner is present on your skin it competes with melanin in your hair, making it difficult for lasers to reach the root of each follicle – leading to less-than-effective treatment that could potentially result in burns.
Self-tanners work by depositing an “stain” onto the top layers of skin, similar to how sunlight or UV rays create real tans. Unfortunately, laser technology cannot tell the difference between melanin and this stain; consequently, laser technology absorbs it and damages it, potentially leading to scarring, uneven coloring or hyper/hypopigmentation of surrounding areas.
Before beginning laser treatments, your skin tone is assessed and a baseline setting chosen that corresponds with it. Over the course of your treatments, this setting may gradually increase to accommodate for your body’s reaction; any fake tanning products worn at your appointment could significantly hinder its effectiveness as they will be assessed using different skin tones than intended for assessment.
Therefore, it is vital that in the weeks leading up to your laser appointment you do not use any fake tanner or self-tanners of any sort. Furthermore, make sure your area of skin being treated is cleaned thoroughly before treatment starts and use a moisturizer with high SPF protection – this will keep it hydrated while helping avoid burning during laser sessions. If you choose a self-tanner instead, ensure it is removed completely before going for your appointment and select one with various shades so it can match up perfectly with your natural skin tone.
Apply in small portions
If you need to use fake tan during laser treatment, apply small amounts at a time in order to avoid streaking! For maximum effectiveness use powder-free disposable latex gloves as this will keep the product from staining your palms. Work in a cool and dry area in order to avoid sweating too much which may cause the tan to fade prematurely.
After laser hair removal, it is wise to wait at least two weeks before exposing the skin and hair follicles back to sunlight again. After treatment, the skin and follicles can become very sensitive; giving time for them to recover is absolutely normal and necessary for full healing and recovery from laser treatment.
Fake tanning before laser treatments poses one major difficulty; the melanin (brown pigment) in fake tans interferes with their laser’s ability to penetrate skin. Too much melanin on the surface of skin could compete with melanin in skin and hair cells and cause it to miss the target altogether.
Before scheduling another spray tan following laser treatment, be sure that any existing tan has fully faded. In addition, be sure to apply at least 30 SPF sunscreen protection to protect both skin and hair follicles against UV radiation exposure.
Once your laser treatment has taken effect, it is safe to continue applying gradual tanning formulations, instant wash off tans or bronzing/shimmer bronzers on other parts of the body not treated by it. If you are uncertain whether your fake tan has fully faded out please call and book your laser session before beginning another application of fake tanning; this will ensure you make the most out of your treatment and maximize its efficacy.
Avoid the sun
Laser hair removal is a safe and effective solution for eliminating unwanted hair. To maximize effectiveness, however, care must be taken prior to and following laser treatments in order to avoid hyperpigmentation, scarring or burns on the skin. This means limiting exposure to sunlight for at least two weeks prior to your laser appointment and two weeks after tanning treatments have taken place.
Avoiding direct sunlight when receiving laser hair removal on the face is especially essential, since facial skin is more delicate and more prone to being affected by its heat. To best protect yourself from UV rays, wear sunscreen with SPF 50+ protection on all treated areas – which should include any areas you will treat during treatment sessions.
Sunless tanners are an increasingly popular summer beauty choice, but they should not be used when having laser hair removal. The main reason is due to chemicals in sunless tanners forming a temporary stain on the skin surface which interferes with laser’s ability to detect melanin in hair follicles and target them accurately.
Melanin in sunless tanning products competes with that found in hair follicles, leading to misdiagnosis by laser and thus burning of skin by its beam. This results in hyperpigmentation which no one wants!
Sunless tanners can also drain moisture away from your skin and leave it parched and uncomfortable – leading to further reddening or inflammation after laser hair removal sessions.
Avoiding UV radiation is essential for those seeking laser hair removal in Melbourne, as even minimal exposure can cause discoloration, hyperpigmentation, and burns. Therefore it’s wise to remain indoors as much as possible until after receiving laser treatment and any sun spots have healed and/or hairs have fallen out or been plucked off; this typically takes between several weeks and a year depending on their intensity and how many sessions are necessary.
