Shaving can be a tedious chore when trying to remove unwanted hair. For the fastest and least costly way to achieve results, why not consider laser hair removal instead? It saves both time and money!
Laser light energy targets the melanin pigment present in hair follicles with light energy to target melanin or pigment present, however if there is too much hair present it could singe the skin and lead to burns.
Shaving
Medical professionals typically recommend shaving several days prior to beginning laser hair removal treatment in order to make sure the length of hair can easily be targeted by laser energy. The procedure uses specific light energy that destroys hair follicles beneath your skin’s surface; otherwise it will not absorb enough light energy and will emit thermal injury into your body instead.
Your specialist should use caution and work slowly and carefully on the day of your appointment in order to minimize redness or irritation that could result from using razors with dull blades or irritant ingredients, which could nick and cut the skin, creating discomfort following treatment. Shaving may also remove some oils which usually keep skin moisturized – this may make the skin even more vulnerable after being treated, leading to redness or irritation afterward requiring your specialist to work slowly in order not to exacerbate matters any further.
Prior to your laser hair removal appointment, it is advisable to refrain from waxing, plucking and/or using depilatory creams in the area being treated. These methods of hair removal remove hair at its source reducing effectiveness as there won’t be enough left for laser energy absorption and leading to skin irritation.
At your laser hair removal appointment, the technician will use a laser beam to target individual follicles and prevent future growth of hair follicles. However, if your hair is too long to absorb this energy fully and grow back later. This may cause discomfort as well as make it more challenging for him/her to see each individual hair follicle with clarity.
If you choose to shave on the day of your laser hair removal appointment, applying a topical numbing agent before beginning can make the experience much less painful and help prevent any razor blade cuts or nicks that may occur during shaving.
Exfoliating
Women and men spend numerous hours each week shaving, waxing or otherwise removing unwanted hair by any method they can find. Laser hair removal offers a solution that significantly cuts this time down while permanently eliminating these techniques in many locations.
Shaving before laser treatments is essential in order to allow laser energy to target hair follicles directly without interference from other hairs or the surface of the skin. Plucked, waxed or any other methods used for hair removal disrupt hair follicles that interfere with laser energy targeting them directly, so it is best to forgo these methods until after your appointment has taken place.
However, you should use a fresh razor and avoid going over the same spots too often as this can cause irritation and redness. Furthermore, exfoliating before your laser treatment will remove dead hairs and make the surface of the skin smoother.
Maintaining moisturized and oil-free skin after laser treatments is also advised, since your complexion could dry out more rapidly than expected. A light lotion or cream with natural SPF protection can provide much-needed hydration while protecting from further sun exposure.
Protecting skin from direct sunlight is vital in order to stop it from darkening before your next treatment session. Furthermore, avoid self-tanners or sunless tanning for they can lead to skin discoloration which could compromise results of laser therapy treatments.
Finally, it’s essential that any blood-thinning medications be avoided as these can increase your risk of bruising and bleeding at the treatment site. While taking these medicines doesn’t need to be entirely discontinued, discussing them with your physician beforehand might give an idea of their impact on laser treatment results.
Avoiding Sunlight
Utilizing sunblock is always recommended, but especially during laser hair removal treatments. The heat from the laser can damage skin, while sun exposure increases risk for hyperpigmentation or other complications. If you arrive for your sessions tanned or sunburned it becomes impossible for your practitioner to treat the area effectively.
After your treatments, it is also wise to avoid sunlight exposure for at least some time post-treatment as the treated skin can be sensitive and vulnerable to hyperpigmentation; prolonged UV ray exposure will only make matters worse.
After receiving laser treatments, it is wise to avoid swimming and other water sports for 24-48 hours afterward. This is because your treated skin could become irritated and susceptible to infection; giving it enough time to heal is key.
After your treatment, it’s also advised that you limit exposure to hot baths and showers for several days; hot water may leave treated skin extra sensitive and vulnerable to irritation. Furthermore, exfoliation could potentially stimulate new hair regrowth.
Once again, avoid products designed to lighten your skin such as sunless tanning creams or bleaching products that aim to lighten it as these could also have adverse effects on hair follicles and interfere with laser treatments in treating hair follicles in treatment areas. They can actually darken skin tone further compromising how laser treatments affect those follicles.
Niki notes that certain areas of the body can still be treated even during summer, such as underarm and bikini areas that tend to receive less direct sunlight due to clothing covering them from sunrays. Laser treatments offer long-term hair reduction solutions; it’s wise to keep these tips in mind and follow them closely for optimal results.
Avoiding Certain Medications
Medication may interfere with how laser hair removal works on your skin, so it is wise to avoid taking anything that might interfere with treatment, particularly during pregnancy or taking blood-thinners like aspirin. Be wary when using skin products such as lotions and ointments which could react with laser light; furthermore avoid drugs like ibuprofen and acetaminophen that increase risk of skin sensitivity and bleeding during the removal process.
Excessive body hair growth could be a telltale sign of polycystic ovarian syndrome. Therefore, it’s wise to consult your physician regarding this problem prior to seeking laser hair removal treatments that might reduce unwanted growth. They’ll likely recommend treatments which could reduce unwanted hair growth significantly.
Before having laser hair removal done, it is crucial that the area being treated be shaved. Shaving can help remove hair above the surface of your skin and decrease bump formation after your appointment; however, you must not shave too close as this could lead to razor burn.
Before your appointment, it is also a wise move to exfoliate the skin thoroughly in order to clear away oils and moisturizers that may hinder laser targeting of hair follicles. Furthermore, plucking or waxing the area should also be avoided since such techniques could damage follicles.
Once your laser hair removal treatment has concluded, it is advisable to wait several days before shaving the area again. This allows the newly destroyed hairs time to fall out naturally from their follicles without further intervention from you, such as tweezing or waxing, which could result in ingrown hairs.
Laser hair removal may not be for everyone, but it can be an effective solution for reducing unwanted body hair. However, this procedure should not be undertaken by people suffering from hirsutism – an excessive buildup of body hair that could signal an underlying health issue – nor those using medications which increase skin sensitivity such as steroids creams or gold therapy therapy for arthritis.
