As any laser hair removal client knows, some hair shedding can occur following treatment. Exfoliation may help speed up this process between appointments to promote hair loss more rapidly.
After your treatment, be careful to avoid using harsh astringents or acids, which could further irritate the skin. Furthermore, it’s advisable not to wax, tweeze or pluck hairs between treatments – these could aggravate conditions even more!
1. Apply a Glycolic Acid Serum
Glycolic acid, an ingredient derived from sugar cane, exfoliates skin by clearing away dead cells and speeding up cell turnover to promote healthy skin glow, reduced signs of aging and an even complexion. Furthermore, glycolic acid also helps reduce breakouts and pigmentation spots from forming, making this ingredient available in serums, cleansers and moisturizers for skincare needs.
With all its many advantages, glycolic acid should not be underestimated as an ingredient that may irritate some skin types. Therefore, it is recommended that users start slowly with low concentration products before gradually increasing up to the highest strength that will work for their individual complexions. It’s always wise to patch test any new skincare product prior to applying it on an entire facial surface and when possible consult a dermatologist or esthetician prior to beginning a skincare regimen that includes glycolic acid as an ingredient.
Glycolic acid in serum form is an effective exfoliant that works on the outermost layer of skin called the stratum corneum, consisting of tightly packed layers of dead skin cells bonded together. Glycolic acid’s ability to dissolve their adhesive bonds makes it easier for these dead cells to shed off, helping diminish fine lines and wrinkles, refine pores size, and promote younger looking skin. Additionally, its use has also been known to minimize appearances of fine lines and wrinkles, refine pore size reduction, as well as promote younger looking complexions!
Studies have also demonstrated its ability to increase hydration, stimulate collagen production and reduce pigmentation spots by inhibiting overproduction of melanin in the skin. A clinical trial using an 8% glycolic acid formula demonstrated significant improvements in overall photo-damage of skin.
2. Exfoliate Your Skin
Glycolic acid can be used as a gentle chemical exfoliant to loosen and remove dead skin cells, stimulating fresh cell production and improving your complexion. Exfoliation plays an essential role in preventing ingrown hairs and clogged pores; exfoliate prior to any laser hair removal sessions so the light rays can reach all those unwanted strands!
Most experts advise using 10% or less glycolic acid daily as an exfoliant; however, for newcomers it may be beneficial to start off slowly by starting with lower concentrations or wash-off versions like cleanser and gradually increasing usage over time. This will enable your skin to build tolerance to it, thus decreasing any risk of irritation.
After laser hair removal sessions, it’s also essential to exfoliate regularly at home. For optimal results, exfoliating once or twice each week should produce excellent results – the most effective method being loofahs or soft brushes combined with gentle scrubs such as loofahs. Salt scrubs should be avoided as these can aggravate already sensitive skin further.
Exfoliation is another reason to exfoliate skin regularly: to prevent build-ups of dead skin that clogs pores and prevents laser hair removal light from reaching hair bulbs – otherwise, hair will grow back thicker over time, becoming even harder to remove in future sessions. Exfoliation helps ensure smooth, beautiful skin even long after laser hair removal sessions have ended! Regular exfoliation sessions will ensure this problem does not arise, helping you to enjoy lasting smoothness long after they end!
If you are concerned about potential side effects associated with using glycolic acid on your skin, always speak to a healthcare provider before beginning any new treatments or medications. In particular, be sure to inform them if taking Accutane or any medications which make skin extra sensitive.
3. Apply a Glycolic Acid Lotion
Glycolic acid’s tiny molecules easily penetrate your skin, making it an excellent ingredient in skincare products that target dark patches from scars and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. When used at the appropriate concentration for your particular skin type, glycolic acid can reduce fine lines and wrinkles significantly – it can even help erase fine lines altogether! It is commonly found in peels, serums, masks, facial washes, body lotions and cleansers.
Glycolic acid, like other alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), works to break the bonds between dead skin cells and your skin’s surface, helping remove dead cells from your face without them getting stuck in pores and blackheads. Glycolic acid also promotes new, fresh skin cell growth as it can reduce redness, acne, enlarged pores and hyperpigmentation while improving sun damage as a side benefit.
AHAs can increase collagen production, helping reduce fine lines and wrinkles. To see even greater improvement in skin elasticity and firmness, add retinol into your routine – it is best suited for use at different times during the day so as to not make skin too sensitive to either product.
If you are using a glycolic acid product, make sure that sunscreen is applied daily to protect your skin from sun damage, and avoid tanning beds. If any adverse side effects develop such as burning, tingling or dryness while using the glycolic acid product in question, discontinue use immediately and consult a dermatologist immediately.
People with darker skin have higher concentrations of melanin and are at increased risk for hyperpigmentation from using strong or irritating skincare products. A glycolic acid product with low concentration should be applied only once or twice weekly as this will have maximum benefits without increasing hyperpigmentation risk.
After laser hair removal, it’s also important to avoid hot water activities like swimming, Jacuzzis and steam rooms that could irritate the skin, such as Jacuzzis or steam rooms, which could exacerbate irritations such as prolonged redness or blistering on your treated area. Once healed, these activities can resume their usual routines.
4. Apply a Glycolic Acid Mask
Glycolic acid (AHA) is one of many alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). AHAs can be found naturally in fruits, vegetables, sugarcane and milk and work to exfoliate skin by helping dead cells shed off while encouraging new skin cell production for improved tone, texture and brightness. AHAs also have antioxidant properties which protect from UV radiation damage as well as environmental stressesors; glycolic acid has the smallest molecular structure among AHAs so its effects penetrate deepest into skin layers.
AHAs can be found in numerous over-the-counter skincare products, from serums and cleansers to moisturizers and scrubs. When selecting an AHA product, both its concentration and pH levels should be carefully considered; concentrations between 5-10% may provide sufficient exfoliation while more intensive rinse-off peels may be needed on occasion to help minimize fine lines and wrinkles.
Glycolic acid exfoliates by dissolving the glue-like substance that holds dead skin cells to the surface of your skin, helping your cells shed faster while stimulating new cell production for even tone, texture, and brightness. Furthermore, its moisturising effects provide extra hydration and softening effects on your complexion.
Studies have shown that glycolic acid can increase collagen production, leading to firmer skin with reduced fine lines and wrinkles, reduced sun damage, evenness in pigmentation levels and prevention of uneven pigmentation patches. Due to its antioxidant properties, glycolic acid also aids in combatting sun damage while helping prevent further pigmentation issues from emerging unevenly or patchy over time.
glycolic acid’s antibacterial properties make it an excellent ingredient to include in face masks for acne-prone and oily skin types, helping unclog pores, remove excess sebum production and kill any potential breakout-causing bacteria.
Whenever using glycolic acid products, it is advised to avoid use on broken skin or on areas recently waxed or shaven as this could lead to irritation. Also wait a few days after receiving laser hair removal treatment as that can make your skin more sensitive.
