Exercise raises your body temperature, leading to excessive sweating. Exercising can irritate skin and increase risk of an allergic reaction or infection following laser hair removal treatment, increasing sweat output by as much as 50 percent.
Answering this question depends on which part of your body was lasered, but in general it’s wise to avoid activities which cause sweating shortly after having laser treatment.
Wait at Least 48 Hours
Laser hair removal is one of the safest and most effective ways to permanently eradicate unwanted body hair. The procedure uses laser radiation to target individual hair follicles and destroy them; however, the procedure can sometimes leave skin around treated areas feeling slightly irritated and sensitive – though usually these symptoms subside within a day or two.
As such, many patients want to resume their normal exercise regimen as soon as possible; however, too early exercise could result in unwanted side effects, including skin rashes or irritation in the area being treated.
This holds especially true for high-intensity workouts. According to various sources, it’s wise to wait at least 48 hours after engaging in any exercise that could make you sweat profusely – such as running, swimming, weight training, biking or spin classes – before engaging in any intense physical activities that would cause excessive sweating such as jogging, swimming, weight training or dancing classes that cause you to sweat excessively. While giving up some high impact activities may be difficult, there are numerous low-impact ways that can raise your heartrate without creating sweating or irritation: take a brisk walk or yoga session or gentle calisthenics at home!
After laser hair removal, it is advisable to limit exposure to hot showers and saunas; hot water can irritate skin while saunas increase body temperature which could increase irritation and redness. Furthermore, regular moisturization after laser sessions will keep skin hydrated and protected from dryness.
If you have questions regarding whether it is safe for you to exercise following laser hair removal, speak to your dermatologist or aesthetician for guidance. They will be able to advise based on factors like which laser was used and your skin pigmentation status, among others.
Although working out too soon after laser hair removal may be uncomfortable, its results more than make up for any inconveniences that may arise from it. With proper care and consideration, long-term smooth skin will emerge to make you feel great – plus no more worrying about unwanted hair growth!
Avoid Intense Exercise
Within 24 – 48 hours following laser hair removal, it is crucial that you refrain from sweating or engaging in activities which elevate your body temperature. This is because your treated area may still be sensitive and anything that increases heat can irritate it further and increase risk factors like infections and ingrown hairs. Exercise, heavy clothing or deodorant use should all be avoided within this area.
As this can be challenging if you’re an avid gym rat who regularly exercises on a treadmill or weight room, if it is impossible to wait 48 hours between workouts then light exercises that don’t produce sweat could help ease back in – walking, jogging, swimming, cycling yoga and calisthenics would all be effective ways of exercising without producing sweat.
After laser hair removal, it is also essential to refrain from exercises which cause you to sweat profusely for at least a couple of days post-treatment. This is because the area treated becomes very sensitive after laser treatment, and excessive sweating can irritate it further and worsen hair follicles which increases risk for infection in that region.
If you plan on exercising regularly, then it is important to take frequent breaks during your sessions to unwind and shower. Furthermore, wearing loose-fitting clothing that fits comfortably is highly recommended; otherwise it would be wiser to opt for sports bras or tank tops for optimal performance.
Avoid showering with hot water as this will irritate the skin even further, opting for a lukewarm or cooler shower instead. Doing so will ensure you do not heat the area being treated.
As is evident from this guide, there are various considerations when returning to exercise after laser hair removal. Most individuals can wait out the required amount of time before restarting their workout regimen without issue.
Stay Hydrated
Laser hair removal is a non-invasive cosmetic procedure that uses concentrated light energy to damage pigments in the skin, so staying hydrated before and after treatments to minimize discomfort and promote healthy healing is key for optimal results. Drinking lots of water also helps flush out substances like caffeine that could increase discomfort during treatments.
Attentiveness to skin temperature after laser hair removal is also of vital importance, since excess heat can aggravate sensitive post-procedure skin, leading to complications and slowing healing time. Therefore, to minimize any chance of this occurring it is advisable to refrain from baths, saunas and steam rooms, as well as any intense physical activities which might lead to sweating during or for at least 24 hours after your session.
Before and after laser hair removal treatments, it is also crucial to protect the treated area from sun exposure. UV rays from the sun can irritate sensitive post-treatment skin, causing itching, burning or other unpleasant symptoms. To protect this delicate area it is advised to apply broad spectrum sunscreen with at least an SPF30 protection factor to cover it for prolonged outdoor exposure periods.
Though not strictly necessary, it is highly advised that waxing or plucking of hair prior to and post laser hair removal treatment be reduced in order to minimize skin irritation and infection risks. Furthermore, waiting until treatment has finished before shave back is also crucial as this will help ensure thinner and lighter growth from newly sprouting hairs.
Before laser treatment sessions, it is ideal to skip shaving for two days prior as this may impede results and cause discomfort. It remains essential to shave areas with unwanted hair between laser sessions using quality razor blades in order to keep smooth and silky-looking skin. Also recommended is using aloe vera lotion or gel on treated areas to help reduce redness and swelling and finally taking any pain medications as directed by your dermatologist in order to ensure a successful recovery and maximize results.
Stay Cool
After laser hair removal, it is important to avoid sweating as sweat can irritate the skin, potentially leading to rashes or infections in the area where you had treatment completed. Furthermore, hot showers or saunas should also be avoided post-laser hair removal as prolonged heat exposure may cause redness and swelling around your treated areas.
Staying cool after laser hair removal requires wearing loose clothing. In addition, applying cold compresses directly on affected areas may help bring down temperature further. In case you do sweat excessively during your session, be sure to wipe away excess sweat with a clean towel as soon as possible.
After laser hair removal, exercise remains possible; however, you should remember to take it easy. Any activities which raise your heart rate such as jogging, weight lifting, Zumba, crossfit or intense team sports should be avoided for at least two days post procedure. Furthermore, UV rays from sunlight could potentially cause skin damage.
If your exercise routine involves low impact exercises and won’t make you sweat heavily, going for a walk should be safe. Make sure that sunscreen is worn during outdoor excursions to protect treated areas from sunlight exposure; additionally it would be prudent to use a gentle moisturizer on these parts of your body in order to minimize irritation risks.
Laser hair removal can be an ideal choice for anyone who is sick of shaving, waxing, or plucking away their unwanted hair. While some stubborn strands may never fully vanish with regular touch-up sessions, results will often be improved significantly with regular touch up treatments. To achieve the best outcomes it is crucial that all post treatment guidelines are strictly adhered to for best results – following which your workout regime should resume normally without interruptions.
