Laser hair removal does not cause acne; rather, it prevents future hair growth by heating the pigment and placing hair follicles into a dormant state.
After laser hair removal, it is essential to avoid heat and sweating which may irritate the skin and trigger acne breakouts.
Maintain a clean and moist environment around any treated areas to help avoid breakouts and improve any scarring that might develop.
1. It’s a temporary side effect
Laser hair removal can be an excellent way to significantly reduce unwanted body hair. As it’s not permanent, however, regular maintenance sessions will need to be scheduled in order for maximum effectiveness and these sessions typically last anywhere between 15 minutes and an hour, depending on the size of the area being treated. As well as eliminating existing hair, laser treatments also slow growth by slowing its rate of renewal. You may experience minor irritation or burning during treatment which should subside within hours; otherwise please seek medical advice immediately.
In the meantime, it is wise to avoid rubbing or scrubbing the treated area of skin as this may increase redness and swelling as well as your risk of scarring or ingrown hairs. Use cold compresses on any affected areas while limiting sun exposure.
If you have sensitive skin, more gentle methods such as shaving and depilatory creams may be the better solution. They won’t expose hair follicles to heat or trauma like laser hair removal does and therefore less likely cause acne breakouts.
One of the more frequent side effects from laser hair removal is reddening and swelling due to your body’s reaction to heat being applied directly onto your skin. While swelling usually subsides within several hours, an ice pack may help ease pain or discomfort during treatment.
After laser hair removal, to avoid infection or other skin problems it’s important to keep the treated area clean. Use a mild fragrance-free cleanser twice daily, while moisturizing daily with light non-occlusive ointment or creams is also advised.
Dark spots may occur after laser hair removal due to how different pigments of skin respond differently. Lighter skin tones will typically experience darker spots post treatment while deeper skin tones will see lighter areas as a result of laser treatment.
2. It’s not a permanent side effect
Contrary to traditional hair removal methods like waxing and plucking, laser treatment doesn’t destroy every individual hair follicle; therefore regrowth will likely be lighter and less noticeable than before and become finer as time goes on. Many find they no longer need to wax or shave after laser hair removal treatment has taken effect.
Some of the more frequently reported side effects of laser hair removal include redness, swelling, folliculitis perifollicularis rednessi and edema (swelling). While these side effects typically do not last long – and usually subside on their own – they may be caused by laser heat or due to build-up of dead skin cells clogging pores; to address them efficiently it is recommended to moisturize affected areas to soothe these effects.
Laser hair removal often leads to changes in skin pigmentation, especially among people with darker complexions. Although pigment changes tend not to last for too long after laser hair removal, it is essential that the skin be protected from sunlight during its healing period and subsequent treatments.
Some individuals may experience skin crusting, which may be uncomfortable. It is a sign of your body trying to protect the treated area and should not be picked at, scratched at or picked off as doing so can lead to scarring or other permanent damage; the best course of action would be moisturising with moisturizer and using gentle exfoliants such as glycolic acids or fruit acids as exfoliators.
People with acne-prone skin should ensure to use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher after laser treatments in order to avoid sunburn and help preserve the natural color of their skin. In addition, after laser treatments the skin must remain cool and dry so as to avoid irritation.
Before making their decision regarding laser hair removal, individuals interested should consult a qualified practitioner or doctor who can explain the procedure in greater depth and give an idea of what can be expected during treatment.
3. It’s a common side effect
Laser treatments not only remove unwanted hair but can also help reduce discoloration and other skin conditions caused by hair growth. Furthermore, they can significantly decrease shaving and waxing frequency over time – saving both money and time in the process!
One potential side effect of laser hair removal is acne formation on the treated area. This usually happens as a result of blocked pores due to dead skin cells and bacteria accumulation; to minimize this possibility it’s essential that people follow a proper post-laser routine such as exfoliating regularly or using products designed to keep pores clear.
Staying out of the sun, which can irritate skin and lead to breakouts, is another effective way of avoiding breakouts. If you must go outside in direct sunlight, wear sunscreen with an SPF 30+ sunscreen on all treated areas.
Avoid applying cosmetics like makeup, deodorant or perfume directly to the treatment area as this allows the skin to breathe following laser heat therapy – this will open up pores to help stop breakouts from developing.
If blemishes do arise, it is wise to refrain from picking, popping or scratching them as this could cause scarring and infection. Instead, it would be beneficial to apply a medicated lotion or cream directly onto them to provide effective care.
Not everyone experiences the same results from laser treatment; some individuals may also experience mild side effects, including redness and irritation that usually resolve within hours after treatment with laser. If these symptoms continue to exist after laser, however, it would be beneficial to see a specialist for further advice and treatment.
Rarely, more serious side effects of laser hair removal may include blisters, scabbing or scarring. This may occur if a laser technician isn’t trained and qualified, or is using an at-home kit; medical grade devices should always be preferred over over-the-counter devices for best results.
4. It’s a temporary side effect
Heat from laser hair removal can sometimes result in tiny infections on the skin known as folliculitis, which often presents as acne-like red bumps or pus-filled sacs on your face and pus-filled pockets that usually disappear within hours as your body heals – an effect most commonly experienced after your first laser session, though its frequency decreases with subsequent sessions.
Why Does Laser Cause Acne? This occurs because laser heat disrupts your skin’s delicate balance of bacteria, leading to an overgrowth that causes acne. Propionibacterium acnes is one such bacteria which can be activated by heat and disrupt the barrier function of skin barrier cells, potentially leading to acne breakouts.
Therefore, it is vitally important to choose a reputable laser clinic with trained providers who know how to select appropriate settings for each type of skin. Furthermore, high intensity physical exercise or excessive scratching of treated areas must be avoided in order to avoid crusting which may require medical intervention and can result in scarring.
After laser hair removal treatments, it’s also important to maintain an effective skincare regimen. A cleanser tailored for your skin type and an over-the-counter salicylic acid cream are key tools in unclogging pores and keeping skin clear, helping reduce breakouts associated with laser treatments as well as further folliculitis in future sessions.
Shave or trim the treatment area 48 hours prior to your appointment and consider using a skin numbing cream if your pain threshold is low or your treatment area sensitive. Consult your provider about this option if this option applies to you.
Another thing to keep in mind after laser removal is that hair growth will take time, since some of your body hair is always growing while some has been permanently removed from its follicles. You can speed up this process by shaving and exfoliating regularly to remove hairs before they grow back out.
