Laser hair removal is an efficient and permanent way to get rid of unwanted body hair, replacing shaving, waxing, and depilatory creams with this noninvasive process.
Sweat itself is odorless; however, when combined with bacteria on your skin it produces volatile organic compounds which emit an unpleasant odor, creating body odor.
1. Stop Sweating
Sweat is produced by two types of glands that open directly onto your skin: eccrine and apocrine. Of these glands, eccrine are directly accessible, while apocrine are near hair follicles and responsible for producing sweat in areas with higher density hair (armpits and pubic region). Laser hair removal specifically targets apocrine glands by passing through the upper layer of skin to destroy their portion responsible for producing sweat; this temporarily stops its flow onto your surface of body and prevents bacteria and unpleasant odors from creating bacteria breeding grounds on it’s surface resulting in dry, flaky skin less likely to attract bacteria and produce unpleasant odors.
After receiving laser hair removal treatments, it’s important to follow all aftercare instructions provided by the dermatologist or professional who performed your procedure in order to avoid irritation of the skin, including rashes and bumps, while simultaneously helping your body heal properly and reduce risks of side effects.
Avoid high-impact exercise that could increase sweat production during your laser hair removal recovery period, such as running or cycling. Instead, opt for low-impact activities like walking, jogging or swimming – plus apply fragrance-free moisturizer to the treated area to soothe and nourishe it!
Avoid harsh soaps, body scrubs and exfoliants that could irritate the skin by using unscented moisturizing lotion instead. This will help ease any potential discomfort after receiving laser hair removal treatments.
Tannin lotions should also be avoided on skin that has undergone laser treatment, as this could cause an adverse reaction and result in skin rashes or irritations. If exposed to sunlight, protect it with SPF 15+ sunblock.
If your excessive sweating is due to medications or supplements, it’s advisable to contact your healthcare provider and discuss clinically proven solutions, such as prescription antiperspirants, iontophoresis, Botox injections, miraDry and oral medication.
Avoid eating and drinking food or beverages that could increase sweat production, such as spicy foods, alcohol or hot drinks.
2. Take a Shower
After laser hair removal, there are some specific things you must keep in mind when taking a shower or bath. First of all, it is wise to wait 24-48 hours after treatment before entering a hot shower or bath as your skin may still be recovering from its trauma. Furthermore, avoid soaps or body scrubs on any treated areas as overscrubbing may cause irritation, redness and burns to occur – instead opt for using lukewarm water or cool showers instead.
Keep in mind that hair grows in cycles. At any given time, only 30 percent of your hair are currently in its growth phase; that means there are plenty more that have already shed due to previous treatments or have yet to come in from waxing, plucking or shaving treatments – any such action would lead to the hairs coming back and hindering results of laser hair removal treatments. To make the best use of laser treatments it’s essential not to disturb those resting phases by waxing, plucking or shaving such hairs because this would cause them regrowth which could thwarting results – avoid waxing, plucking or shaving any such resting phase hairs immediately following laser hair removal treatments so as to not disturb results of treatments used prior.
As soon as your skin has recovered from laser hair removal, it is recommended to take regular showers with mild, unscented body washes. Furthermore, exfoliation should be avoided for at least a week post-treatment in order to promote faster healing times and ensure lasting results from your treatment.
When taking a shower, be sure to pat the treated area dry instead of rubbing it, which will help your skin retain moisture and lower its risk of infection. In the days immediately following your procedure, try switching out loofahs for gentle brushes or cloths as these will be less abrasive on your skin than loofahs and sponges can be. Also avoid perfumed deodorants as these could irritate it further.
After several weeks have passed, it is wise to exfoliate the treated area to help avoid ingrown hairs and increase any subsequent hair shedding that occurs post-treatment. Exfoliation also serves to protect against ingrown hairs which could arise and to accelerate any rate of hair shedding that might take place post-treatment.
3. Apply Deodorant
Laser hair removal has become an increasingly popular solution for women and men seeking permanent solutions to hair removal, with several studies showing its safety, effectiveness, and long-term effectiveness. Before investing in this therapy however, it’s essential to understand how deodorant impacts laser hair removal treatment.
Deodorants and antiperspirants contain chemicals and additives that may irritate skin after laser hair removal, which should be avoided until all side effects have cleared away – usually 24 to 48 hours post procedure.
When healing, it is also vital to maintain clean and dry underarm areas, in order to reduce infection risk as well as irritation or redness. For optimal underarm health, choose products with natural ingredients – cream deodorants that do not contain toxic materials and fragrances should be preferred, while moisturizing deodorants will help reduce friction that causes itching or flaking under your arms.
If your underarm area is sensitive, roll-on deodorant is the better choice as its chemicals don’t block pores like spray cans do. Plus, roll-on deodorants last longer and offer milder scent.
Before using deodorant again after laser hair removal treatment, always consult a doctor or follow the guidelines provided by the clinic where you received treatment to ensure a seamless recovery without side effects.
Prior to your laser hair removal treatment, it is recommended to apply a topical numbing cream. This will make the procedure much more comfortable and help minimize any discomfort during your session. Shave the area a day in advance for best results so the laser can more accurately target hair follicles.
4. Change Your Diet
Laser hair removal can drastically decrease the time and effort spent shaving, waxing or plucking unwanted body hairs. Although laser treatment reduces this task significantly, there are some key points you need to keep in mind in order to maximize its effects and ensure optimal results from treatment. Failing to comply could result in damage, irritation, pain and disfigurement to both skin and follicles if these recommendations are disobeyed.
After your laser hair removal appointment, the area treated may experience redness, swelling and bumps; these are all normal side effects which should fade over time. In the meantime, apply cool aloe vera gel or lotion directly onto the area to relieve symptoms or place an ice pack wrapped in cloth or paper towels over it to ease any discomfort.
Diet can play an essential role in mitigating body odor after laser hair removal, helping reduce risks such as body odor. Consuming more vegetables and fruits may help detoxify the body, decreasing odor-causing bacteria. Furthermore, eating foods rich in lean proteins may increase metabolic rates for increased fat burning.
Hair growth occurs in cycles, and during the weeks following a laser treatment you may notice new hairs growing back where it was targeted by laser. It’s important to keep in mind that these new growths aren’t actually regrowths but instead due to disrupted growth cycles disrupted by the procedure – thus it’s wiser not to pluck or wax them so they can naturally shed out over time.
After your laser treatment, it is also important to avoid hot showers or baths as well as saunas and steam rooms for at least several days afterward, in addition to saunas and steam rooms. Tepid water should be preferred since hot showers can irritate skin leading to itching or rashing. Furthermore, sunscreen of SPF 30+ or greater must be worn whenever going outside; apply every two hours as directed or when going outdoors.
