Tretinoin is an effective topical treatment designed to accelerate skin cell turnover, helping reduce fine lines, pigmentation & pore visibility while simultaneously being an effective acne remedy.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that retinoids make your skin more sensitive and may increase the risk of damage during laser hair removal treatments. Therefore, it is advised to discontinue use of any retinol-based products at least two weeks prior to any scheduled session.
What to Expect
Laser hair removal is an increasingly popular way to eliminate unwanted facial and body hair. Additionally, it has also proven highly successful at minimizing wrinkles and stretch marks. Before commencing this exciting beauty treatment however, there are a few key considerations for anyone using retinol; exposure to high-powered light sources like lasers can cause burns as well as other unpleasant side effects on the skin.
To avoid such issues, it’s advisable to discontinue your retinol regimen at least a week before having laser hair removal performed. Furthermore, it’s also wise to follow other pre-treatment guidelines; such as drinking plenty of water three days prior to laser hair removal procedure; refraining from aspirin, Advil, Aleve (Tylenol is acceptable); tanning/tanning cream use can make skin extra sensitive; avoid tanning as much as possible as well; additionally any products applied directly on treated areas such as lotions/makeup/perfumes can all have additional effects.
Retinol is an effective product for making the skin appear and feel smoother, but care must be taken when combined with other skincare treatments. Laser hair removal should only be undertaken when skin sensitivity has subsided;
Before receiving laser hair removal treatment, it’s advisable to stop waxing or plucking the area you plan to have done. Additionally, beard and mustache owners should wait until their facial hair has grown out before beginning laser treatments. Furthermore, prophylactic Valtrex medication should be taken no later than one day prior to treatments to protect against cold sore outbreaks.
After having laser hair removal performed, it is recommended to shave the area within 24 hours and avoid direct sunlight and heat sources such as sitting by a fire or taking hot baths and showers for several weeks post treatment. If you must go outdoors, be sure to wear physical sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher and avoid touching or rubbing the treated area, which could cause itching. If hives appear, consult a dermatologist immediately; in some cases Benadryl may help relieve itching as well. After several weeks have passed, you can return to your regular skincare regimen. Simply be sure to reduce both concentration and frequency of your retinol treatment and to use a moisturizer without alpha-hydroxy acids; these will ensure your skin heals efficiently and smoothly – with these tips, you’ll soon enjoy beautiful skin without any unwanted side effects! You’ll be grateful you made the necessary preparations!
Preparation
At your consultation appointment, your doctor will discuss your goals for laser hair removal and review your medical history as well as perform a brief exam of the treatment area. Prior to your appointment date, self-tanning products and bleaching creams must be avoided for two weeks; additionally any medications which increase sun sensitivity must also be discontinued as sunlight can disrupt results of laser hair removal treatments.
Avoid shaving the treatment area to maintain effective laser hair removal results. Shaving removes surface skin but doesn’t effectively destroy hair follicles – something lasers need for transmission of energy and destruction of unwanted hair follicles. Also avoid plucking or waxing as this would harm laser’s ability to destroy them effectively. For laser hair removal to work effectively plucking or waxing must leave unwanted hair intact for laser to work its magic and destroy them effectively.
If it is necessary for you to shave, do so carefully as this will reduce the likelihood of cuts or nicks. Be sure to exfoliate a day prior to treatment in order to clear out dead skin cells that clog the pores and stop laser reaching hair follicles. Furthermore, after laser treatment it is important not to shave treated areas as this could irritate their skin further and result in redness or sores.
Your doctor will apply a gel or coolant to the tip of the laser instrument before pressing it against your skin and activating its laser beams. When activated, the sensation of laser radiation on your skin may feel similar to warm pinpricks; your physician can provide a numbing cream if required to reduce discomfort.
After your treatment is completed, your physician will remove the gel or coolant and may reapply the numbing cream as necessary. Your skin may become extra vulnerable after this procedure so it’s essential that you protect it as much as possible from direct sunlight – using sunscreen is particularly important as after this therapy session your skin could become extra vulnerable to sunlight exposure.
Laser hair removal may not be a permanent solution, but it can yield long-term results when utilized properly. By consulting with your physician beforehand on how best to prepare and optimize the effectiveness of your laser hair removal procedure, you’ll maximize its success and reach beautiful, natural-looking results from treatment.
Treatment
If you are considering laser treatment, make sure that Tretinoin is avoided for at least 2 weeks prior and after your appointment. Also avoid applying lotions and potions that contain antiperspirant as this could potentially cause the area being treated to burn. Furthermore, make sure any unwanted hair is shaved prior to coming in for the appointment – any delays could jeopardize its success!
Depending on the area being treated, laser hair removal procedures may cause mild discomfort. The laser’s heat destroys hair follicles to stop future hair growth; since hair typically grows back in cycles, destroyed hair could take days to weeks to shed naturally.
After treatment, some individuals may experience redness or mild warmth around the treatment area for up to a few hours; your provider may advise using ice packs or moisturizers during this period to minimize discomfort; furthermore, sunscreen must always be worn on all areas treated.
After laser hair removal, it’s recommended to return to your regular skincare regimen within three days of treatment. Makeup application may resume thereafter but ideally should wait until your skin has fully recovered before doing so. Some individuals using laser treatments for acne scarring or uneven pigmentation may notice an increase in breakouts shortly after receiving laser therapy – this is due to laser light activating an inflammatory response in their skin which results in breakouts; this typically clears up as your body recovers.
Laser hair removal may cause itching, pink skin or swelling of follicles (follicular edema). Discoloration due to damage caused by laser may also occur; this typically fades within months.
If you are taking prescription-strength retinoid, it’s essential that you follow your physician’s advice as to when and how long to discontinue its use before having a chemical peel treatment. Typically, starting to reduce concentration approximately one month in advance and discontinuing altogether 24 hours prior to your procedure should suffice.
No matter your skincare regimen, regular laser hair removal sessions can help reduce ingrown hairs and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. To learn more about laser hair removal and see if it’s the appropriate treatment option for you, reach out to Metro Dermatology now! We’ll arrange an appointment with Dr. Michele Green who will customize a plan designed specifically to eliminate unwanted hair while evening out your skin tone – we look forward to meeting you!
