Laser hair removal is an increasingly popular body hair removal treatment option, targeting individual follicles to damage them and stop future hair growth.
Alcohol has also been known to decrease sweating, helping reduce armpit odor. Unfortunately, however, it doesn’t stop bacterial growth that leads to body odor.
What can happen if your body odor changes after laser hair removal?
1. Change Your Deodorant
If you have recently undergone laser hair removal, your provider should provide guidelines on when it is safe to start using deodorant again based on how your skin heals. It is crucial that you follow their advice so as to prevent irritation of any kind.
If your skin is delicate, opt for an all-natural deodorant with gentle ingredients that won’t irritate it like aluminum and alcohol do. There has been an increasing trend toward all-natural deodorants with gentle ingredients that may also benefit health.
Remember to only apply deodorant on freshly cleansed, dry skin before your deodorant treatment session. Additionally, it’s best to forgo makeup and moisturizer the day of your appointment as this allows the laser to focus solely on hair follicles rather than competing with other skincare products.
Like sunburn, laser hair removal may cause mild discomfort and redness that subsides over time. You may notice tight or itchy sensations in the area but these temporary side effects should pass soon enough. To further minimize irritation, keep the area as dry as possible until deodorant can be applied again.
Sweat itself has no odor; however, it becomes pungent when exposed to bacteria on your underarm skin. Therefore, it’s vital that your underarm area remains as hairless as possible by shaving daily before appointments and forgoing other forms of hair removal such as waxing or plucking.
Apple cider vinegar, baking soda, coconut oil and witch hazel are among several household products that can serve as effective and natural deodorants, including apple cider vinegar, baking soda, coconut oil and witch hazel. You’ll likely find these in your kitchen cabinet and can apply using cotton balls or reusable cloth. Alternatively, Lume spray deodorant contains no harmful chemicals – drying quickly without leaving behind greasy residue on the skin.
2. Change Your Skin Care Routine
Laser hair removal should never be seen as an instant fix; rather, multiple sessions over several weeks must take place for optimal results and no side effects to arise. By following your technician’s instructions after each treatment session, it will ensure you get the maximum benefit out of your treatment and won’t experience any unpleasant symptoms during or afterward.
One of the primary responsibilities after laser hair removal is limiting sun exposure. Your skin will likely be extra vulnerable, and protecting it from harmful UV rays is of vital importance. Wear sunscreen every day and reapply as needed – another way is avoiding direct sunlight whenever possible and wearing protective clothing when venturing outdoors.
Not only should you avoid direct sun exposure, it is also recommended to forego hot showers and baths following treatment. Your pores may have opened after your treatment and exposure to hot showers could irritate them further – for the first 48 hours after receiving your treatment it would be wiser to opt for cooler or lukewarm water temperatures for showering and bathing.
Once you can return to normal showering and bathing routines, it’s essential to use gentle soaps and moisturizers after your appointment. Stay away from cream-based formulas which could clog pores; opt for lighter formulas such as gel or mist instead.
Make sure to exfoliate regularly; this will help prevent ingrown hairs and encourage the shedding of any remaining follicles. Use a gentle cleanser and a washcloth when exfoliating – whatever works for the area in which you wish to treat.
As your skin may be extra-sensitive after receiving laser treatments, it’s wise to use only mild exfoliants in these areas until it returns to its regular function.
3. Exercise More
If you are concerned about body odor following laser hair removal, it is essential to take the appropriate steps. A good deodorant, diet adjustments and frequent showers can all help to decrease body odor. However, if none of these approaches has worked and your odor persists despite these efforts it’s time to visit a physician as another factor could be contributing such as an infection or medical condition causing it; prescription antiperspirants/antidepressants as well as Botox (onabotulinumtoxin A) injections exist to treat excessive sweating.
Body odor can often be traced back to an overproduction of sweat from apocrine glands in the armpits and groin, often as a result of eating certain foods, having certain health conditions or being under stress.
Exercise regularly to stay healthy. But after laser hair removal, it may be beneficial to wait 24-48 hours before engaging in strenuous activity again, giving the skin time to recover from treatment and decreasing risks such as injury and irritation.
After receiving laser treatment, it is advisable to wear loose-fitting workout clothing to minimize irritation. Tight clothing may irritate and increase inflammation.
Sweat can irritate skin and lead to itchy sensations in treated areas; thus it should be avoided as much as possible in these initial 4-5 days following laser treatment.
Before shaving the area that was treated by laser, it is advised to wait four to five days as shaving can irritate and potentially trigger an allergic reaction in some people.
If you have questions about whether or not exercising after laser hair removal treatment, it is a good idea to consult your dermatologist. They can advise you on an ideal waiting period and exercise regime tailored specifically to you, as well as offering additional solutions should the results not meet expectations; electrolysis may be suitable as it involves less-invasive processes that remove unwanted hair without harming surrounding tissues.
4. Drink Water
Laser hair removal works by dissolving hair follicles, which in turn results in less body hair over time. Furthermore, it reduces odor-causing bacteria present on sweaty surfaces or on skin surfaces and thus it is essential to drink plenty of water post laser hair removal to help hydrate skin cells and avoid an increase in bacteria that leads to body odor. By keeping skin hydrated you will prevent further growth of these bacteria that cause unpleasant smells from growing on its surface and prevent unwanted bacteria growth on its surface.
One of the primary factors contributing to armpit odor is when sweat soaks through and pools in your hair rather than evaporating like it would without. Once trapped there, it begins to smell badly and can be difficult to get rid of altogether. Hair removal significantly decreases bacterial cell counts in your underarm area which helps lessen this unpleasant odor caused by both sweat and hair.
Laser hair removal not only reduces body odor, but can also alleviate any uncomfortable itching that you might experience following shaving or other forms of manual hair removal, like waxing and plucking. Shaving can irritate the skin and lead to redness, ingrown hairs and razor burn. Laser hair removal eliminates these irritating factors for smooth and soft skin.
If you are scheduled for laser hair removal, make sure you drink plenty of water prior to and on the day of treatment, wearing loose-fitting clothing and refraining from caffeine, which increases skin sensitivity and makes it more susceptible to irritation.
Before your laser hair removal appointment, it is a good idea to thoroughly cleanse the area that will be treated with soap and water to eliminate dirt, lotion, or any other substances that could interfere with laser treatment. Furthermore, taking an OTC pain reliever such as Acetaminophen (Tylenol) prior to your visit may help ease any associated discomfort from laser hair removal treatments.
Between laser treatments, it’s advisable to exfoliate the treated skin. A sugar or salt scrub and washcloth may be useful in applying this mixture in a circular motion over the area that has been treated by laser. This will speed up hair shedding and prepare the area for your next session; hot showers, baths or saunas should be avoided immediately as their heat can irritate skin further.
