Laser hair removal can be an ideal solution for anyone seeking to permanently reduce body hair growth. Safe and efficient, it also helps alleviate skin conditions related to this hair growth such as folliculitis and discoloration.
Preparation is key when it comes to laser hair removal appointments; doing so will ensure the best possible outcomes.
1. Wash Your Skin
Before commencing a laser hair removal session, the area that needs to be treated should be thoroughly cleansed of makeup, lotions, ointments, deodorant and any other substances that could interfere with its effectiveness. Use soap and water for best results when cleansing this area while using a cloth or wipe to gently exfoliate can further prepare it for laser treatments.
Prior to your appointment, it’s essential that you limit exposure to sun. This means avoiding tanning beds and self-tanners on the area being treated, to prevent pigmented patches that could compromise results.
Waxing or plucking should also be avoided in the area being treated, as both methods remove hair follicles from their root sites, potentially hindering laser hair removal results. You should shave the area being treated 24 hours before your appointment to allow laser to penetrate skin layers and target hair follicles beneath. Shaving all or as much of an area possible would be ideal.
2. Apply Sunscreen
Sunscreen with a high SPF factor is essential to protecting the skin, protecting it from UV rays that contribute to early skin aging and hyperpigmentation, while helping avoid laser treatment sessions without burning your skin.
Prior to your laser hair removal appointment, it is imperative that you apply sunscreen on the area being treated. Otherwise, its light may hit other parts of your skin that do not contain pigment and cause burns; thus reducing its effectiveness significantly.
Apply a thick layer of sunscreen regularly and reapply as directed, while forgoing tanning beds or using self-tanners 4 weeks prior to receiving laser treatment for optimal results. This will ensure that your natural base color shines through and achieve the best possible outcomes from laser treatment.
Protecting the lightness of your skin after laser hair removal will help minimize side effects such as redness or mild swelling that may arise, such as temporary redness and mild swelling that typically last for hours to days – these effects will eventually resolve themselves on their own.
3. Take Care of Your Skin
Before beginning laser treatment, your skin must be completely free from creams or moisturizers that might be present, including sunscreens. Also avoid exposure to direct sunlight since hair follicles targeted by laser produce melanin that contributes to hyperpigmentation if exposed for too long.
After having laser hair removal done, some side effects such as redness, swelling and small bumps may occur; these symptoms should eventually fade. If they persist longer than anticipated, apply cooling aloe vera gel directly to affected areas; for any pain or itching concerns take Tylenol or anti-inflammatory medication as necessary.
Laser hair removal does not offer permanent results, therefore multiple sessions may be needed in order to keep unwanted hair from growing back. We advise scheduling an appointment every four to six weeks in order to achieve your desired results; the number of sessions depends on individual response and area being treated; typically you will notice significant reduction in unwanted hair after approximately six sessions.
4. Wear Sunglasses
Before going in for laser hair removal, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from irritation. Bring extra glasses if any friends or family will accompany you, too. It is important to remember that some redness and mild swelling could occur after treatment but should subside within several hours; you may wish to apply ice packs as needed for inflammation relief; furthermore it is suggested avoiding hot showers, saunas, fragrances and deodorants during this timeframe as well as using high SPF sunscreen daily to avoid hyperpigmentation and sunburns.
Prevent plucking, waxing and electrolysis for six weeks prior to your laser hair removal appointment. Lasers used in laser hair removal work by targeting pigment in hair follicles; therefore if any hair has been plucked or waxed recently it cannot be treated by laser.
Be sure to arrive for your appointment with clean skin free from creams, lotions, sunscreen and deodorant as these can absorb laser energy causing overheating or diminishing its efficacy.
5. Avoid Sunburn
Prior to scheduling laser hair removal appointments, it is vitally important to avoid sunburn as its harmful UV rays can wreak havoc with results, leading to skin irritation and hyperpigmentation. To stay out of harm’s way and minimize exposure, avoid direct sunlight as much as possible and wear sun protection with an SPF number higher than 30 whenever outdoors.
Important to keep in mind is the need to stop all other methods of hair removal two weeks before receiving laser therapy, including waxing, tweezing, threading and chemical epilation as these will interfere with its ability to target hair follicles effectively. You should also avoid plucking and shaving since these remove hair directly from the surface rather than its source in follicles.
After that, avoid medications that can sensitize your skin, such as menstrual cycles or taking blood-thinners like aspirin. Doing this could prevent complications from these drugs that might require you to reschedule your appointment due to side effects or withdrawal symptoms during laser hair removal sessions. Furthermore, try not to consume caffeine and stimulants such as nicotine which could create uncomfortable feelings during laser hair removal sessions.
6. Don’t Apply Any Creams or Moisturizers
Lotions and creams shouldn’t be applied directly to the area being treated before laser hair removal as this can interfere with its efficiency. Showering to wash off all skin products before your appointment is the ideal way of prepping yourself for laser treatment, along with any medications or supplements that could increase photosensitivity such as blood thinners, pain relievers, antibiotics or immunosuppressants that you are currently taking.
If you are taking one or more of these medications, it is essential that you contact your physician in advance to arrange an appropriate time and date to reschedule. Also avoid plucking, waxing or bleaching the areas being treated; doing so could stimulate hair follicles leading to unwanted regrowth. It is advised instead to shave this area so the laser can effectively target pigment at its source.
Bear in mind that it is normal to experience some redness or sensitivity after laser treatments, though this process may take some time for the numbing cream to wear off and your skin to return to its normal state. You can help speed this up by applying fragrance-free moisturizer.
7. Avoid Exfoliating
Preparing for laser hair removal requires forgoing skincare products that encourage exfoliation. Such products can clog pores and interfere with laser treatments, so it is wise to avoid them prior to your appointment. If exfoliation becomes necessary, ensure it occurs only on dry skin with gentle pressure applied at regular intervals.
Also avoid waxing or plucking the area being treated, as these methods remove hair at its source, rendering laser treatment less effective. Furthermore, tanning in direct sunlight or with artificial tanninners could darken skin color and reduce effectiveness.
Laser hair removal does not physically remove hairs; rather, it damages their follicles to stop future growth. As a result, hairs will naturally fall out over weeks or months following your treatments; you can accelerate this process with loofahs and moisturizing soaps.
Be sure to inform your Ideal Image medical professional of any medications you are currently taking, particularly antibiotics and tretinoin (Retin-A), which could increase photosensitivity and cause an adverse reaction during or post laser treatment.
