Laser and IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) hair removal treatments are among the most sought-after cosmetic services at salons, medi-spas, and clinics. Both use powerful light energy to heat up dark pigment in your follicles and inhibit future hair growth.
Home use devices tend to be smaller, safer devices; however, it’s still important to follow any skin tone guidance, contraindications or tanning advice provided – otherwise you risk burning your skin!
Preparation
If you’re tired of shaving your bikini line or waxing your eyebrows, laser hair removal could provide a permanent solution. Before booking your appointment, take a moment to review these tips for prepping for laser treatment and getting ready for laser hair removal treatment.
Start by finding a licensed and certified laser expert to perform this procedure, both locally or online. When you find one, arrange a consultation meeting where you can share your goals and concerns with a professional as well as gain clarity as to if laser hair removal will suit you best.
Preparing the area to be treated requires keeping it as clean as possible for maximum effectiveness of laser hair removal treatment. Avoid applying lotions, oils, deodorants or makeup near where your appointment will take place for several days prior to your visit; this ensures the laser can target only hairs without overexerting itself on other parts of skin or burning you!
Exfoliate the area the night before your appointment in order to make the laser more effective at targeting hairs more quickly. Remember, however, not to overexfoliate as overdoing it could cause irritation and redness in the treated area.
At first, it’s best to stay out of direct sunlight; otherwise use high SPF sunscreen if necessary. Exposure can increase the chances of complications like dark spots or scarring after treatment has taken place. Furthermore, be sure to inform your physician of any medications such as antibiotics that might impede laser treatments’ efficacy.
A skilled laser technician should ensure the skin remains cool during treatment to ensure that only pigmented hair pigments are being heated by the laser, rather than your skin itself. They may use an ice pack in addition to keeping things cold on their hand piece for added safety against burning or irritation.
Before your appointment, try not to pluck or wax the area. This will preserve both pigmentation and root structure while optimizing treatments’ efficacy.
Treatment
Skin pores are vitally important to our bodies and play a pivotal role in managing heat loss. They’re responsible for discharging body sweat and can even regulate our natural oil production if excessive sebum production arises, potentially leading to enlarged pores. There are various treatments that can reduce their appearance – laser hair removal has proven itself as one of them! While laser treatment won’t alter their size directly, studies have proven its efficacy against their visibility, especially when combined with photo-activated topical solutions like photo-activated topicals!
Laser treatment typically produces few side effects when performed by a qualified practitioner, though redness and swelling are common. A cold compress or cool bath can help relieve discomfort; and moisturizing treated areas is key. Furthermore, sun exposure should be limited by using sunscreen with at least an SPF 30 rating.
Should any adverse side effects appear, such as hypo- or hyperpigmentation, white spots or burning of the skin, contact your practitioner as soon as possible. They should be able to adjust your laser type or settings appropriately in order to prevent these problems from reoccurring. It’s also wise to refrain from applying makeup, deodorant or other cosmetics directly after receiving laser treatments as this could inhibit absorption of light energy by the cells.
Shaving and waxing require daily maintenance to remain effective; laser hair removal provides results that last years with less upkeep required than alternatives such as plucking or threading, without risk of razor burn or ingrown hairs.
Some individuals may observe their skin becoming darker or lighter following laser hair removal; this is a normal reaction and should resolve on its own. Anyone hoping to have children in the near future should consult their physician prior to undertaking laser hair removal as it could potentially interfere with fertility.
Before undertaking laser hair removal, make sure that the practitioner is suitably qualified and insured. Aim to find an individual registered on a list of professionals meeting set standards of training and skill. Furthermore, avoid getting laser treatment near the eyes, especially during pregnancy as this could potentially pose risks.
Based on your skin type and condition of hair, laser treatment may not work as effectively for you as it would for others. Lasers tend to work best for people with dark hair and light skin as the contrast helps the hair absorb heat more readily. They are not recommended for those who are tanned, have genital herpes, history of skin cancer or other skin conditions; pacemakers or taking certain medicines such as acne treatments cannot undergo laser treatment either.
