Some rules are meant to be broken, and one of the key laser hair removal tips is avoiding sun exposure before and after treatment, especially during summer when sunburns and hyper-pigmentation are more likely to occur.
Skin that has undergone laser treatment becomes more sensitive to UV rays, making it important for patients to limit sunlight and apply plenty of broad spectrum sunscreen after receiving therapy.
Avoid Sunbathing
Your practitioner will likely instruct you to avoid direct sunlight for two weeks prior and following laser hair removal treatment, to minimize risk. This instruction must be strictly adhered to. Laser treatments can cause adverse reactions when used on sun-tanned or sunburned skin as it becomes extra-sensitive to heat exposure from laser light treatments, potentially increasing hyper-pigmentation risks as well as burning or scarring risks.
Staying protected from UV rays is crucial, but especially so after laser hair removal. Laser treatment can leave skin vulnerable and exposed, making sun exposure dangerously easy to damage the area. Aside from avoiding sunbathing after laser hair removal, make sure that you apply plenty of broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen on all exposed areas of skin – liberally!
Even if you have dark skin or have had laser hair removal before, Niki recommends that anyone should avoid excessive sun exposure for several days before and after laser treatments to allow the skin to recover and prevent future side effects from treatment. She further states that keeping skin untanned helps heal faster while decreasing any chances of unpleasant reactions associated with treatments in future sessions.
Sun exposure dehydrates skin, making laser treatment difficult. Laser hair removal uses intense pulses of heat that may damage dry, flaky skin. This could make the area itchy for several days following treatment – something no one should experience when going through laser hair removal.
Before and after laser hair removal, some other things to avoid include plucking or waxing the area as this can lead to the hair follicles becoming discolored or repigmented. Also avoid any scrubs or exfoliants on the treated skin as these could promote regrowth of hair follicles. Finally, it is advisable not to wear makeup prior to the procedure since any ruboff could stain your skin during its removal procedure.
Wear Sunscreen
Laser hair removal utilizes intense light to target melanin in hair follicles. Unfortunately, this light can damage skin in various ways such as sunburns, hyper-pigmentation and other types of damage; to mitigate any adverse side effects associated with laser hair removal treatment it is wise to apply broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen prior to and following any laser hair removal sessions on exposed areas of your body. This will help ensure optimal results of laser hair removal treatment and will prevent any potential risks.
After laser hair removal, skin becomes more vulnerable to sunlight. Therefore, it is vitally important that you wear sunscreen whenever going outdoors – or try and limit direct sun exposure altogether if possible.
Sunscreen after laser hair removal is especially essential for people with darker skin tones, as prolonged exposure to UV rays from the sun’s UV rays can lead to premature aging and increased risks of skin cancer. Furthermore, it’s wise to avoid sunbathing and tanning beds following laser hair removal for best results.
After laser hair removal, it is also wise to avoid other heat treatments like hot showers, baths, saunas and steam rooms which could open pores and make skin more susceptible to damage.
After your laser hair removal session, the treated area may experience redness and swelling that resembles mild sunburn symptoms and could last from several hours to days. To minimize discomfort, keep it cool by applying a cold compress.
Laser hair removal can be costly, so it is essential that you protect your skin as much as possible prior and following treatment. In addition to wearing sunscreen daily, it’s wise to avoid common skin care irritants like scrubs, glycolic acid and retinol creams two days before and two days after laser hair removal for maximum efficacy.
Pine Belt Dermatology can arrange a consultation for those interested in laser hair removal at any skin type. Your dermatologist will discuss potential risks and benefits related to laser hair removal for you as well as treatment options and costs to help determine whether this option is the right one.
Don’t Sunburn
Before opting for laser hair removal, it is wise to stay out of the sun, as its powerful UV rays can damage your skin in many ways – hyper-pigmentation, burns, scarring and permanent skin damage are just a few possible outcomes of exposure to its UV rays.
Sunlight can impede the results of laser hair removal from taking hold. Melanin build-up in your skin makes it harder for laser to target hair follicles; to protect yourself against this possibility it’s wise to wear sunscreen with at least an SPF 30 rating and reapply often, particularly after sweating or swimming.
Sun exposure can also have an effect on your skin in the weeks before and after laser hair removal, especially tanners which may make your skin sensitive and increase risk for scarring, redness and hyper-pigmentation. Furthermore, it would be wise to stop using any products which darken skin (sunless tanninners), including sunless tanners for at least four weeks prior to an appointment and any other forms of hair removal such as shaving or waxing.
After laser hair removal, you may experience tender and irritated skin from healing from “controlled injuries” caused by micro beams of laser light. Some individuals describe this feeling as similar to being hit by rubber band snaps against their skin or having rubber bands snap against it. You might also notice a sulfurous smell as heat vaporizes hair from its root source.
Though it’s normal to experience some discomfort from laser hair removal, you can lessen it by applying ice or cold compresses directly to the area being treated and by using a numbing cream to relieve pain in any form.
After laser hair removal, it’s best to wait at least six weeks before going outdoors or visiting a tanning salon. This will allow your skin time to heal while decreasing risk. A broad spectrum SPF of at least 30 should also be applied every two hours and reapplied as often as necessary – and when venturing outdoors wear protective measures such as wearing a hat and long-sleeved shirt for added sun protection.
Avoid Tanning Beds
Avoid tanning before any laser hair removal session is a no-negotiable rule for laser hair removal; doing so increases your risk of scarring and hyper-pigmentation post treatment. If necessary, avoid sun exposure completely; alternatively use broad spectrum sunscreen that provides UVA/UVB ray protection instead.
However, you should know there are certain rules you can bend if necessary. A spray tan is a non-toxic alternative that won’t damage the skin before laser treatments resume.
Niki recommends that, “To help ensure optimal results from laser hair removal treatments, it is advisable to avoid direct sunlight or tanning beds for two weeks prior and post treatment in order to give your skin time to recover from its heat exposure and avoid potential side effects such as dark spots or pigment changes.”
Niki advises anyone planning a vacation that will include extensive sun exposure to contact their laser technician ahead of time and discuss how best to schedule their sessions so that the sun exposure will not last as long; but in any event it’s best to try to minimize sun exposure as much as possible.
Niki recommends wearing an SPF 50 sunblock after laser treatments as well. She states, “Use a broad-spectrum SPF daily – even on overcast or less-than-exposed days- to help protect the risk of permanent skin damage from laser hair removal treatments. In particular, using broad spectrum sunscreen helps avoid permanent damage.” If the area being treated regularly becomes exposed then using moisturizer with SPF protection may also be needed for optimal care and protection. To experience how laser hair removal can make this summer better contact Niki at Boom Boom Brow Bar today!
