Laser hair removal may not be permanent, but it can significantly decrease the amount of regrown hair. Furthermore, when it does return it is often thinner and sparser in appearance than before.
Before receiving laser therapy, it is recommended to shave. This allows the laser to pinpoint pigment in hair follicles for better treatment results.
Shaving
Shaving can be an excruciatingly painful process that leaves red rash and bumps on your skin, ingrown hairs and razor burn. Luckily, laser hair removal offers other solutions to achieve hair-free skin. To choose an effective provider and ensure treatment is licensed appropriately. When selecting the provider it is essential that you conduct research thoroughly: reviews from former patients as well as making sure that he or she holds proper credentials are among your first priorities.
Consideration must also be given to how often sessions will occur. Between treatments, your hair must have time to grow so the laser can target it again effectively – this process may take time but is worth the investment when considering long-term results.
Prior to your laser treatment, it is also advisable to avoid waxing and plucking, both of which work by pulling the hair from its root follicle, which leaves less targeted targets for laser light therapy treatments. Furthermore, shaving or using trimmers before an appointment could also compromise its efficacy.
Once you’ve located a qualified and experienced provider, the next step in laser hair removal should be preparation. Shaving should take place at least 24 hours prior to an appointment so the laser has an easy target; long hair could absorb too much laser energy and heat up instead of damaging its source follicle.
Shaving too close to an appointment may cause discomfort and delay results. Furthermore, tanning and sun exposure should also be avoided prior to visiting as laser can cause sunburn and darken the skin.
Once your treatment is complete, you will need to keep up the momentum by attending regular appointments with your provider – generally every four to six weeks, depending on hair growth. Over time, your hair may grow back very slowly or not at all; if this occurs due to hormonal fluctuations however, depilatory cream can be used to quickly remove it again.
Waxing
Shaving can be time consuming and painful if you have an abundance of hair to remove, leading to ingrown hairs. If this process leaves you frustrated with constant shaving sessions and waxing appointments, laser hair removal might be worth exploring – this procedure could permanently reduce unwanted hair for less effort and expense than its alternatives.
To maximize the results of your treatment, it is crucial that you follow all necessary pre-treatment procedures. For instance, it is wise to refrain from tweezing or plucking in the weeks prior to an appointment as this removes hair follicles, giving the laser no target. Furthermore, exposure to sun could result in skin discoloration and pain – two things to keep in mind before beginning any therapy session.
Before going in for laser treatment, it is also advisable to shave the area. This is necessary because lasers need to see your hair’s pigment in order to locate and destroy its source, so if there is stubble it may prevent this process and result in burns or ingrown hairs. Furthermore, products which increase photosensitivity could make you even more sensitive to light used during laser treatments.
Prior to your appointment, it is also advisable to exfoliate the area. This will enable your hair follicles to shed more easily, speeding up the process. Also remember to use sunscreen with SPF 30 protection or higher post-treatment.
After treatment, it is normal for you to experience some redness and swelling similar to mild sunburn, though this should resolve quickly with help from ice packs, over-the-counter pain relievers and moisturizers. If discomfort continues beyond these measures, topical steroid cream could be applied topically as an additional measure.
Many people experience permanent hair loss after receiving several treatments. Since results vary between individuals, it is essential that regular appointments be scheduled with your therapist – these should occur approximately every six to eight weeks and you should continue shaving between treatments to maintain smooth skin.
Bleaching
Laser hair removal treatment works by targeting the pigment of hair follicles with light energy that converts into heat to permanently destroy them. Bleaching alters this pigment and makes laser treatment harder to target, so for best results it is recommended to stop bleaching at least six weeks before going in for laser treatment, so that roots revert back to their natural state and become visible again.
Before your appointment, it’s advisable to avoid sun exposure for at least several weeks as laser treatments don’t always work effectively on tanned skin and can lead to discoloration. Furthermore, self-tanners and tanning beds should also be discontinued; when outside it’s smart to wear at least 15-SPF sunscreen for optimal protection.
Important to keep in mind is halting plucking and waxing at least four weeks prior to receiving laser therapy treatments; this will allow your body to adapt and ensure better results from treatment. A 24 hour shave before an appointment may still help the laser find hair follicles without burning the skin.
Finally, you should avoid medications that might make your skin sensitive to laser treatment. Such medication increases your risk of blisters and other side effects during laser treatments; be sure to inform your practitioner of all medications you are taking so they can take appropriate measures against any adverse side effects during treatment.
Laser hair removal can be an excellent way to eliminate unwanted body hair and save time spent shaving. By following the do’s and don’ts of this treatment, laser hair removal may prove successful and leave you with smooth, hairless skin. Consult with a dermatologist regarding what will best fit your needs; that way you’ll ensure maximum benefit from permanent hair removal!
Skin Care
If you plan to try laser hair removal without shaving your face, it is vital that you abide by all pre-treatment guidelines in order to achieve maximum effectiveness. Wearing makeup, lotions or creams on treatment day may impede its effectiveness; similarly, tanning or any form of sun exposure should be avoided on areas being treated by laser.
Laser hair removal treatments may cause your skin to feel warm and itchy while the light pulses of the laser destroy dark pigments of unwanted facial hair. Redness and swelling may occur as a side effect; these should subside once treatment has concluded. For added relief during and after your session, aloe vera cooling cream could be applied directly onto affected areas to ease redness and swelling.
Care should also be taken not to shave the area until after its redness and swelling have subsided, both to protect newly treated skin from potential damage and get an accurate measurement of hair growth so that laser treatment can be adjusted appropriately.
Other hair removal methods, like plucking and waxing, may also cause disruption of the hair follicles; therefore, at least four weeks before beginning laser treatments it is wise to forego them. Furthermore, any use of tanning products or bleaching creams on areas which will be treated is also strongly discouraged.
Based on your hair color, skin tone and lifestyle factors, six to eight laser hair removal treatments should provide full results. Touch-up sessions should continue after this series has finished in order to ensure lasting skin transformation.
Are you ready to achieve that summer glow with some quick, painless laser treatments? Reach out to us right now – we will provide all of the information and schedule your next appointment so that smooth hair-free skin is within your reach!
