Many are tempted to expose themselves to strong UV lights during the summer, but doing so while having laser hair removal treatment should not be done. Doing so could increase sunburn risk and lead to hyper pigmentation in the treated area.
Niki suggests refraining from tanning for two weeks prior to and following your laser treatment, and applying broad spectrum sunscreen daily.
Avoid Sun Exposure
Sun exposure can impede the success of laser hair removal significantly, making it harder for lasers to target melanin in hair effectively and therefore hampering results. Therefore, avoiding sunburn during and before laser hair removal sessions is of the utmost importance for optimal results.
Therefore, it is highly advised that you avoid direct sunlight and tanning beds for several weeks prior to receiving laser hair removal treatment. This allows the pigment time to return to its natural colour, and allows your laser technician to target hairs more efficiently.
Avoid using self-tanners or self-tanning creams on the area that will be treated by laser, as these contain pigment and could hinder its work. Shaving can help as it will not only get rid of surface hairs but will expose hair shafts for laser to target.
Laser treatments vaporize hair, creating a plume of smoke which rises from your skin. Although you may experience some initial discomfort, most will dissipate within minutes; if pain becomes severe a cool compress can be used to help alleviate pain relief.
Once the laser has targeted hair, it releases heat that damages surrounding tissue, potentially leaving your skin tender and red for several hours post treatment. At this time, gentle exfoliation should be used instead of any self-tanning solutions to ensure optimal healing results.
After laser treatments, it is extremely important that patients follow all instructions given by their laser expert regarding exposure to sun or UV rays, such as staying out of direct sunlight and only wearing sunscreen with an SPF rating of 50+.
Though this may be challenging during the heat of summer, it is crucial that you follow these instructions and protect your skin from UV rays for two weeks after having laser hair removal treatment. Doing this will not only ensure optimal results from laser hair removal but may also prevent complications in the future.
Wait a Few Weeks
Laser hair removal is a safe and effective solution to unwanted body hair on the face, legs, underarms, back, bikini area or bikini line. The laser light targets each individual hair follicle individually with concentrated light beams to destroy it before further growth can take place. Most people notice permanent results after four treatments have taken place – though excessive sun exposure should be avoided as too much UV can cause serious skin damage.
Before scheduling a laser hair removal appointment, it is wise to limit direct sunlight exposure to only a few hours a day and wear sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays. By doing so, your skin will be better equipped for receiving laser energy without being affected by sun rays.
As is often the case with laser machines, not all can accommodate all skin tones and colors equally. Certain lasers like Nd:YAG and Alexandrite lasers tend to work best with dark skin tones while others like Candela Gentle Max Pro may work better on fair skin tones. Therefore, it’s crucial that you find a provider with both types of equipment so that they can treat your unique skin tone and hair color more effectively.
Niki suggests it’s best to undergo laser hair removal during fall and winter when temperatures are cooler, giving you the option of covering sensitive skin with long-sleeved shirts, skirts or dresses and giving it time to heal post treatment.
Summer brings with it increased risks of sunburn and skin damage, and can make keeping it protected harder while waiting for treatment to start.
Avoiding direct sunlight before and after laser hair removal sessions is one of the essential rules of hair removal, since sun exposure makes your skin more prone to heat sensitivity and using laser on such areas can result in hyperpigmentation, burns, or scarring. If you want to ditch razor forever and get amazing results while protecting delicate skin – follow these simple instructions and you’ll have everything needed for success.
Don’t Exfoliate
One of the best things you can do for your skin after receiving laser hair removal treatment is avoiding exfoliating directly afterward. Exfoliation using body scrubs or loofahs will only irritate and inflame freshly treated areas while making their follicles more vulnerable to light exposure – increasing your chances of burns!
Wait a week or more before exfoliating the treated area to allow new skin cells to replace old dead ones and help prevent ingrown hairs, which are painful to remove. In addition, hot baths, showers, saunas or exercise immediately following your treatment could increase sweat accumulation which could cause rashes in that area.
If you do need to venture outdoors, be sure to apply sunscreen containing at least SPF 30 protection across the whole body. This will shield it from UVA and UVB rays which can cause sunburns and discoloration of skin cells.
Be mindful that areas where you have received laser treatments will be particularly vulnerable to sunlight, so it’s wise to cover up as much as possible after getting laser treatments. A hat, long-sleeved shirt and pants will all help shield you from harmful sun rays and keep your skin safe.
After receiving laser hair removal treatment, it is advisable to avoid tanning or being exposed to direct sunlight for two weeks post-procedure in order to protect the skin from UV rays and avoid further surface damage. This will protect it from further UV exposure.
Depending on your skin tone and its response to tanning, light skinned people who opt for laser hair removal sessions may require more sessions in order to see full results. This is because changing skin tones require adjustments in laser settings; otherwise, results could be slow or fail altogether.
At its core, laser hair removal should only be undertaken once your skin has returned to its normal color and tone; otherwise you could end up with uneven results or darker patches where some follicles were untreated.
Wear Sunscreen
After laser hair removal, the best way to care for your skin is by following the guidelines set by your laser technician. This means avoiding sun exposure and tanning beds as well as wearing high SPF sunscreen every day – although following this advice might prove challenging during summertime! Exposing yourself to UV rays increases side effects as well as damage in treated areas.
After receiving laser treatment, it’s also wise to limit activities that raise body temperature for at least two days afterwards. This includes hot showers or baths, the ocean, chlorine-based pools, saunas and vigorous exercise; excessive sweating may lead to an allergic reaction as well.
Sun damage can lead to premature aging, hyperpigmentation, burns, scarring or even skin cancer if exposed too frequently or too directly after laser treatment for skin that has become more sensitive. Exposing your laser treated skin directly to UV radiation increases this risk significantly.
Laser treatments work by sending short bursts of focused light directly into the skin, targeting and damaging pigment within hair follicles. If the skin has been tinted with tanning agents, the laser may absorb this pigmentation instead and attack an entire complexion instead resulting in a potentially uncomfortable and even painful experience.
Sun damage can add more sessions and extend laser treatment sessions, so it is wise to protect the skin by applying broad spectrum SPF regularly and reapplying as directed. If a thick layer of sunscreen bothers you, try switching it out for aloe vera gel or moisturizer instead. Moreover, physical sunscreen offers greater protection.
At first glance, tanning before seeking laser hair removal should be avoided at all costs as doing so may cause unpleasant and unwanted side effects and potentially delay results and increase treatment costs significantly.
