Most medications do not interfere with laser hair removal treatments, but there may be exceptions. Being open about your medications and supplements helps ensure the safety of treatments.
Certain dietary supplements like garlic, ginkgo biloba and high doses of Vitamin E may increase the risk of side effects caused by laser hair removal treatments such as bleeding and bruises. People living with herpes simplex should also avoid laser hair removal procedures.
Antidepressants
Antidepressant medications often contain photosensitive compounds that react poorly with the UV light used for laser hair removal treatments, so you should discontinue taking them several days prior to beginning laser treatments in order to avoid side effects such as photo-recall reactions (which occurs when taking or applying drugs that trigger previous sunburns or photosensitive skin conditions to return). Common medications which trigger photo-recall reactions include ACE inhibitors, antiarrhythmic drugs, antibiotics, calcium channel blockers, antidepressants, cancer chemotherapy agents corticosteroids hydrochlorothiazide etc
Notify a licensed medical laser technician of what medications and supplements you are currently taking, including vitamins and supplements. While it may seem irrelevant, sharing this information could actually have an enormous effect on how successfully you undergo laser treatment. Furthermore, doing so allows the laser technician to gain more insight into how you’ll respond to treatment as well as provide pre/post treatment guidelines that will ensure optimal results for you.
Antihistamines
As people take antibiotics, mood stabilizers or cold/flu tablets simultaneously while going through laser hair removal treatments, it can sometimes be necessary for them to take medications that have no negative impact on this process. Most commonly these will not interfere with laser treatments at all – although there may be specific drugs which increase photosensitivity that need to be considered carefully when considering laser hair removal treatments.
Antihistamines are an integral component of many allergy medications, working to suppress histamine activity. You’ll often find these antihistamines available over-the-counter or as natural ingredients like plant extracts. Antihistamines can help manage a range of allergies including seasonal ones like hay fever.
People on antihistamine medication should wait several days before using products containing glycolic acid, salicylic acid or hydroquinone in skincare products that contain them as this could trigger an adverse chemical reaction with laser light and result in skin discoloration and swelling. Furthermore, tanning beds and hot showers should also be avoided immediately following laser hair removal treatments as this could further irritate skin irritations.
If you suffer from herpes simplex virus, taking prophylactic oral antiviral medication prior to and following laser treatment for three days before and five days afterwards is necessary as the thermal energy from laser can reawaken latent viruses that could emerge as cold sores or warts after using laser energy. Contact us for further information in north London today for an initial consultation appointment!
Antibiotics
Laser body hair removal provides an alternative to shaving and waxing that doesn’t lead to painful ingrown hairs that must be extracted, thanks to how laser treatments reduce follicle size and destroy hair itself. Furthermore, it’s much safer and more effective than most other methods which involve cutting or irritating the skin with chemicals to get rid of unwanted hair.
No matter the method of hair removal you choose, it’s crucial that you inform the technician of any medications you are taking, including antibiotics. Antibiotics contain photosensitive compounds which could interact negatively with laser light treatment. Furthermore, other tetracycline-based antibiotics (e.g. doxycycline and minocycline) as well as vitamin A may have similar negative side-effects when applied directly onto skin surfaces.
Other medications known to cause adverse light reactions include steroid-based drugs and analgesics such as ibuprofen. As such, those taking either of these should wait to undergo laser hair removal until either their course of medication has finished or they have finished the course entirely.
Garlic supplements increase the risk of laser treatments by increasing risk of bleeding and bruising, so it’s recommended that individuals discontinue taking them at least two weeks before receiving laser hair removal treatments. Furthermore, blood thinners should consult their physician prior to beginning any such therapies as they might experience more bruising and bleeding than people not on blood thinners; most other medicines and supplements do not interact negatively with laser hair removal procedures.
Accutane
Accutane is a widely prescribed acne medication with distinct side effects. Some doctors and laser technicians previously advised their clients not to undergo laser hair removal treatment while taking Accutane, fearing this combination could result in serious adverse reactions during laser hair removal treatments. However, recent research has prompted us to reconsider this advice.
Recent studies have confirmed it is safe for people who have discontinued accutane to undergo laser hair removal; however, it remains essential to inform any laser consultation team of what medications and herbal supplements you are currently taking, both prescription and over the counter as well as any herbal remedies you are currently using.
Some medications that could interfere with laser treatments include glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid and bleaching creams. Anyone suffering from herpes simplex or cold sores is strongly encouraged to take antiviral medication three days before having laser treatments; also those who recently waxed or plucked the area should wait at least 30 days after waxing/plucking before considering laser treatment sessions in that region.
Roaccutane and Retin-A are among the many acne medications which interact negatively with laser treatments, and should be taken at least six months before seeking laser hair removal at our North London clinic. They contain photosensitive molecular changes which cause your immune system to attack them as potentially hazardous foreign objects; we suggest waiting this amount of time if taking these drugs before opting for laser treatments at our clinic in North London.
Birth Control
If you are using oral birth control, hormone replacement therapy or hormonal acne treatments like Accutane, they can make your skin more susceptible to UV rays and laser treatments; before scheduling a laser hair removal session it’s essential that you speak with your physician regarding whether this procedure will be safe.
Make sure to tell your laser professional about any other medications, supplements and herbal remedies you are taking (including antidepressants or any drug which affects hormone levels), especially any that might trigger new hair growth after having undergone laser treatment. Any disruption in hormone levels could spur new hair growth that would make the session ineffective.
Before scheduling a laser treatment session, Dr. Krant recommends shaving the area being treated. This allows the laser to target hair follicles more accurately while decreasing the chances of burning your skin. Furthermore, it would be wise to refrain from waxing or plucking areas being treated.
Following your procedure, it is not unusual to experience small blisters in the treated area as part of the healing process – though Dr. Krant warns against irritating these by rubbing or scratching them as this could lead to scarring.
If you find yourself suffering from tiny blisters, your dermatologist may suggest applying aloe vera as an aid in healing them. Furthermore, hot showers and saunas should also be avoided to reduce irritation as clothing friction may further irritate them further. In order to keep them comfortable until healed, cover the affected area with loose, comfortable clothing without touching it directly; exfoliants, razors or lotions could worsen them further.
