Laser treatment of skin can leave it extremely sensitive, making it important to avoid anything that could irritate it further. Some potential side effects could include cold sore reactivation, hyperpigmentation or even milia (small white bumps).
Maintaining good skin hygiene is of utmost importance, so read on to discover what should be avoided after laser treatment.
Avoid Sunlight
Before getting laser skin treatment, it’s best to minimize sun exposure as this can reduce its damaging rays that prevent healing of your skin, thus diminishing results. Also avoid tanning because this increases risk for burns, scarring, and hyperpigmentation post treatment.
For maximum sun protection, the ideal way to limit exposure is to simply cover up and apply an SPF 30 sunscreen when outdoors. Unfortunately, this may not always be feasible depending on where the treatment area lies; in such instances it would be prudent to look for shaded spots and wear a wide-brimmed hat as necessary to shield it.
After laser treatments, it is important to remember that your skin may be delicate and vulnerable, so taking extra precaution when venturing outdoors. If this concerns you, applying a protective cream or serum prior to going outdoors could give your best chances for smooth and healthy-looking results after laser treatments are complete.
Makeup, lotions, oils, sunless tanning products and numbing creams should also be applied carefully as these items may lead to further inflammation and irritation on the treated area.
Before and after laser treatment, it’s advisable to refrain from using exfoliating products on the affected area for two weeks – this can reduce skin irritability. However, gentle cleanser should still be used regularly as this will keep skin clear.
Avoid Exfoliating
After laser treatment, it’s crucial to avoid any stimuli that could potentially irritate or damage the skin, including exfoliation. While regular facial cleansing should still take place, any exfoliants such as scrubs, chemical peels, or OTC products that promote exfoliation such as alpha hydroxy acids and glycolic acid should be discontinued immediately.
While your laser hair removal session is underway, you should pause your regular skincare regimen and avoid moisturizing with moisturizers, creams or lotions that contain moisturizers such as moisturizers. Such products could prevent laser from reaching hair follicles effectively and produce less effective results; this is particularly true with heavily scented or antibacterial soap products.
Before applying any topical beauty product, it’s wise to wait 48 hours. Additionally, it would be prudent to avoid hot showers and baths; opt instead for lukewarm water when cleansing your body. Furthermore, any products which raise skin temperatures such as hot tubs or saunas and any sunless tanning products or deodorants should also be discontinued immediately.
Be mindful to discontinue forced hair removal methods like tweezing and waxing prior to laser treatment as these practices can disturb the natural cycle, leading to faster and darker regrowth, as well as making any subsequent treatments ineffective. Since laser hair removal can provide longer-term solutions, it may be wiser to seek professional advice regarding how best to handle your situation. A dermatologist or skincare expert will be able to offer tailored advice based on your unique skin type and treatment goals in order to make sure you receive maximum benefit from your laser treatment and also provide advice regarding safe yet effective ways of getting rid of hair in the interim.
Avoid Excessive Sweating
After laser treatment, excessive sweating should be avoided for 24 hours to allow your skin to heal more quickly and reduce irritation. Applying lotions containing fragrances or chemicals may help mitigate against this from happening.
Apart from avoiding excessive sweating, it is also wise to avoid any heat treatments which may be applied directly to the skin after laser treatments, including hot baths or showers, steam rooms and saunas – these could potentially overexert your skin and lead to an adverse reaction such as rashes.
Be cautious to avoid excessive exercise after receiving laser therapy treatments, as doing so may irritate the skin and increase the risk of blisters or rashes. In most cases, remaining at home and resting is the best choice to promote skin health and recovery.
Finally, any methods which involve extracting or damaging hair roots such as waxing, plucking or using creams on the treatment area must be avoided as these will interfere with laser’s ability to destroy hair follicles.
Once your recovery period is over, it is strongly suggested that you continue using sunscreen with at least an SPF 30. This will protect the treated skin from UV rays that are more prevalent post laser procedures.
Avoid Picking or Rubbing Impacted Areas
After receiving laser treatment, healing skin is very sensitive and it’s essential not to pick at affected areas; doing so could result in scarring and unsatisfactory results. Rubbing and picking at your skin could even cause infection; therefore it is recommended that any flakes dry naturally instead of being scrubbed off.
Avoid plucking, waxing and shaving the area as this will inhibit new hairs from emerging during a new growth phase. Instead, patients should wait until after this cycle has concluded before shaving while applying daily broad spectrum sunscreen (one that protects both UVA and UVB rays) to protect healing skin from sun exposure.
Care must also be taken when touching treated areas with dirty hands, as this can spread bacteria and contribute to acne breakouts. A non-comedogenic cleanser may help ensure pores do not become blocked and lead to additional breakouts.
After laser treatment, it is advisable to avoid subjecting the affected area to hot showers, hot tubs and saunas for at least 48 hours in order to protect it from overexposure to excessive heat, which could burn or blister its skin. Instead, only shower in lukewarm water while using cool compresses as pain relief if necessary. Furthermore, each morning and evening use an appropriate product with peptides in it in order to moisturize your skin effectively – also wearing high SPF sunscreen is crucial in protecting newly laser resurfaced skin from further exposure to harmful UV rays!
Avoid Applying Makeup or Topical Creams
At this stage, it is vital that skin remain free of products which might irritate its surface. While light moisturizer is okay, makeup or topical creams should be avoided to minimize risk for an adverse reaction during laser treatments. Furthermore, body washes containing fragrances or perfumes should also be avoided as these may be too intense for the body’s reaction to handle.
As well, any additional hair removal methods (waxing, plucking, shaving) must also be avoided as these can damage hair follicles and lead to ingrown hairs. In an ideal world, all laser sessions have been completed before making any decisions about hair removal methods or remaining hairless.
For optimal results, it is advised that recurring laser treatments be scheduled at least six weeks apart for optimal results. This allows your skin the time it needs to recover between sessions, and ensures optimal overall results.
As is often the case, recovery after laser hair removal sessions can be challenging, yet it’s essential to remember that it is your body’s way of responding to treatment. You must refrain from picking or scratching at affected areas as this could cause infection and lead to less-than-satisfactory results. Give yourself time for healing on its own – sooner rather than later you won’t even need to think about regrowing unwanted hair anymore!
