After receiving laser hair removal treatments, skin must be cared for carefully to minimize side effects and ensure optimum results. Failure to listen and follow advice provided by your technician could have severe repercussions for both parties involved.
After laser treatment, skin will be more vulnerable than usual and hot showers or baths could damage its surface with hot water.
Shaving
Laser hair removal is a relatively new procedure that has shown great promise at reducing unwanted hair growth on larger parts of the body. To maximize effectiveness and minimize side effects, it is important to take certain precautions in treating yourself during treatment and take special care when caring for the skin during this process.
Shaving should not be performed directly before or immediately following laser treatments, as this may cause razor burn and cause unnecessary skin irritation. Shaving should only be undertaken on the day following a session and should be done gently to avoid irritating skin. A razor with exfoliating blade or gel may be beneficial. It’s also wise to forgo plucking, waxing or bleaching beforehand in order to maximize treatment benefits and reap all its rewards.
Prevent tans or self-tanner products from interfering with laser hair removal sessions by trimming prior to sessions as this will increase visibility of hair that can then be targeted effectively by laser technology. Trimming will also make the area more manageable during treatment so the laser can target its beam more accurately.
Many individuals require six to eight treatments spaced four to eight weeks apart in order to see optimal results. Most women and men report experiencing up to 90 percent permanent reduction in hair growth on the areas treated. It may still grow back periodically during hormonal fluctuations.
Before and after laser treatments, it’s essential to follow a comprehensive skincare regime, which should include exfoliation and moisturization. Keep in mind that skin may become more sensitive immediately following a treatment; using thicker moisturizer or aloe vera gel could prove particularly useful in soothing your complexion.
As hot showers, baths, and saunas may irritate the skin after treatment, it’s wise to use sunscreen regularly on any areas treated as prolonged sun exposure can damage delicate skin on these locations of the body.
Exfoliation
Between laser hair removal sessions, exfoliation can help speed up shedding dead skin cells and target hair follicles more efficiently with laser. However, it’s best to wait 24 hours post treatment session before doing this as this could irritate the skin and hinder its effectiveness.
Between laser sessions, it’s wise to refrain from plucking or waxing as this can irritate hair follicles and have an adverse impact on how laser treatments perform for you. If it becomes necessary to shave away some hair in between treatments, make sure that any cuts are performed carefully so as to not harm any healthy follicles.
Most people require six to eight laser hair removal sessions spaced four weeks apart for optimal results. While these treatments may lead to permanent hairlessness, hormonal shifts or medical conditions may cause some hairs to return at times; in such instances it would be wise to return for additional laser hair removal sessions to catch any that have escaped destruction by prior treatments.
Initial post-laser treatment results often see your hair growing back faster than it normally would due to active hair follicles in their “anagen” stage; shaving will interfere with this phase and make it harder for laser treatment to destroy hair follicles.
Due to this reason, it’s recommended to wait at least several days after treating an area before shaving it. After this period, it should generally be safe to shave any regrown hair; you will still need to shave non-regrown hair several times each week in order to keep the area smooth-looking and it may help using gentle shave products that won’t irritate skin such as natural soaps or body washes as gentle shave solutions.
Moisturising
Men and women typically need six to eight treatments, spaced four to eight weeks apart, for maximum results from laser hair removal treatments. During these appointments, most unwanted hair is eliminated through laser treatment leaving only very minimal stubble that can easily be removed using razor or waxing; any remaining stubble is easily eliminated using razor shaving or waxing; most people are completely hair free by the time they finish their program. During treatment sessions it’s also important to moisturize the skin with an excellent moisturizing cream containing hyaluronic acid which hydrates and plumps the skin, treating fine lines wrinkles while reducing acne scarring appearances.
On both days prior and following laser hair removal treatments, it’s advisable to drink plenty of water. This will help minimize dryness and irritation that could make the procedure more uncomfortable for you. It may also be wise to limit caffeine and alcohol consumption as both can dehydrate the body and lower pain tolerance; in case headaches or stomachaches arise during or following treatment, over-the-counter painkillers like Tylenol could provide temporary relief.
Before your laser hair removal appointment, it is recommended to shave the area to be treated 24 hours beforehand, in order to remove as much hair as possible. In the days after your appointment it would also be beneficial for you not to shave this same area for several days after, allowing hair follicles time to regrow and avoid over-shaving the area. It may be wise not to use deodorant on that same area since deodorants can clog pores and cause histamine reactions during laser sessions.
If you have sensitive skin, it may be beneficial to use a hyaluronic acid-based serum in the days prior to laser hair removal appointments in order to hydrate and decrease chances of irritation and redness during treatments. Should any discomfort arise during your procedure, over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen may help ease pain or numbness during treatments.
Sunscreen
Laser hair removal can be safe and effective for most individuals; however, it’s essential that post-treatment care be administered after every session to avoid side effects. Although you will likely receive specific instructions from your provider about what should happen next, here are a few general tips:
An effective way to protect the skin after laser hair removal and limit sun exposure in general, applying sunscreen with at least an SPF 30 rating is recommended for patients. Sunscreen helps shield against harmful UV rays that cause damage while darkening pigmentation on your skin surface.
Use an oil-free sunscreen, as this will help prevent breakouts and greasy residue. Apply sunscreen 15-30 minutes before heading outdoors so its protective chemicals can fully penetrate into your skin and provide maximum sun protection.
Prior to having laser hair removal treatment, it’s advisable to avoid tanning sessions as this will impede its ability to target individual hair follicles effectively. Furthermore, self-tanners can cause skin irritation.
Plucking and waxing should also be avoided when considering laser hair removal treatments, as these activities interfere with the roots of hair follicles and could negatively impact future treatments you might want to have. Furthermore, exercise should also be avoided after receiving laser treatments to avoid heat build-up that can result in heat inflammation of the skin.
Although many don’t realize it, skin needs time to recover after receiving laser hair removal treatment. Therefore, it is recommended that sessions be scheduled six weeks apart; any attempt at scheduling them closer together could negatively impact results seen.
Finally, after laser hair removal sessions it’s crucial to avoid washing the treated area for 48 hours after each laser session as hot water can cause it to burn the skin and leave it reddened and inflamed. Also it is wise to refrain from using any beauty products (makeup or body washes) that could further irritate it as these can aggravate inflammation further.
