If you want the best results from laser hair removal treatments, it is crucial that you follow some key do’s and don’ts. Your skin may become extremely sensitive after treatment so it is advisable to limit sun exposure in order to avoid hyperpigmentation.
Reapply a broad-spectrum sunscreen frequently and it should work just fine, though redness or swelling in the treated area may occur, although these side effects tend to subside quickly.
Avoid waxing and plucking
Waxing and plucking hair between laser treatments may seem like an effective way of keeping skin looking smooth, but they actually interfere with its effectiveness. In order for laser therapy to be successful, hair must grow back from follicles; waxing or plucking these follicles could leave areas untreated with no chance for treatment and should therefore be avoided in between laser sessions. For this reason, it is very important that non-laser methods of hair removal be avoided in between laser sessions.
Prior to beginning laser hair removal treatments, it is very important to shave all treated areas. This allows the hairs to become visible so your technician can locate and target them with the laser. Furthermore, lotions, oils or deodorants should not be applied directly onto areas being treated; doing so will enhance treatment effectiveness significantly and may reduce any discomfort experienced during laser sessions. Finally, topical numbing cream may provide extra comfort during treatments.
After your laser session, it is advisable to avoid taking hot showers or baths as this could potentially cause burns on any sensitive areas of your skin. Instead, opt for taking lukewarm showers or baths as these should provide better care post-procedure.
On the day of your laser treatment, make sure the area you will be treating is free from makeup, lotions, oils and deodorant to minimize accidental cuts or nicks during treatment. Furthermore, any medications or supplements such as vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids should be discontinued several weeks prior to scheduling an appointment as these vitamins increase your risk of bruising and bleeding during this process.
Once your laser treatment series has concluded, you should notice a significant reduction in unwanted hair growth in the treated areas. However, hormonal fluctuations may still result in new hairs emerging sporadically – should this happen, scheduling maintenance sessions to catch any stray follicles not yet destroyed is recommended.
Avoid sun exposure
After laser hair removal, skin becomes increasingly susceptible to sun damage from sunlight exposure, including sunbeds and natural sunlight from the sun or self-tanners. Wearing sunscreen with an SPF rating of 50 or greater daily is also highly recommended – Niki suggests choosing physical sunscreen over chemical sunscreen as this creates a protective barrier from UV rays while not being absorbed into your body’s cells.
If you have any concerns or inquiries about how to protect your skin before and after laser hair removal, speak to your dermatologist. They can recommend products tailored specifically to your individual skin type. Niki advises avoiding hot tubs, saunas and working out for 24 hours after undergoing treatments – this exposes it to excessive heat that increases risk of infection and puts patients at greater risk.
Prior to beginning laser hair removal sessions, it is a good idea to shave the area as this can enhance results. However, be careful that shaving does not cause damage to the skin since laser hair removal targets pigment in skin cells, and mistakenly targeting this color for hair could damage surrounding tissue and lead to adverse side effects.
After laser hair removal, skin will likely be sensitive and you may experience redness, bumps and swelling as a side effect of laser treatment. While this should subside over time, use cooling aloe vera gel or lotion to soothe any symptoms in the meantime and moisturize daily to support healthy skin.
As part of your laser therapy treatment, it’s wise to avoid treatments that could alter the tone of your skin such as lightening creams or tanning beds, which could potentially interfere with its effectiveness and cause permanent scarring or uneven texture. Furthermore, any hair removal methods like plucking or waxing should also be avoided as these could disrupt hair follicle functioning and potentially hinder results.
Avoid using tanning beds
Tannin beds should always be avoided between laser hair removal sessions; this advice becomes especially relevant during summer, if your treatment area includes parts exposed to direct sunlight such as your legs or bikini area.
After laser hair removal, your skin becomes particularly susceptible to UV rays from the sun and tanning beds causing hyperpigmentation, burns and permanent scarring on treated areas. Therefore, two weeks should pass before tanning these spots.
Niki recommends that before initiating laser hair removal treatments, it would be wise to avoid beaches or areas where tanning may occur, such as underarms. Instead, opt for winter months or areas which don’t see much direct sun such as underarms for treatment sessions.
Prior to beginning laser hair removal treatments, it is vitally important that you refrain from waxing, tweezing and bleaching the treated area for at least a month beforehand. This ensures that hair follicles stay intact which increases your chance of success with laser treatments.
Before your appointment, shave the area that will be receiving treatment to help the procedure run more smoothly and reduce risk of irritation. Furthermore, try not to oversweat during this process or apply lotions or perfumes which could exacerbate irritation.
After having laser hair removal done, it’s recommended that you avoid ocean water, chlorinated pools and hot tubs for at least a couple days post-appointment in order to avoid bacteria-filled environments which could result in an itchy rash that will be hard to treat. Furthermore, avoid intense physical activities for at least a couple days and apply plenty of sunscreen.
Precautionary steps will help you realize the desired results from laser hair removal treatments, and seeking out professional laser technicians should help to ensure they provide tailored procedures tailored to you. They’ll be able to recommend how best to maintain them too!
Avoid taking antihistamines
Antihistamines can make your skin more susceptible to laser hair removal treatments and increase the chance of having an allergic reaction. It is best to wait several days before taking antihistamines; if necessary, take only at the very start of treatment sessions so your body has time to adapt to them and lowers its chances of an allergic response.
Laser hair removal works by targeting the anagen phase of your hair’s growth cycle – that time when hair is attached to its follicle and visible above the surface of your skin – so it is best to refrain from shaving, plucking, waxing and using hair removal creams between treatments. If necessary, try only shaving at times of regrowth using razors with sharp blades.
Prior to beginning laser hair removal treatments, it is recommended that you exfoliate the treatment area several times each week in order to remove dead skin cells and avoid ingrown hairs. You should also wear sunscreen daily in order to protect the treatment area from UV radiation damage caused by laser light treatment; alternatively, aloe vera ointment could further enhance results –
After receiving laser treatment, it is normal to experience redness and mild swelling of hair follicles; this should lessen over time as hair follicles regenerate themselves. Instead of picking or scratching at this area, wet a clean washcloth with cool water and place it over it for several minutes to reduce pain and inflammation.
After receiving laser treatment, it is wise to avoid hot showers, baths, saunas and heating pads as this heat could burn or blister the skin. Instead, cool showers and cold compresses may help relieve itching and irritation more effectively than any hot baths or sauna sessions could do.
Laser hair removal typically doesn’t cause pain for most men and women; some individuals may experience mild discomfort which resembles tiny rubber bands flicking against the skin. Most often, six to eight laser treatments spaced four to eight weeks apart are necessary to achieve significant results with new hair growth in treated areas likely being minor and decreasing with each touch-up treatment.