Laser hair removal works by targeting melanin found in skin. Sunburned or exposed to other chemicals may impede treatment and cause unexpected side effects.
Any good clinic will advise avoiding prolonged sun exposure and tanning prior to scheduling laser appointments, as doing so may throw off treatment intervals and cause less effective results. It is imperative to abide by this rule for maximum efficiency in results from laser appointments.
Sunburn
Sunburn can seriously hinder laser hair removal. When skin becomes sunburnt, its energy cannot be absorbed and will thus produce an uncomfortable experience for you and cause more redness and irritation than with unburnt skin.
Before getting laser hair removal or treatment, it is crucial that you remain sun-free for 72 hours prior. Otherwise, burns and skin damage could result in burnout while laser treatment won’t penetrate melanin pigment to effectively remove hair follicles.
As part of your pre-treatment preparations, it’s wise to limit tanning exposure. While it may be impossible for everyone to forgo tanning entirely before receiving laser therapy treatments, at the very least limit sunburn risk by applying broad spectrum sunscreen with high SPF levels to reduce sunburn risk and hyperpigmentation risk.
If you must go out during the summer, wear clothing that covers as much of your body as possible and apply a broad spectrum sunscreen with a high Sun Protection Factor (SPF) factor on any areas being treated; this will significantly lower the risk of burning and hyperpigmentation.
Plucking or waxing hair that will be treated can create unnecessary regrowth, undermining the results of laser hair removal treatments and leading to unwanted side-effects such as scarring. Furthermore, avoid extremely hot baths or showers, as they can increase body temperature and cause sweating which could potentially lead to infection. Finally, for optimal results after your laser hair removal sessions it’s a good idea not to apply deodorant immediately following them as this creates an environment ideal for bacteria growth and can therefore impede effective hair removal sessions that give results! By adhering to these tips you’ll help ensure maximum effectiveness of laser hair removal sessions as possible and achieve results you desire.
Hyperpigmentation
Laser hair removal treatments may lead to temporary hyperpigmentation. This may be the result of exposure to sun or skincare products you are using on your skin during or following treatment, or due to laser hair removal itself. Luckily, however, any hyperpigmentation caused by laser hair removal treatments should fade within a month or two after all sessions are finished.
If you are experiencing hyperpigmentation after laser hair removal, it’s essential to reach out to your practitioner immediately. They will assist with devising a course of action to address it; such as lightening creams and other skincare products that may help even out your skin tone and diminish hyperpigmentation after laser hair removal.
Your practitioner can offer more than hyperpigmentation treatments; they may also give advice to prevent further damage. For instance, they might suggest increasing sun protection with sunscreen application more regularly and avoiding direct sunlight on treated skin areas. They might even suggest tinted sunscreens which block more of the sun’s rays than white sunscreens do.
Some individuals, particularly those with darker skin tones, are particularly susceptible to hyperpigmentation after laser hair removal due to producing more melanin than people with lighter skin tones and being more vulnerable to any trigger factors that might trigger hyperpigmentation. This form of hyperpigmentation is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). When this happens, your body overreacts by producing additional melanin.
To best protect against this situation, the most effective strategy is to select an experienced practitioner who understands how different skin types react to treatments. You should then follow their aftercare instructions – which could involve refraining from certain activities or products and medications altogether.
Laser hair removal can be an effective and safe treatment option for most people, though you should always seek advice from a dermatologist first before considering this treatment option. Noom can assist in creating healthy habits to meet your health and weight loss goals more quickly – sign up today to create your free account!
Infections
Following laser hair removal, your skin may become hypersensitive to UV rays for two weeks or more after treatment, making it wiser to stay out of direct sunlight to give your body time to recover and avoid further damage. If necessary, wear sunscreen with an SPF rating greater than 30 and reapply often.
As you recover from laser hair removal, avoiding sun exposure will help avoid infections and promote healthier skin that will more readily accept future treatments. Sunburnt skin is more likely to succumb to infections due to being compromised by ultraviolet radiation than unaffected skin, making infection more likely. It is not advised to use exfoliants on post-laser hair removal skin due to harsh chemicals causing additional damage or irritation.
Infections can cause redness, itching and flaking of the skin. To combat these side effects effectively and reduce irritation and itching it’s essential to moisturize affected areas after each treatment with non-comedogenic creams or aloe vera gel to soothe irritation and itching. Furthermore, hot showers or baths should be avoided because hot water temperatures could create bacteria-laden environments conducive to infection.
An additional reason it’s best to avoid direct sunlight prior to laser hair removal is that tanning interferes with how well the laser works, as melanin will absorb heat from the laser and cause burns or make moles and birthmarks harder to treat due to being attracted by heat from it and potentially increasing in thickness or darkerening with exposure to it.
Laser hair removal is generally safe and effective for most people. Before proceeding with treatment, however, it’s wise to consult your dermatologist about your individual situation – they can advise how much sun exposure is safe for your skin type as well as suggest alternate means for eliminating unwanted hair if laser treatment isn’t the appropriate choice for you. If laser treatment is the way for you, multiple sessions scheduled over multiple weeks apart are best so as to maximize results without risking permanent skin damage or harming its integrity.
Skin Damage
Sunburn is not the only concern when considering laser hair removal; extended sun exposure may alter treatment intervals and cause hyperpigmentation after finishing treatments, along with potentially leading to other skin damage issues that could require medical intervention.
These include spider veins (broken capillaries) on your nose, cheeks and neck – known as telangiectasia; dark spots of pigmentation located throughout your face or body such as freckles, age spots liver spots or melasma; as well as red rough scaly patches called actinic keratosis which indicate damage caused by sun exposure which are not healing well. All of these symptoms are telltale signs that excessive sun exposure has damaged your skin beyond repair and it has not managed to recover in time from sun exposure damage that damage.
When planning for laser hair removal, to achieve optimal results it is essential that any sun exposure be limited both before and after treatments. If receiving multiple sessions at a time it would be prudent to plan any trips or vacations around when no treatments will take place.
As part of your summer vacation destination preparations, it is also beneficial to carry a quality sunscreen with an SPF rating that can protect from sunburn. Be sure to apply this product frequently and wear protective measures like wide-brimmed hats, long pants or short sleeved shirts in order to cover as much skin as possible.
Even if you have had laser hair removal before, it is wise not to go directly from treatment to spending extended amounts of time outdoors such as beach visits or prolonged sunlight exposure immediately afterwards. Your skin is likely extra sensitive to UV rays and needs time to recover before returning outdoors for extended amounts.
Additionally, if you have darker hair and lighter skin tones, it would be beneficial to keep as much tan on as possible prior to laser treatments in order to help distinguish your hair more easily from its natural tone, making it easier for laser beams to target and destroy each individual follicle more effectively.
