In recent years, laser hair removal has become one of the sought-after methods of removing hair. The advancements in laser-based technologies have made the process a more secure and safer option for electrolysis.
Any treatment that uses lasers has the potential for unintended payoff. The most common side effects associated with laser hair removal include swelling, redness, or irritation of the skin. These usually go away over time without intervention.
Laser hair removal isn’t an effective permanent solution to remove hair, but if properly prepared, the payoff can last for many years. Hair that grows back will be in a smaller and less dense form. To get the most from your results and minimize any undesirable adverse effects, take a look at these helpful guidelines on how to prepare before and after treatment.
Before Laser Hair Removal:
The laser hair removal appointment begins with a consultation. The visit to the office can be anywhere between 10 and 20 minutes. In this time your doctor will review the medical information you have provided, talk about the goals you have set with you, and explain how treatment is carried out.
Hair removal together lasers are more efficient for people who have light skin tone and hair that is dark as this contrast allows the laser to see the hair. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be treated even if you’ve got dark skin or blonde hair. During your appointment, your physician will help you assess the risks and benefits to your hair and skin type.
If you’re ready to start treatment, the tips below can help you get the most payoff. Be sure to adhere to the advice of your physician when it is different from these recommendations.
- Always schedule an in-person meeting with your doctor before deciding to undergo any treatment. A skilled doctor can evaluate your health and assess the amount of treatments you can require.
- When you meet with your doctor, talk about the medications you currently take. Certain prescriptions may cause photosensitivity that can lead to burns.
- Do not continue with skincare products that contain powerful ingredients such as retinoids, salicylic acid, hydroxy acid, and also benzoyl Peroxide.
- The procedure will prove more effective If your legs are light. The more contrast between your hair follicles and skin will yield greater outcome. Plan your treatment for winter or fall months or stay clear of any form that involves tanning (i.e. natural sun and sunbeds, tanning sprays, and products for self-tanning) for six weeks before the treatment. Treatments with lasers on skin that are tanned could cause permanent problems with pigmentation.
- Avoid plucking, waxing, or bleaching your hair during the six months before the appointment, as cutting hair at the root can reduce the effect of your laser treatment.
- Shave your hair the day before the procedure (as advised by your physician). Shaving helps the hair follicles enter their active growth phase, which is the perfect stage for laser treatment. Within 24 hours of the appointment shaving your area(s) that you wish to treat. Don’t pluck or wax. Shaving can remove hair that is longer while preserving the roots. It’s the hair’s root that the laser targets and the root should be there for the treatment to function excellently.
- Get a shower before your appointment. Cleanse the area of treatment by removing oil and dirt from the skin. Do not together any products for skincare (including moisturizer) following your cleansing.
- Beware of lotions, oils, and deodorants before the treatment. Be sure to arrive at your appointment with dry, clean skin. Creams, moisturizers, lotions, or oils may block the laser from reaching the root, and so can sweat or other particles. If you’re treatment for your armpits or underarms you should avoid applying deodorant before the appointment.
- Follow the instructions of your physician and stop taking blood thinners like aspirin, anti-inflammatory medicines, or antibiotics before the treatment. If you’ve been taking any new medication in the past few days, inform your doctor.
- At least two weeks before your appointment, stay clear of Botox and dermal fillers for at least two weeks before your appointment. Avoid any treatment that improves the skin’s sensitivity, like chemical peels and microdermabrasion. In the week preceding the treatment, stop with products that trigger photosensitivity.
During Your Laser Hair Removal Treatment:
In your appointment for laser hair removal, the technician or doctor will discuss together with you the area(s) that need to be addressed. If you’re treating the bikini line or facial area, your technician might draw a line across your skin to show the boundaries of treatment.
The area of treatment is cleaned and prepared as your technician will remind you of what you can anticipate. Every person experiences the sensation of laser hair removal in different ways. The majority of people describe it as akin to an elastic band being snapped against the skin. Your doctor can apply a numbing cream if discomfort is a concern for you.
When the areas being treated need to be exposed, other parts of your body are covered by your clothes or sheets strategically placed similar to massage. While you are receiving treatment all people in the room will wear eye protection and you too. It doesn’t mean that you won’t get flashes of light, but you can be confident that your eyes are secure.
After Laser Hair Removal:
The most frequent, but brief-lived side effect from treatment with lasers is redness and swelling on the area of treatment. In the initial couple of hours, you could even feel like you’ve some sunburn. Redness and swelling should go away within 3 to 7 days. In this period it is safe to apply aloe vera and topical cooling creams for reducing discomfort.
Hair loss won’t come out instantly after treatment, but it will fall out gradually over the next few weeks. Since every hair follicle is experiencing a different growth cycle, it’s common to see some patches of regrowth. These areas are treated in follow-up visits until the regrowth is eliminated.
Be sure to adhere to these guidelines after your laser hair removal session:
- Avoid sunlight (and the tanning bed) and use an effective sunscreen because UV radiation can cause irritation to treated skin and cause complications in the removal of hair.
- In the first 24 hours following your appointment, you should avoid any form of temperature. Baths and showers that are hot saunas, steam rooms, and exercising can cause an infection or discoloration. Within 24 hours you can go back to the fitness center, but make sure to avoid sun exposure for a period of up to two weeks. The UV rays, like those emanating from tanning beds, may cause permanent or visible coloration.
- “Sun-less” tanning options like self-tanning or spray tans can be used in between treatments as long as the use ceases 2 weeks before the next appointment.
- Always shave instead of tweezing, plucking, or waxing, if required to remove hair between treatments
- Gently exfoliate the skin every 2-3 days together with the loofah or washcloth. This will reduce the likelihood of growing hair follicles that are ingrown.
- Make sure to keep the retinoids and hydroxy acids in check for a maximum of one week following the treatment. Instead, you can use a gentle cleanser as well as a relaxing moisturizing lotion. Make sure you wait for at least two weeks before scheduling chemical peels, microdermabrasion, Botox, or dermal fillers.
Conclusion:
Hair removal together lasers is a method to get rid of unwanted hair together by heating to destroy the hair’s follicle. It’s an extremely fast procedure. If done by a reputable technician, it will provide a long-term payoff with minimal unwanted side consequences. It is accurate on people with different hair and skin colors like lighter facial hair and dark. It is important to keep the treated areas away from the sun and away from tanning equipment in indoor areas.
