Laser Hair Removal is a common dermatological cosmetic treatment where pulses of intense light (an advanced form of phototherapy) are used to disable the hair follicles, thus inhibiting their ability to produce new hair growth. Can you wear makeup after laser hair removal is a common question.
Facial Laser Hair Removal can be effective since the skin in this area is typically less sensitive to pain when compared to other parts of the body. It can help remove any unwanted hair.
This cosmetic procedure will give you optimal results on the facial area and will get rid away any facial hair that you don’t want.
How long does it take for laser hair removal methods to work? It takes several sessions depending on the amount of hair treatment and how many years it has been growing.
Each session ranges between 5-20 minutes of light exposure, depending on the treatment area.
Laser hair removal is the best option to get rid of ingrown hairs quickly during the growth phase and help with new skin in the long run.
These procedures can be done by a laser technician or plastic surgeon. Laser hair removal has been around but in recent years technology has developed to help with this procedure.
A facial laser procedure involves the ear all the way under the eye and nose. This includes your upper lip, chin, cheeks, and jaw. In most cases, there is no discomfort in which case they may use topical numbing cream before treatment.
You may be wondering if you can wear makeup after laser hair removal and how it will affect your skin.
What is Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removalunwanted facial hair
Next, specialized laser light is gently placed against the skin and will emit laser beams that pass through the skin to reach hair follicles.
This process results in the hair being vaporized and destroyed permanently as long as it has reached its growth stage of development. In other words, the process only works on actively grown hairs.
Following the process, some doctors will apply anesthetics on the skin to prevent any pain. The last step is to ensure that there are no wounds or inflammation left on the body which could result in infection. This is usually done by applying soothing creams on the area treated.
Laser hair removal works best for people with lighter hair colors and darker skin tones.
Nonetheless, laser hair removal can cause some temporary side effects including redness, swelling, and possible bruising that usually resolve within 1-2 days.
However, it should be noted that this treatment is not effective for all skin types particularly those with dark complexions.
Laser skin resurfacing can help decrease the fine lines on the face and help with scars and sun damage.
Candidates For Laser Hair Removal
A good candidate for laser hair removal work is wanting to get rid of unwanted body hair and to prevent any hair regrowth. Depending on your skin type and hair color this treatment will work better.
You will have a consultation with the technician or doctor to see if you are a good candidate for laser hair removal. For the laser energy to target, the follicles dark hair and lighter skin tones get the best results on the treated area.
Laser hair removal works best on people who have light skin and dark hair because the contrast makes it easier for the laser to target the hair follicle.
If you have dark skin, you may still be able to get laser hair removal, but it may not be as effective. The best way to find out is to consult with a board-certified dermatologist.
Can You Wear Makeup After Laser Hair Removal?
A common question asked is “Can I wear makeup after a laser hair removal treatment?” In short, yes. You are able to wear makeup but you want to be careful about going in the sun. Direct sun exposure changes the pigments in the skin making it harder to treat.
Especially during the summertime, you don’t want to be tan before or after.
If you do decide you want to go out in the sun you need to wear sunscreen to protect your face. While in the wintertime it is ok to wear makeup because the sun’s UV rays aren’t out to harm your skin. As well as body parts like the bikini area that you aren’t exposing.
However, each type of laser affects people differently and it may be harder to wear makeup on some areas as opposed to others.
How Long After Laser Hair Removal Can I Wear Makeup?
You can wear makeup after your first laser hair removal session right away, but it is best to wait a few days before applying any more treatments. The treatment area, whether it on on your face or your bikini line, may have redness and swelling.
It is best to wait until the next day to apply any makeup as you may have sensitive skin or adverse reactions and it could irritate it more.
Be sure to be careful on the type of makeup you choose to wear. The good news is that skin often bounces back like a rubber band after laser treatments.
What Precautions Can You Take After Facial Laser Hair Removal?
The best way to let your skin heal is to avoid exposure to direct or indirect sunlight for several weeks after the procedure. The lasers can cause an increase in pigment production, which increases the chance of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
To help with the dead hair on small areas of the skin an antibiotic ointment like cortisone can exfoliate the dry skin and dead skin cells.
Because the skin is more sensitive after laser treatment, you should apply a good sunscreen with at least SPF 30. You should also use sunscreens that contain zinc or titanium oxide since they have a longer life and thus you won’t have to keep re-applying them throughout the day.
Make sure to adjust certain medications such as blood thinners and antibiotics before the procedure since many times they can interfere with laser-induced hair removal.
If you need to take a shower after a treatment session you should take a cool one as hot showers and hot tubs can burn and blister the skin. Gently use a mild soap to wash the areas.
The risk of side effects includes slight redness to the treatment site, skin irritation, or possible swelling. An effective way to help with potential risks is to use ice packs, a cold compress, or cool compresses to help with the swelling. You may experience shedding of the hair 7-14 days after treatment.
In extreme cases, there might be blistering or scaring. During your next treatment or next appointment let your esthetician know.
You can also use aloe gel and aloe vera gel to help but you might want to wait a couple of days before applying this to help keep the skin moisturized.
What Types of Makeup Can I Wear After Laser Hair Removal?
All types of makeup are allowed after being treated with laser hair removal. However, you may want to avoid certain areas that have been treated if your skin becomes too irritated or red.
Do not wear powder-based products on recently treated skin because this could increase the chances of developing a rash or infection.
Also, avoid wearing waterproof makeup because that could be difficult to remove completely with water and soaps after laser hair removal treatments.
Your skin may require some time to recover before you can wear normal makeup. To speed up the recovery process, be sure to apply cold compresses on your skin when you are not wearing makeup.
In some rare cases, it is possible that your skin becomes excessively dry which may result in areas of the skin becoming too chapped to wear makeup. In this case, you should avoid applying cosmetics on these areas for a few days until they heal completely.
Things To Remember
It is also important to note that you should avoid make-up that contains essential oils because this could lead to skin irritation after the laser hair removal process.
In general, it is best to wait a few days before wearing makeup on your face after treatment with laser hair removal to take care of your skin and allow the healing process to work.
If you have any questions or concerns about shaving before and/or after getting laser hair removal treatments, talk to your doctor. You can contact your local skincare center to book a free complimentary consultation to learn more about permanent hair reduction.
It is a good idea to mention your medical history or any skin conditions you may have if it’s your first time getting any type of permanent hair removal.
The good news is you can get the scoop on more laser services, chemical peels, facials for fine lines and dark spots, and general guidelines by contacting your local skincare center.
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