By Gr0 Core Team
Removing body hair can be a pain, but the days following treatment don’t have to be painful. If you can avoid certain activities and follow a routine, you’ll have an easy and quick recovery from your laser hair removal treatment.
No one wants to deal with itchy, irritated skin after spending tons of money on a professional treatment. We’ve put together some of the best things you can do before and after treatment to keep this from happening.
Laser Hair Removal
In case you’ve never heard of laser hair removal, we’ll fill you in. Laser hair removal uses a laser to direct pulses of energy onto your body hair. This energy is turned into heat, and it targets the melanin in the hair follicle. This will eventually prevent the hair from growing back.
To get this treatment done, you need to go to a facility that offers laser hair removal as a service. You should definitely make sure that the person who does your laser treatment is a trained professional and is familiar with your skin type.
There are many dangers that can arise when it comes to cheap laser hair removal. You risk being scarred for life, literally. Make sure to do your research online and check with people who you know have gotten it done when you’re deciding if laser treatment is right for you.
How To Prepare Beforehand
Before you get laser hair removal, there are a few things that you should do and a few things that you should avoid doing.
The first would be to avoid going out in the sun for about two weeks before your appointment. The UV rays can cause irritation when you get laser hair removal. You should also avoid going to a tanning bed. If you do need to go out into the sun, take extra precautions, like wearing light, full-coverage clothing and sunscreen.
You should also avoid before laser hair removal is chemical peels or microdermabrasion. There’s always a risk of a bad reaction to these procedures, and even if the procedure does go well, it can make your skin extra sensitive. This is another factor that can interfere with the laser process, so you should avoid this for 2 weeks as well.
Don’t use any products with salicylic acid, retinol, or benzoyl peroxide as a topical treatment before getting laser hair removal. This can cause your skin to develop photosensitivity.
You should shave the area where you are getting laser treatment done. Try to do this at least 24 hours before your appointment to reduce any irritation that might crop up immediately after shaving. You should not use any other method of hair removal besides shaving because that might cause irritation or impact how effective the laser treatment is.
After you shave the area, don’t apply any types of moisturizer. This means no lotions or any type of oil should be on your skin prior to your treatment.
Aftercare Tips
After you get your laser hair removal treatment, you should make sure that you follow the instructions of your treatment provider. They will probably tell you most of the things we’re telling you, but we want you to be extra safe!
Just like before your treatment, you should avoid sunlight exposure after getting laser hair removal too. You should also avoid saunas or hot tubs for at least a day afterward. Make sure you are using sunscreen if you are going to be outside at all. You should be using at least a 30 SPF sunscreen, if not more. If you aren’t careful about UV rays, you could develop scarring or potential pigmentation changes in your skin.
Usually, in the days following your treatment, you’ll feel a little bit of swelling in the area. It might be a little bit red and feel like razor burn. If you do experience a little irritation, you can use aloe gel to alleviate any discomfort. You can also apply ice to the area to reduce swelling.
Since laser treatments require multiple sessions, your hair will continue to grow back after the first few treatments. It might grow back a little patchy, and that’s totally normal. It’s all a part of the process of getting that silky smooth, hairless skin that you’re looking for.
You should also continue to avoid topical treatments with the ingredients that we mentioned previously. If you have questions about when you should schedule your next treatment, talk to your treatment provider. Depending on the area, this could be as early as 4 weeks from your original appointment.
Possible Reactions To Laser
It is pretty rare, but sometimes people have serious adverse reactions to laser hair removal. It can cause crusting, scarring, blistering, and changes to the texture of your skin. Your hair might even turn grey after being treated, or grow back in excess.
You should make sure that before you have laser hair removal, you go in for a consultation beforehand. This is pretty standard procedure for most practices but it isn’t always done properly. Your laser hair specialist should ask you questions about your medical history and determine what medications you are on. They should also become familiar with your skin and its specific sensitivities.
Make sure you are aware of the potential risks that come with laser hair removal. Although it offers certain benefits, you are taking a risk.
Alternative Solutions To Laser
If you are a little nervous about the risks involved with laser hair removal, there are other options for you. If you prefer removing body hair at home by yourself, you can use an IPL device.
This type of device is a little bit like laser, except not quite as strong of a treatment. It is still totally effective at removing body hair, but it is safe to use by someone who isn’t a trained professional.
IPL is also known to hurt less than laser treatments. IPL devices like the one from KENZZI have different energy levels for different skin types. Depending on your skin’s sensitivity, you can decide which level is right for you.
IPL can cover large areas of your body or target small sensitive areas like your face, and the KENZZI IPL Hair Removal Handset can be effective in as little as three to four treatments. You can do it on your own time without sacrificing your schedule.
IPL is also extremely safe to use. The side effects are very minimal, and there is no “recovery” time. You can resume all of your regular activities after using an IPL device.
Choose What’s Best For You
Everything comes with its own set of risks. The decision to do laser hair removal is completely up to you, but it does have its downsides. Removing body hair is not considered medically necessary, so you likely won’t get any help from insurance. Keep that in mind if you’re worried about your wallet.
An IPL device like KENZZI is a one-time payment that you can use over and over. It’s an investment that won’t amount to thousands of dollars a year.
If you do decide to get laser hair removal, these simple steps for before and after will help you to get the best possible results!
Summary
Be safe when you get laser hair removal. Some of the reactions are pretty serious, and we don’t want you to experience them. If you have underlying medical conditions, you should always disclose them to your treatment provider just in case. Neglecting to tell someone about a condition or medication could result in a potential disaster for your skin.
If you want to remove your body hair without as many risks for reactions, try using IPL!
Sources:
1.https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/laser-hair-removal/about/pac-20394555
2.https://www.thepmfajournal.com/features/post/laser-and-light-based-hair-removal
3.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507861/
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