Alcohol has many harmful side effects, one being dehydrated skin. If you are planning a laser treatment session, it is vitally important that you abstain from alcohol to get the optimal results from this process.
Caffeine should also be avoided as this can make your skin sensitive and increase pain or discomfort during procedures.
Dehydration
Alcohol may seem harmless enough, but it’s worth keeping in mind that alcohol is a diuretic. Drinking too much booze promotes frequent urination and dehydrates the body – both factors which contribute to dull complexion. If you plan on receiving laser skin treatments soon, try to limit or avoid alcohol altogether in the days prior to them – although even some is fine!
Alcohol can make working with your licensed medical laser technician more challenging, even with just one drink causing an imbalance in blood sugar levels and dizziness or an inability to concentrate, hindering their ability to obtain an accurate reading on your skin tone, which ultimately diminishes results of treatment.
Alcohol dehydrates your skin, slowing recovery from laser treatments. This may lead to redness, puffiness and an overall dull look; therefore, drinking plenty of water during recovery and waiting until full healing occurs before returning to drinking alcohol again is best practice.
Your skin may become sensitive after receiving laser treatments, so it’s best to wait several weeks after each session before drinking alcohol again. If in doubt about this decision, consult with your surgeon and follow his or her guidance.
Experience has shown that minor bleeding and bruising are not unusual after laser skin treatments using intense pulsed light (IPL) or photofacial therapy. If you are taking blood-thinners such as Aspirin, Vitamin E, ginkgo biloba or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications for treatment of arthritis, such as Ibuprofen or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, such as Ibuprofen; you should refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages and smoking two days before and two days after your appointment. By taking these precautionary measures prior to treatment, it will help avoid excessive bleeding or bruising from occurring during your laser procedure. As these medications thin the blood, any negative reactions might arise that compromise its beneficial outcome for your procedure. Furthermore, smoking has been found to decrease circulation and may slow healing time – therefore if you want optimal results from laser treatment it is essential that these substances are avoided as much as possible.
Bruising
Alcohol should be avoided 24 hours before starting laser skin treatment sessions to help preserve hydration and decrease fatigue, but also to decrease your chance of bruising during procedures. Bruising occurs due to cells releasing acetaldehyde that causes redness and inflammation; thin blooded individuals have more difficulty recovering. Alcohol also thins blood, making recovery after laser skin treatments more challenging.
Consume no alcohol on the day and week following your treatment, instead drinking plenty of water instead. This is particularly important if you are planning a dermal filler procedure – although they are considered generally safe procedures, minor side effects like bruising and swelling may still occur during treatment.
Bruising can be both uncomfortable and disfiguring after receiving dermal filler treatments, yet its impact will eventually subside after only a few days.
Before and after laser treatments, it’s wise to refrain from taking medications which could impede the healing process, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and NSAIDs, along with supplements like Vitamin E, St. John’s Wort, garlic or ginseng that could slow or hinder recovery from injection. Such substances could increase bleeding during injection of dermal filler and may slow recovery time or even hinder it entirely.
Keep in mind when considering laser skin treatment that it could take up to three weeks for your body to recover fully from the procedure, meaning you should wait until all aspects of healing have occurred before returning to your usual beauty routine.
If you want to avoid any potential hangover from laser treatments, scheduling your appointment early in the day could help reduce any interruption to your usual activities and routine. Furthermore, scheduling at least four weeks ahead of a special event such as a wedding or vacation will give your body enough time to recover after receiving treatments while taking part in celebrating this momentous occasion.
Infections
Alcohol will increase skin sensitivity and make the laser treatment more uncomfortable, leading to potential complications during and after your session. Furthermore, drinking can thin your blood, leading to increased bleeding and bruising during treatment.
Drinking alcohol the night before your appointment may make sleeping difficult and increase fatigue levels, both of which could diminish results. Furthermore, dehydration due to alcohol consumption will only make the process more painful.
Infections are a significant risk when receiving laser skin treatments. While infection after laser skin treatments is usually minor and clears itself on its own, left untreated they could turn serious quickly if left untreated. If you notice symptoms such as severe swelling, blistering, red/discolored streaks in the skin or pain which antiseptic cream cannot soothe, contact your physician immediately.
After receiving laser treatment on your face, it is recommended to refrain from shaving for at least 48 hours after treatment as this can irritate and infected skin. Furthermore, perfumed products or bleaching creams should not be applied directly onto this area and sweating, hot baths/showers as well as activities with chlorine should also be avoided to protect this sensitive region of the body.
Before beginning treatment for any health issue, it is imperative that you inform your physician of all medications or supplements you are taking – this includes over-the-counter options like aspirin, Motrin and Ibuprofen; herbal or nutritional supplements like Gingko Biloba, Garlic Flax Oil Cod Liver Oil Vitamin E Vitamin A etc; If taking Accutane it is equally essential that they know.
Overall, it’s best to avoid drinking any alcohol the evening before undergoing laser skin treatments. If you do decide to indulge, make sure that any consumption is done so in moderation as this will ensure your body stays hydrated while also helping avoid skin sensitization during the procedure.
Side Effects
Even one drink before surgery could still cause problems, as alcohol dehydrates your body and surgery is already an intensive process that stresses it even further. Not only is surgery harder for surgeons on dehydrated skin but the additional effects can slow recovery as well.
Alcohol before surgery often causes inflammation, making laser treatments particularly problematic. Drinking can increase your likelihood of red, flushed skin which could indicate histamine release – an allergic reaction which could be dangerous in eye areas where delicate skin exists and makes damage much more likely.
Alcohol may lead to inflammation, but it also has been found to thin the blood, leading to more bruising post-surgery and impeding your recovery and healing process. Being completely honest with your physician about any alcohol or drug use prior to an operation is critical; even if it feels uncomfortable to discuss such matters directly with him/her. If you’re an active heavy drinker, begin gradually tapering off in advance so as not to cause withdrawal symptoms upon surgery day.
Before and after receiving treatment, it’s also wise to stop taking medications that affect blood, such as Aspirin, Ginkgo Biloba extract or ibuprofen. As these may increase bleeding or bruising it’s wiser not to consume these substances at all.
Although it may seem inconvenient to give up drinking before laser skin treatments, the benefits are well worth your while: smooth and radiant results await when your treatments are complete – plus once healed you’ll soon be back enjoying that glass of wine again!
