Shaving is an integral component of laser hair removal and medical professionals often recommend shaving the day or night prior to appointments to reduce risk of cuts and nicks during treatments.
As plucking, waxing, and bleaching interfere with a laser’s ability to target hair follicles effectively, it is also important that you don’t pluck, wax, or bleach your locks regularly. This will allow the laser more efficiently target those follicles which produce hair growth.
Shave
Imagine having silky smooth skin all year long without ever needing to shave or pluck! Though this might sound like an impossible dream, laser hair removal in Astoria makes this possible! There are a few dos and don’ts you should follow in order to maximize the effectiveness of treatment; one important do is shaving prior to receiving laser hair removal treatment as this helps the laser target the right follicles more quickly as well as alleviating pain or irritation during treatment.
Shaving should be performed as close to the skin’s surface as possible without irritating it, ideally 24 hours prior to an appointment or more ideally one day in advance. You should avoid scrubbing or pressing too heavily with your razor blade so as to avoid razor burn or irritation; too close shaves may lead to ingrown hairs requiring additional treatments over time.
Keep this in mind prior to scheduling your laser hair removal appointment: waxing or using depilatory creams remove hair at its source, leaving nothing for the laser to target and destroy.
Avoiding sunlight for similar reasons is also recommended, since its UV rays may damage hair follicles and make them less responsive to laser therapy treatments.
Finally, it is advisable not to smoke or take medications that affect hair pigment. Doing so may influence how effectively laser hair removal will work on your locks – so it would be wiser if these activities were avoided if laser hair removal is on your agenda.
If you are interested in laser hair removal or have questions regarding its treatment, Premiere Center for Health and Wellness can assist in correcting any hormonal imbalances which might be leading to unwanted hair growth, so that you can achieve hair-free and silky smooth skin! Our team can also address hormonal imbalances which might be contributing to increased hair growth – helping you reach hairlessness more quickly!
Exfoliate
Shaving before your laser hair removal appointment is vitally important as this allows the laser to accurately target hair follicles without damaging skin surfaces or leaving scarring behind. Shaving can also encourage active growing stages to take place more readily which makes the laser treatment even more effective.
If you choose to shave on the day of an appointment, it is recommended that you use a high quality razor and exfoliate beforehand to slough away any dead skin cells present on your skin. Furthermore, avoid products that contain ingredients such as fragrance, aloe vera or moisturizers as these could irritate the skin further.
Use of such products may interfere with the laser’s ability to penetrate skin and reach hair follicles, and therefore is recommended that for at least four weeks prior to any laser therapy treatment you refrain from sunless tanning, waxing, or plucking in that area as these methods could damage follicles.
Exfoliation should also take place prior to laser hair removal appointments, in order to slough away dead skin cells and avoid ingrown hairs and razor burn. When applying chemical exfoliants it should be applied slowly so as not to damage sensitive areas of skin.
Within days after having laser treatment, some of your hair may begin to shed naturally – this is perfectly normal and shows that the laser was effective at stopping its regrowth. To expedite the process further, exfoliating your skin before shaving is recommended as this will speed up this process and can help speed up results faster.
Many popular skin products can increase photosensitivity of the skin. When your photosensitivity increases, laser treatments become more likely to burn the surface layer, potentially increasing side effects like burning or discoloration. Therefore, it is recommended that any product containing benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or retinol should be avoided at least 2-3 days before receiving laser treatments as these ingredients could penetrate deeper than intended and increase risks such as burns or discolorations.
Avoid Sun Exposure
Women and men spend many hours each year shaving, waxing and plucking unwanted hair from their bodies – an effort which is time consuming, costly and potentially harmful due to ingrown hairs or rashes that arise as a result. If this process has become tiresome for you, laser hair removal might be worth exploring as a solution – laser treatments are capable of eliminating hair growth on facial features like bikini areas, underarms, hands and feet while significantly decreasing overall growth rates of these areas treated.
Prior to beginning laser hair removal, it is crucial to protect yourself from sun exposure as the treatment can make your skin more vulnerable to heat exposure and can result in skin damage. Direct sunlight should also be avoided for two weeks following your appointment; alternatively if necessary it would be prudent to slather on some high SPF sunscreen that needs regular reapplication.
Before having laser therapy done on an area, it is also best to avoid plucking, tweezing or waxing as this will remove all hairs at once and will stop the laser from targeting its source. Furthermore, dermal fillers and Botox should be discontinued for several days prior to any laser session.
Be sure to inform your technician of any photosensitive medications such as tetracycline or doxycycline prior to scheduling laser treatment, as these may increase sun sensitivity as well as risk an adverse reaction when exposed to laser light.
Prior to any laser treatment session, it is vitally important that the area being treated be shaved. Otherwise, the laser may singe your skin and cause an adverse reaction; this may leave small temporary grazes which will require several days for recovery.
Prior to receiving laser treatments, it is advisable to avoid hot showers, saunas and jacuzzis as these can cause excessive sweating which can lead to the buildup of bacteria on the skin, leading to infection or other issues.
Avoid Certain Skin Care Products
Prior to undergoing laser hair removal treatment, it’s recommended to refrain from waxing, plucking and epilating as these techniques tend to remove the root of hair follicles which means the laser cannot target them effectively. Furthermore, any cosmetic enhancement products like Botox(r), microdermabrasion or dermal fillers should also be avoided at least 14 days in advance of receiving laser treatment for hair removal.
As part of your laser hair removal appointment preparations, tanning should be avoided in advance to reduce skin sensitivity for your technician to effectively use their light beam on. Self-tanners also leave behind residue which makes it hard for light beam to reach hair follicles beneath.
Shave 24 hours prior to laser hair removal appointments in order to minimize thermal injury to your skin’s surface. Shaving too closely might leave tiny grazes that require time for healing – this can make treatment much less pleasant for you as well as for your therapist!
Shaving too close to your appointment could result in ingrown hairs. Ingrowns occur when dead skin clogs up the hair follicle and takes some time to clear away, leaving redness and swelling of skin which makes laser hair removal uncomfortable for you.
Before your laser hair removal treatment, it is a smart move to apply a numbing cream to the skin to ensure you’re not too sensitive or uncomfortable during the procedure. Numbing cream can be found over-the-counter at pharmacies or you could try applying an ice pack directly on the area for added relief – either way will ensure that you arrive at your appointment feeling completely numb! Taking these steps early ensures your skin will already be numb by the time you reach the salon!
