Shedding following laser hair removal treatments is completely normal and an indication that they’re working, however attempting to speed up this process could cause irritation or harm the skin.
Begin exfoliating 2-3 times each week beginning one week post treatment to gently exfoliate.
1. Exfoliate
Once laser hair removal treatment has taken place, the area in which it was performed enters into a resting phase during which destroyed hair follicles begin to fall out. This process usually takes four weeks. To speed this up and prepare for future appointments, exfoliating regularly during this period is key in order to speed up this shedding process and prepare yourself for appointments ahead. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells while encouraging new growth of healthy follicles. Simply take a washcloth or loofah and rub in circular motion over areas that have undergone laser treatment several times each week – or try exfoliating with an exfoliator!
Correct exfoliation can be gentle on the skin and even encourage hair follicles to grow faster. To maximize efficacy, avoid rubbing or picking at areas which have been exfoliated as this could damage or delay healing processes. Picking at hairs can cause irreparable harm and delay recovery time.
As part of your recovery process, it is also vital to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and remaining hydrated by applying moisturizer containing ingredients such as dimethicone, glycerin or jojoba oil – fragrance-free moisturizers are ideal! Moisturizers help soften skin pores while simultaneously opening them wide to facilitate hair shedding.
As part of laser hair removal, patience is of utmost importance when treating any area with laser treatment. Exfoliate regularly after treatment to promote hair fall-out naturally while protecting yourself from direct sun exposure with SPF 30 or higher sunscreen application if necessary. Furthermore, cold compresses or numbing gel may be used post treatment to manage pain and reduce swelling after laser treatments are complete. Finally, avoid shaving, plucking or waxing treatments in the area to minimize disruption of the follicles; use razors with low blades so as not to cause irritation if necessary if shaving must occur if necessary to minimize irritation if any.
2. Stay out of the sun
Before and after laser hair removal sessions, it is wise to avoid direct sun exposure, particularly UVA/UVB rays which could potentially cause skin damage that would compromise treatment outcomes. UV rays also increase hyperpigmentation and discoloration. When outdoors make sure you wear sunscreen with at least an SPF30 protection level for best results.
Avoid tanning beds for similar reasons. Utilizing tanning beds prior or post laser hair removal can drastically alter the skin’s appearance, and premature aging and skin cancer could even arise as a result.
Although it can be tempting to try and expedite hair shedding after laser hair removal by picking or plucking at the treated area, this should not be done as this may irritate and delay healing. Also remember that hairs only become visible once they enter their telogen phase; once in this phase they will grow finer and become less visible on your skin.
Keep up with your regular laser hair removal appointments so that all anagen phase hair follicles can be targeted by the laser. Missing appointments could make targeting those hairs even harder for your laser.
If you are struggling to keep up with your appointments, waiting until winter to recommence laser hair removal might be beneficial. Skin is more tolerant in winter months making it easier for appointments.
Select an experienced and qualified practitioner when seeking laser hair removal treatments. Be sure that they are registered with an appropriate professional body, have an impressive track record, are insured, and that you feel assured they can carry out your treatments safely and effectively.
3. Avoid plucking or waxing
Laser hair removal allows your body to naturally shed dead follicles damaged during treatment, without speeding it up too aggressively – any attempt at hastening this process too quickly could cause redness, inflammation and pain in the treated area.
Exfoliation can aid the natural shedding process after laser hair removal by stimulating new cell turnover and improving skin hydration. But be careful not to exfoliate within 24 hours following your session, as doing so could irritate it further. A gentle sugar or salt scrub applied using a washcloth, hands or fingers in circular motion or simply your own body can be very helpful, but be wary not to exfoliate too aggressively, as doing so could damage delicate skin around hair follicles.
As well as exfoliating, it is also recommended to refrain from plucking or waxing hair after your laser treatments, since doing so removes hair follicles that could potentially re-grow. Shaving is recommended, though shaving only removes surface hairs instead of their root sources.
Plucking or waxing hair follicles too frequently can prevent their proper healing, leading to ingrown hairs. People with thick, dark locks are particularly prone to this as these strands take longer to reach the surface of the skin compared to thinner locks; as such it’s best that thick, dark locks be left alone until they fall out on their own.
Laser hair removal involves using pulses of light that target specific areas and damage skin and tissue in order to destroy or disable hair follicles, so that eventually, they cease producing new hair growth, leading to gradual hair shedding over 7-30 days and eventually stopping completely.
As your hair begins to shed, you may experience bumps and patches of ingrown hair on your skin. This is completely normal as your body pushes it closer to the surface in an effort to shed it off. If this occurs after laser treatment, use a gentle fragrance-free moisturizer containing ingredients like aloe vera or chamomile to soothe and promote healing of your skin.
4. Keep your skin moisturized
After laser hair removal treatments, it’s essential to treat your skin gently. Avoid exfoliation methods like scrubbng or loofahing as these can irritate and prolong shedding processes. Apply a fragrance-free moisturizer (such as aloe vera gel) on treated areas daily as this can aid in healing the shedding process and keep irritants at bay.
Staying hydrated can help maintain healthy skin and facilitate natural cell renewal, as well as lubricating hair follicles to allow dead hairs to fall out more easily. Experts suggest drinking between 6-8 glasses of water each day for maximum effect.
When selecting your moisturizer or gel, we advise selecting one free of fragrances and dyes to minimize irritation to the skin after laser hair removal sessions. Hot showers, saunas and jacuzzis should also be avoided to keep natural oils intact in your skin to help avoid drying out or irritating it further.
Tannin should also be avoided to reduce the chances of hypopigmentation and burns as well as hastening treated hair’s transition into its telogen phase and eventual shed from the body.
After your laser hair removal treatment, itching may occur as an unfortunate side effect of the treatment. This itchiness should fade within days; otherwise over-the-counter antihistamines such as Benadryl or Zyrtec should help alleviate itching temporarily.
Importantly, it is important to keep in mind that laser hair removal cannot promise 100% results as only certain hair follicles will ever be in anagen phase at once. But with consistent treatments and following our tips above, noticeable results should appear within several weeks and it is wise to schedule repeat treatments every four to six weeks in order to ensure all unwanted hair has been eliminated from the body.
