One rule you should abide by when it comes to laser hair removal is not tanning prior or during treatments.
Tan skin prevents lasers from finding pigment and targeting it for hair follicle treatment, meaning results will come slower and you may require multiple sessions for maximum benefit.
1. You’ll have to reschedule your appointment
If you plan to have laser hair removal performed on areas that are exposed to direct sunlight, it is wiser to schedule this procedure during winter or another season when your skin has not become tanned. Tanning before having laser hair removal done could compromise its effectiveness or lead to permanent skin damage; its results may not be as desirable.
When it comes time for laser hair removal, your technician is likely to ask that your appointment is postponed due to having a tan. Being sunburnt makes the contrast between your skin tone and hair color more prominent, making it harder for the laser beam to pinpoint and destroy hair follicles; making the entire process more challenging, time consuming, and producing less than ideal results.
Tanning before laser hair removal won’t just impact results; afterward it can also have adverse consequences. Your skin may be extra vulnerable, increasing its susceptibility to sun damage, burns, hyperpigmentation or other problems from sun exposure. Healing will take at least a week following laser hair removal treatment so be sure to wear sunscreen with an SPF 30 rating on a daily basis or as recommended by your laser expert.
If you can’t reschedule or decide not to undergo laser hair removal when wearing a tan, there are other methods you can still employ in order to get rid of unwanted hair. Waxing, threading and plucking can all be effective solutions for eliminating facial and body hair without using tanning products – these will prevent future growth as well as damage to your skin; especially important if planning on having laser treatments later this fall.
2. You’ll have to wait longer for your results
Laser hair removal works to destroy dark pigmentation within the hair follicles, so it is crucial not to have much brown-hued skin before getting this procedure done. Tanning will increase the pigment that needs targeting by IPL or laser treatments, potentially leaving behind scars – something we all wish for when considering our options for hair removal.
Due to this tan, your laser treatments will also take longer since it cannot differentiate between it and hair growth. Once it fades away, however, treatments can continue with slower results than had they started earlier without it.
In the interim, try using an exfoliating cleanser or body scrub that will lighten your tan. There are lightening products with ingredients such as vitamin C, hydroquinone and kojic acid which all inhibit melanin production in skin cells. If necessary after laser hair removal treatment you should wear high SPF sunscreen protection and cover up when outdoors.
Even after your tan fades, it is wise to limit exposure to UV rays as prolonged UV exposure could potentially cause irreparable harm to your skin. For optimal protection after laser treatments, wear wide-brimmed hats and long sleeves when venturing outdoors in direct sunlight.
Before laser hair removal, it’s wise not to apply fake tans since these products contain dyes that may stain your skin. If it must be done, make sure it fades completely by the time of your appointment and don’t use sunless tanning spray, which contains residue that could interfere with treatment and cause hyperpigmentation. In order to obtain optimal results from laser hair removal sessions, it’s vital that these rules be observed both prior to and following sessions.
3. You’ll have to adjust your settings
Laser hair removal can be an excellent solution for anyone seeking to rid themselves of unsightly hair. The procedure works by targeting pigmented follicles with light wavelengths that converts into heat energy and destroys them follicles. When there is more contrast between your skin tone and hair pigment, laser treatments become easier; that is why most doctors advise their patients against sun exposure or fake tanning before beginning laser hair removal treatments.
What happens if I decide to get laser hair removal while already having a tan? According to Sandra Sostres, national clinician manager for Cynosure Australia, your treatment could potentially be compromised.
Sostres states that most laser hair removal systems use wavelengths of light to target the pigment in hair follicles; however, the device cannot distinguish between your natural skin tone and that of fake tanning products used during treatments. As a result, darker skin tones in areas being treated may absorb more laser energy and cause burning or discolouration during laser hair removal treatments.
Unfortunately, this means your results may be delayed until your tan fades and skin color returns to its original hue – in some cases this might require you to reschedule sessions until this has occurred.
Tanning can have negative repercussions before laser treatments; self-tanners and any form of tanning, whether artificial or natural, should also be avoided for two weeks prior to receiving laser treatments. Sostres recommends that anyone planning a laser procedure should avoid tanning of any sort for two weeks beforehand, regardless of its source or form.
Prior to any laser treatment, it’s crucial to heed any instructions provided by your laser technician, with this rule not meant to be broken. Without prior clearance from a dermatologist or laser specialist, it is advisable that no UV exposure or tanning occurs prior to getting treatment unless your specialist confirms otherwise. After all, delicate skin requires healing properly in order to avoid hyper-pigmentation issues; so investing in some stylish swimwear would also be wise in order to stay safe during treatment sessions.
4. You’ll have to avoid the sun
No matter if you spent your summer frolicking on the beach or using self-tanner to lighten, it is crucial that you wait at least several weeks after sun exposure before having laser hair removal treatments. IPL and laser therapies work by targeting pigmentation in the skin to destroy hair follicles; when your skin has dark tans it becomes difficult for IPL/laser therapies to target these follicles properly due to too much contrast between your tone and theirs; this may result in unwanted side effects like hyperpigmentation, burns or scarring effects as well.
Niki emphasizes that certain rules should never be broken. Although tanning may seem appealing during hot summer days, tanning will hinder your desired laser treatments results and should be avoided to ensure the best possible outcomes are obtained. She suggests applying sunblock and using sun protection cream instead in order to avoid complications associated with your procedure.
If it’s impossible for you to avoid sun exposure entirely, use exfoliation products such as body scrubs or shower loofahs regularly with body scrubs or shower loofahs to help rid yourself of dead skin cells that have built up on your body. Incorporating ingredients such as hydroquinone, vitamin C or kojic acid into a lightening product may also help fade your natural tan over time.
Wear sunscreen with a high SPF when going outside for walks and runs, and cover yourself as much as possible by donning clothing such as wide-brimmed hats and long sleeves to shield yourself from UV radiation, which has been linked to skin cancer and premature aging. UV radiation poses serious threats that should always be taken seriously as its exposure could lead to skin cancer and age spots on skin cells.
If you’re considering laser hair removal, make sure that the salon offers Nd:YAG laser that’s safe for women of color with darker skin tones. This laser works differently to other wavelengths in that it bypasses the top layer of epidermis for better safety on dark skin tones.
