What Not to Do After Laser Hair Removal

Brian Lett
By Brian Lett
10 Min Read

What Not To Do After Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is one of the most innovative and effective solutions available to remove unwanted hair. In order to maximize results and minimize potential side effects, it’s crucial that you follow all recommendations provided by your technician after treatment.

Avoid rubbing, scratching, and scrubbing the treated area to prevent further damaging to both the skin and hair follicles. Doing so could potentially have serious repercussions for both.

Excessive Touching

After laser hair removal, your skin is in an extremely delicate state and should not be touched as doing so could result in serious side effects like redness, swelling and rashes – as well as increasing your risk of infection as bacteria from your hands can easily enter into pores of treated area. It’s wise to wait at least 24 hours after laser treatment before touching any treated areas as this will increase their sensitivity further and may have detrimental effects.

To reduce itching after laser hair removal treatments, moisturizer is an invaluable aid. There are plenty of choices at beauty supply stores; just be sure that it contains no fragrances or other chemicals; using moisturisers regularly also hydrates skin while speeding recovery time.

After laser hair removal, it is also wise to avoid body scrubs as these products may cause severe irritation to your skin and pores. In particular, products containing abrasive ingredients could damage and clog them further. Furthermore, showers or baths that involve hot temperatures or chlorine should also be avoided as should any extreme exercises for at least a few days after your laser hair removal treatment.

Although laser hair removal claims permanent results, it’s important to remember that hair grows in cycles. Therefore, multiple sessions will likely be necessary before any unwanted hair is permanently gone. In addition, waxing, plucking or shaving areas that were treated prior to their appointment could only irritate hair follicles further delaying results.

Tweezing

Your technician may advise against tweezing or other methods of hair removal immediately following laser treatment, as these remove hair at its source, which would defeat its purpose. Ingrown hairs can often occur following laser treatments and they can be difficult to resolve without harming sensitive skin that was treated by laser.

Waxing and plucking should also be avoided between laser treatments to allow your skin time to recover properly after laser sessions, so these techniques should be avoided indefinitely. Shaving is acceptable as an interim step before returning for another visit from the laser.

After your treatment, it is also wise to wait at least one week before using any harsh exfoliating products on the area that was treated, including scrubs and other harsh products that can irritate skin or trigger it into overreacting. Gentle exfoliation using washcloth or sponge can still be effective after your session has completed, but any product with harsh chemicals should definitely be off limits until then.

Other skincare tips include using an effective moisturizer that’s fragrance free and low in fatty molecules – for instance lotions with cocoa or shea butter are an ideal choice – to stay well hydrated after laser hair removal sessions. You should also avoid excessive sun exposure; your skin will likely be extra delicate after treatment.

If you must venture outdoors, be sure to wear sunscreen and a hat or visor. Also it’s wise to wait at least 48 hours after experiencing severe sunburn before jumping back into a scalding shower again – or worse still use hot tub or sauna services during this period.

Waxing

As soon as your laser treatment has taken place, it’s important to refrain from waxing or employing other forms of hair removal in the weeks following. This is because your skin requires time to recover post-laser treatment, while waxing, tweezing and other such methods only affect surface layers of skin. Although shaving is less ideal in such an instance, it still serves its purpose for post-laser hair removal.

Scrubbing or massaging the area after your laser session should also be avoided, as this can irritate and inflame the skin, leading to redness and swelling. Scratching also has its drawbacks as it may cause bleeding and scarring. Instead, use cooling aloe vera gel or lotion instead for soothing relief.

After laser hair removal, take a shower or bath that isn’t too hot as this could cause the skin to react adversely with laser therapy. Also avoid harsh body scrubs for some time after laser hair removal as these could further irritate it.

Whenever in doubt about what steps to take or think something may interfere with the effectiveness of laser hair removal, it’s wise to consult a professional. They will provide tailored advice for aftercare which can improve results while mitigating any negative side effects.

Sunbathing

Before and after laser hair removal, it is advised to limit exposure to UV rays from sunlight or tanning beds for at least several weeks, since tanning could interfere with treatment effectiveness. If sunbathing becomes necessary, broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen should be worn for added protection.

Keep shaving or plucking the area until your skin heals, as these practices can irritate hair follicles and prolong healing time. Also avoid waxing or epilating which pull hairs directly out from their roots – they could aggravate healing even further! Additionally, avoid sunless tanners which could further harm delicate skin after having undergone laser hair removal.

Additionally, any products that could irritate the skin such as lotions and oils, deodorant sprays with fragranced body sprays, perfumed body sprays or any type of creams or ointments should be avoided for at least a week following any procedure, particularly harsh exfoliating scrubs or steam treatments.

After your laser hair removal session, it is wise to refrain from exercising for 48 hours as sweat may cause irritation to your treated areas. Once fully recovered, however, exercise can resume; just ensure that loose-fitting exercise clothes won’t rub against treated areas during physical activity. If redness, swelling or itching does arise after laser hair removal sessions, take antihismine medication such as Benadryl to ease discomfort with cool cloths to soothe itching; alternatively steroid cream may reduce inflammation further; for ongoing itching concerns talk to your physician who can suggest further options tailored specifically to you; dermatologists know best how to treat you according to skin type/tone.

Picking or Scratching

Avoid picking and scratching after laser hair removal to protect newly treated skin from infection by harmful bacteria. This is particularly relevant in regards to facial treatments where facial tissue will likely be more vulnerable after laser treatment than other areas of the body. Also avoid rubbing areas with scrub products as these could irritate and redden skin further leading to redness, dryness and even scabbing.

Avoid perfumes or lotions as these can be harsh on your skin and lead to allergic reactions or discoloration after laser hair removal. Also try and stay clear from tanning beds, self-tanners or bronzers as these could damage the skin further and interfere with laser results.

Whenever it comes time for tanning, always wear and reapply sunscreen regularly in order to avoid dark spots or hyperpigmentation. Furthermore, swimming pools contain chlorine and other chemicals which could harm your skin; similarly lakes contain bacteria which could irritate or infect it further.

Finally, it is recommended to avoid plucking or waxing the area to ensure the laser can properly target hair follicles for treatment, thus decreasing their effectiveness. Instead, only shave areas which will be treated (as directed by your provider), as this promotes hair follicle growth which makes an ideal target for laser treatments.

By following these tips, you will ensure the most effective laser hair removal treatment at LH Spa & Rejuvenation. Contact us now to book your appointment!

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