Laser hair removal treatments work by targeting pigment in your skin and hair follicles. Self-tanners or fake tanning products that alter skin tone should be avoided prior to or during laser hair removal treatments for best results.
Avoid fake tanning products for 10 days following any treatment, including sunless tanners, body foundations and bronzing powders.
It’s not safe
Laser hair removal is a quick and painless way to rid oneself of unwanted hair, making it an attractive solution for those wanting an alternative to shaving or waxing weekly. Laser treatment may be especially suitable for sensitive skin types. There are some things you should keep in mind before getting laser treatments though.
Before laser hair removal, it’s essential to limit sun exposure and fake tanning. This will protect the area being treated, and help it heal properly. Furthermore, 12-24 hours before your appointment it is crucial that the area be shaved to enable laser to effectively target hair follicles beneath the surface of skin.
Before laser treatments, it is also advisable to avoid lotions or scented products as these may irritate your skin or trigger an allergic reaction. If a lotion must be used, make sure it is fragrance free and contains no parabens – otherwise your results could be disastrous!
Laser hair removal utilizes light energy to destroy hair follicles and stop their regeneration, and to achieve this it requires strong contrasts between skin tone and pigment in hair follicles; fake tanning may block this contrast and lead to burns or hyper-pigmentation of the skin.
Additionally, having a spray tan before laser treatments isn’t advised as it could clog pores and produce poor results; leading to both poor experiences for you and your technician.
Indy Laser recommends that prior to beginning any laser treatments, no fake tan should be applied on any of the areas being treated for at least two weeks prior to your session. Applying SPF sunscreen regularly throughout this timeframe will protect the skin from UV damage and sunburn as well as hyper-pigmentation or sunburn from occurring during sessions. It’s also wise not to get a spray tan post-treatment in order to allow time for healing from procedure without experiencing unexpected side effects from it.
It’s not good for your skin
Laser hair removal works by sending focused beams of light into your skin and targeting the pigment of hair to destroy it, so ideally your skin should be as close to its natural color as possible before beginning treatments with laser. Fake tanning interferes with this process and may result in burns, discoloration or hyperpigmentation reactions that require further medical intervention.
Fake tanning can also damage your skin as it obscures the surface of your skin and makes it more difficult for technicians to see hair follicles; leading to missed spots, uneven treatment and less effective results.
If you’re planning on receiving laser hair removal treatments, it is best to forgo self-tanner for at least 10 days prior to receiving laser sessions and skip tanning altogether until after all treatments have concluded. This will give your skin time to heal while protecting it from being exposed to too much UV rays.
Fake tan works because it contains Dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA reacts with amino acids in your top layer of skin and oxygen in the atmosphere to produce what is known as the Maillard reaction, similar to what happens when cooking meats or baked goods.
Fake tanning requires DHA to cling to your skin and block out certain wavelengths of light, leaving your complexion patchy or uneven while possibly leaving it tight, dry or irritated. Therefore, shaving first is so crucial as this removes dead cells on the surface of your body and ensures an even and flawless application of tanning solution.
Shaving before laser hair removal sessions makes it much easier for the technician to see your hair follicles and target them correctly, speeding up treatments while minimising pain. Shaving also ensures you receive optimal treatment and see better results overall.
It’s not good for your hair
Laser treatments used for hair removal treatments absorb melanin found in skin tissue. If there is natural tanning present on an area being treated, this may compete with melanin found in hair to make treatment less successful – this is especially true if shimmer bronzer or gradual tanning lotion contain extra pigment which does not provide as much melanin than actual tanning would.
Laser technicians must be able to see your natural-colored hair follicles to properly treat them with laser hair removal technology, but fake tan obscures this from them and may lead to missed spots, uneven treatment and poor results. Therefore, for optimal laser hair removal results it is advised that any fake tanning treatments be discontinued at least 7 days before attending your appointment and all residue has been eliminated from your body before attending your session.
Fake tanning treatments may make your skin more vulnerable to laser treatment, leading to redness, scaly patches and burning sensations. When this occurs it’s essential that gentle products such as Image Skincare’s oil-free exfoliator be used daily until your appointment date.
After receiving laser hair removal treatment, it is vitally important that you remain out of direct sunlight as much as possible. UV rays can harm both your skin and results of treatment as they can lead to hyper- or hypopigmentation of treated areas. It’s best to wait two weeks post treatment before returning to high UV areas such as beaches; your skin is likely sensitive after going under treatment and will need time to heal before being exposed again to harsh UV light.
It’s not good for your wallet
To achieve maximum effectiveness from laser hair removal sessions, it is key to arrive with skin that is free of self-tanners or bronzers. Any products on areas receiving laser treatment could interfere with its energy and potentially cause hyperpigmentation; although not necessary to discontinue use entirely it would be wiser allowing at least two weeks between sessions so the colors have time to fade off your body.
For optimal sunless tanning results, choose products containing DHA (dihydroxyacetone). This natural ingredient reacts with amino acids present on your skin to produce an artificial but natural-looking tan without needing to lie out in the sun for hours on end. Furthermore, use sparingly and only on parts of your body not receiving laser treatments.
Unfortunately, many fake tans contain harmful chemicals – particularly ones containing hydroquinone which has been known to cause skin irritation, rashes and cancer! If this ingredient appears on any self-tanners you use we strongly advise switching brands immediately.
Keep in mind that it may be hard to distinguish between natural and artificial tanning solutions, and lasers cannot distinguish between the different shades of your skin and thus treat each in the same manner, leading to less effective treatments as well as the risk of hypo or hyper pigmentation.
If you enjoy fake tanning, we advise taking a break and allowing your tan to fade before scheduling laser hair removal treatment sessions. Of course, don’t fret: your Fake Bake glow can still look fabulous on other parts of your body! Just remember not to apply tanning agents until your sessions have concluded!
