Laser hair removal can provide long-term hair reduction and slow future growth without any of the hassles of waxing, shaving or plucking for all skin types. If you follow through with your series of treatments, you can achieve your desired results of smooth, hair-free skin, but it’s important to know the do’s and don’ts of pre- and post-care before jumping right in:
Before your treatment
Do: Shave the area. Shaving is encouraged prior to treatment as it shortens the length of your hair follicles while keeping the roots intact. Shorter follicles are easier for the laser to locate and effectively treat.
Don’t: Wax or pluck. Without the roots of your hair follicles intact, there is nothing for the laser to target and deliver energy. Avoid any methods of completely removing hair such as waxing, tweezing and electrolysis.
Do: Arrive with clean skin. Refrain from using creams, oils, deodorant, makeup or any other products on the day of your appointment except for a gentle cleanser. Your skin will need to be clean to begin treatment.
Don’t: Arrive with tanned skin. In the weeks to a month prior to treatment, you want to avoid any method of tanning, including sun-tanning, tanning beds and tanning lotions. This makes it more difficult for the laser to distinguish between your skin’s pigment and your hair follicles’ pigment, rendering the treatment ineffective.
After your treatment
Do: Apply sunscreen to your treatment areas. Between and after your treatment sessions, there is nothing more crucial than applying sunscreen and staying out of direct sun exposure. These sun-safe practices will help you protect your results and avoid adverse side effects like hypopigmentation.
Don’t: Apply irritating products to your treatment areas. Exfoliating body scrubs and fragranced products can irritate your treated skin, causing redness or discoloration. This is also true for deodorants, tanning lotions and any other products that are not recommended by your provider.
Do: Be patient with your results. It may take multiple treatments spaced several weeks apart to achieve your desired results. This is because not every hair follicle will be in its active stage of growth. The exact number of treatments you will need depends on the size and number of treatment areas as well as your skin type and hair density.
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