If you’re tired of always seeing unwanted hair growth in different areas of your body, laser hair removal could be your next best option. Shaving, tweezing, and waxing are only temporary ways to remove the unwanted hair. But sooner or later, hair grows back. With laser hair removal, you can permanently say goodbye to them.
Laser hair removal uses pulses of laser light to kill the hair follicle. But while it is one of the most effective ways to get rid of hair, there are things that you need to know before and after treatment to reap the most benefits.
Pre-Treatment Preparation
Avoid harsh chemicals
In order to make the most of your laser hair removal session, you need to prepare your skin at least one month before your schedule. Do not use skin peeling chemicals on the area, stop medicated creams that can make you photosensitive and avoid tanning your skin. Self-tanners and tanning beds can cause skin discoloration and may cause some pain and blistering during your session.
Do not wax, tweeze or use chemical epilation
Waxing, tweezing and chemical epilation disrupts and pulls the entire hair from the skin. Because laser light directly acts on the hair follicle, this portion must still be present during your session. The wavelengths target the pigment located at the root of each hair follicle. If you’d like to get rid of hair before a treatment session, shaving is the most recommended procedure as it leaves the roots of the hair intact.
Shave before your actual appointment
Some aesthetic clinics will shave the hair prior to treatment while others will require that you do it at home at least 24 to 48 hours before your appointment. Shaving the area is recommended to reduce the chances of burning visible hair.
During Treatment
Laser hair removal should be performed on clean skin. Some patients like to use a numbing cream to prevent even the slightest bit of pain during the treatment. But for some, they can tolerate the tingling sensation when the light pulses hit the skin.
You will be required to use a specialized eyeglass to protect your eyes from the laser light. Do not remove this until your laser technician tells you to do so.
Post-Treatment Care
Your skin may need to recover after your laser hair removal session. Like aftercare for other procedures such as microneedling, you may notice slight redness and swelling in the treated area. This is a normal effect that usually goes away within a few days and there is nothing to worry about.
Soothe the skin
To ease the redness, you may apply aloe gel or calamine and put ice packs or cool towels to reduce any discomfort. If irritation persist, you may consult your laser technician.
Avoid UV exposure
Allow the treated area to recover naturally. Avoid extended UV exposure within the first week after treatment. You should also avoid additional laser treatment or chemical procedures on the treated area for 2 weeks.
Time your treatment sessions
Follow the correct interval of treatment to enjoy best results. This is because each individual hair has its own growth cycle. Multiple sessions scheduled at 8 to 10 weeks apart is recommended for permanent hair removal. Sessions may also depend on which part of the body is being treated such as the face or bikini line.
What to Expect
You can expect hair falling out or shedding over the next 2 weeks. However, keep in mind that you might not get rid of all hair after one session. It may take several sessions before you can totally get rid of all unwanted hair. Generally, most clients report up to a 30% reduction of hair after each treatment.
The effect of laser hair removal varies from one person to another. Some may need up to 12 sessions while others may require less. Generally, success depends on how well the person manages proper pre- and post-treatment care.
Follow the above recommendations to get the most out of your laser hair removal treatment.
At Rocky Mountain Skin Care Clinic, we make sure your skin is treated the best so you’ll be looking and feeling better in no time. In addition to laser hair removal, we also provide microneedling and facelifting treatments.
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