Family Physician: A Friend to Depend On

Posted on: 20 May 2016

Skin-safe lasers for hair removal are just one of the latest modern advancements in technology now use to achieve smoother legs or a clear upper lip. However, there are some potential side effects that can cause a little discomfort during the first few days after each treatment. Avoid as many unwanted side effects as possible by following these four preparation and after care tips.

Preparation Period 

Give your skin time to prepare for the laser treatment by skipping these hair removal methods for at least six weeks before your appointment:

• Plucking, either by hand with tweezers or with methods like threading
• Waxing, regardless of the method or adhesive mixture
• Electrolysis, which is another hair removal treatment that shouldn't be mixed with laser hair reduction.

Feel free to shave up to a few days before the appointment since this removal technique leaves the root of the hair intact for the laser to zap. Don't shave the night before your appointment or the technician may spend extra time to pinpoint the hair roots that aren't as visible.

Tan Ban

Aside from taking care when removing the hair you plan to treat with the lasers, consider the health of the skin surrounding each follicle. Tanning, or even spending a few too many hours in the sun, can interfere with the effectiveness of the laser treatment. The laser works best when there's contrast between your hair and your skin, so staying out of the sun and getting lighter allows you to get more noticeable results in fewer treatments. Waiting six weeks to start tanning again after the last laser treatment will also help you avoid painful side effects like blistering and scabbing.

Laser Match

Most of the itching, scabbing, and hyper-pigmentation effects that pop up immediately after a laser hair removal treatment are caused by a mismatch between the laser used and the patient's skin. There is an ideal laser for each combination of skin tones and hair colors, and using a laser designed for very pale skintones on a person with a dark tan increases the chances of unpleasant side effects. Make sure you're seeing a treatment specialist who has an adjustable laser or multiple pieces of equipment to match the needs of different people.

Shave Wait

Finally, take a break from shaving immediately after each laser hair reduction treatment. You can possibly shave as soon as 24 hours after an appointment, but it's better to wait at least 48 hours before picking up a razor. This gives your skin time to recover before further irritation.