Post-Care Checklist for Laser Hair Removal

‘Go hair-less with laser hair removal’ is the latest mantra and popular choice for both men and women across the globe. While waxing and shaving is also popular, the reason why laser hair removal is the most preferred choice is that it gives permanent, long lasting results. It comes as a godsend gift for those who do not have time for shaving frequently and those who cannot withstand the pain of waxing. So, if you have decided to go for laser or IPL hair removal, give your skin the extra special attention that it requires post treatment.

Here, we will discuss how to care for the skin after a laser treatment for hair removal.

• Apply cooling gel, lotion or ice right after the treatment

Make sure that immediately after the treatment you apply ice or cooling gel to keep the treated area cool and numb. This will minimize discomfort. A professional salon or beauty service provider will definitely take care of this. Even when you head back to home, you should apply cold packs, soothing lotion or aloe vera. Apply antibiotic cream to reduce the inflammation, swelling or redness. People with lighter complexion may feel less discomfort compared to people with dark pigmented skin.   

• Say no to heat for 48 hours

Do not go for any heat treatments such as hot showers, steam baths, Sauna or swimming for 24 to 48 hours. Tanning the skin under natural sunlight is also not advised. To get optimum results, your skin should be kept as pale as possible. Tanned skin is hard to treat as the skin absorbs more energy. 

• Put on sunscreen with SPF20

The areas treated for hair removal must be properly covered with sunscreen lotion because after the treatment, the skin gets very sensitive and darkens quickly, especially those whose skin is sensitive or pigmented.

• Do not scrub for a week

It is recommended to take a brief break of 72 hours from body scrubs after the treatment. This allows for any inflammation or irritation to subside and decrease the risk of any unpleasant reactions. Also, stay away from glycolic acid because it is an active substance and too high percentage can result in redness, flaky skin and irritation.    

• Do not put on makeup for 24 hours

Say NO to make-up for 24 hours or more. If it is very necessary, use medical grade mineral cosmetics. Do not apply makeup over any blisters until healed completely. It is suggested to use new makeup to minimize the chances of any infection.   

• Seek help from professionals if you experience blistering, redness and skin irritation

There is no reason to freak out or get tensed if you experience redness, bumps or irritation right after the treatment. It generally lasts up to 24 hours. The treated area will give you burning sensations for some time. However, if you observe severe reactions or the redness and irritations do not reduce after 48 hours, call the professionals for assistance. 

Laser hair removal sessions must be adequately spaced out, ideally 4 to 12 weeks. Besides, skin conscious people will always get it done from experienced beauty salon service providers.