What to Do After Laser Hair Removal
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professionals
Over 1 million Treatments
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9 Clinics
Across the UK
Award winning
Clinics Across the UK
Rated 92%
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What you do after your laser hair removal treatment can affect its effectiveness and safety. If you don’t care for your skin correctly, you might experience problems such as irritation or not get the best results.
After laser hair removal, it’s important to follow a gentle aftercare routine. Shower with lukewarm water and avoid hot water, scrubbing, or harsh soaps. To protect your skin from sun sensitivity, make sure to moisturize with a fragrance-free lotion before going outdoors.
In this blog, we’ll cover essential aftercare steps, common skin reactions, things to avoid, and tips for long-term maintenance to ensure the best results after laser hair removal.
What to Do After Laser Hair Removal: Immediate Aftercare
After undergoing laser hair removal, following the right aftercare routine in the first 24-48 hours is crucial for optimal healing and results. How you care for your skin during this time can make a significant difference in your recovery. Below is a guide on what to do and what to avoid during the initial aftercare period.
Showering After Laser Hair Removal
Shower with Care:
- You can shower after your treatment but use lukewarm water rather than hot water.
- Avoid using high-pressure water or harsh scrubs on the treated area.
- Use a mild, non-irritating soap to cleanse your skin gently.
Hot water and scrubbing can cause irritation or discomfort. A gentle shower helps cleanse your skin without putting it under stress.
Moisturizing After Treatment
Keep Your Skin Hydrated:
- Apply a fragrance-free moisturizer to the treated area after showering.
- Look for products that have ingredients like aloe vera or hyaluronic acid. These help keep your skin soft and calm by adding moisture and reducing irritation.
Sunscreen After Laser Hair Removal
Protect Your Skin from the Sun:
- After 24 hours of the treatment, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30. This will help protect your skin from the sun and keep it safe from damage.
- Make sure to reapply sunscreen every two hours if you’re exposed to the sun.
Using Aloe Vera or Hydrocortisone Cream
Soothing the Skin:
- Aloe vera gel can help cool and alleviate any redness or irritation that might occur after a treatment. The gel has a calming effect that soothes your skin, leaving it feeling gently refreshed.
- Hydrocortisone cream may be used if recommended by your doctor, as it helps reduce swelling.
Hydrocortisone can reduce inflammation, but it should only be used under medical advice.
Things to Avoid in the First 24 Hours
Prevent Irritation by Avoiding These Activities.
- Hot showers and baths: These can irritate your skin.
- Exfoliating products or scrubbing: Avoid using anything that could irritate or damage the skin.
- Tight clothing: Refrain from wearing tight clothing that might rub against the treated area.
- Makeup and harsh skincare products: Stick to gentle, soothing products to prevent irritation.
- Direct sun exposure: Avoiding sun exposure can help prevent further irritation or pigmentation problems. It's important to limit your time in the sun to protect your skin and maintain its health.
Skin Reactions & How to Manage Them After Laser Hair Removal
After undergoing laser hair removal, it's common for your skin to react in certain ways. These reactions are usually temporary, but understanding how to manage them is important for a smooth recovery. Here’s a guide on what to expect and how to handle any skin reactions you may experience.
Redness and Swelling: What to Expect
Redness and swelling are normal reactions.
- What to expect: It’s common to experience redness or swelling immediately after treatment. The skin might appear similar to mild sunburn, and this usually lasts for a few hours up to 48 hours.
- How to manage it: Placing a cold compress on the treated area can help alleviate swelling and reduce redness.
These reactions happen because the laser targets hair follicles and causes temporary irritation. The redness and swelling typically go away as the skin heals.
Itching After Laser Hair Removal
Itching can be a sign of healing.
- Why it happens: Your skin may itch after laser hair removal because the treatment causes some irritation. The hair follicles are being affected by the laser, which can lead to itching as the skin heals.
- How to manage it: Do not scratch the area, as this can cause irritation or even infection. Instead, try applying a cooling gel like aloe vera, or use a mild, fragrance-free lotion to calm the itch.
Itching is a sign of skin recovery. However, it can be uncomfortable, so soothing treatments like moisturizing creams and cold compresses are helpful.
Treating Burns, Bumps, or Irritation
In case of more severe reactions, take proper care.
- Burns: If you experience a burn, it's important to treat it immediately. Apply a cool compress and avoid direct sunlight. Use a mild burn ointment or consult your doctor if necessary.
- Bumps: Small bumps or pimples can appear due to irritation or blocked pores. To treat them, apply a soothing cream like hydrocortisone (only if recommended by your doctor) or an over-the-counter acne cream.
- Irritation: If the treated area feels irritated, use gentle products like aloe vera gel, which has soothing properties, or a non-alcoholic toner to calm the skin.
While minor irritation is normal, severe reactions like burns or persistent bumps require careful attention to avoid scarring or infection. Always use gentle products that support healing.
When to See a Dermatologist
Know when to seek professional help.
- Persistent redness, swelling, or discomfort: If redness or swelling doesn’t go away after a few days or if the skin becomes extremely painful, you may need to see a dermatologist.
- Blisters or burns: If you experience blisters or the skin becomes excessively burned, it's essential to get medical attention right away.
- Signs of infection: If the treated area becomes hot to the touch, increases in pain, or shows signs of pus, it may be infected. A dermatologist can help treat any infection quickly.
While minor reactions are typical, certain symptoms, like blisters or prolonged discomfort, could signal an infection or improper healing. It’s important to seek help to prevent further complications.
Hair Shedding & Exfoliation After Laser Hair Removal
After laser hair removal, you might notice hair shedding in the treated areas. This is a natural part of the process as the laser targets the hair follicles and weakens them. Understanding how to manage shedding and when to exfoliate will help you navigate the healing process effectively. Here’s what you need to know.
Hair Shedding Timeline After Laser Hair Removal
Hair shedding starts within a few days.
- When it happens: Hair typically begins to shed 1-3 weeks after the treatment.
- What to expect: The hair won’t fall out right away but will gradually shed as the laser destroys the hair follicles.
- How it looks: You may notice hair loosening and falling out when you shower or rub the treated area.
Laser hair removal weakens the hair follicles, leading to gradual shedding. The process can take several weeks to fully complete.
Exfoliating After Laser Hair Removal
Exfoliate once the shedding begins.
- When to start: After about 7-10 days, once the hair starts shedding, you can gently exfoliate the treated area.
- How to exfoliate: Use a mild exfoliator or a soft washcloth to gently remove the shedding hairs. Be careful not to scrub too harshly, as your skin may still be sensitive.
Exfoliation helps speed up the shedding process by removing dead skin cells, allowing the hair to fall out more easily. However, it’s important to be gentle to avoid irritation.
Shaving and Plucking During the Shedding Process
Avoid plucking, but shaving is okay.
- Shaving: It’s okay to shave the shedding hairs if needed, but avoid waxing or tweezing. Shaving doesn’t interfere with the hair follicle.
- Plucking or Tweezing: Do not pluck or tweeze the shedding hairs, as this can remove the hair from the follicle, which goes against the goal of the laser treatment.
Appearance of Hair Shedding
Shedding is subtle and natural.
- Appearance: You may see hair becoming loose and falling out naturally over time. It may seem like the hair is "falling out," but it's actually a normal part of the treatment process.
- What to avoid: If you notice excessive redness, irritation, or unusual bumps, it might indicate a problem. However, most shedding is normal and painless.
Shedding happens as the hair is pushed out of the treated follicle. It’s a sign that the laser was effective, but you might not notice it happening immediately.
Activities to Avoid Post-Treatment
After your laser hair removal session, it’s essential to give your skin time to heal and avoid activities that might irritate or harm your skin. Here’s a guide on what to avoid during the days following your treatment.
Post-Treatment Exercise Guidelines
Wait 24-48 hours before exercising.
- After treatment, your skin may be sensitive, and sweating can lead to irritation. It’s best to avoid intense exercise that could increase sweating or rub against the treated area.
- Gentle exercise: If you must exercise, opt for low-impact activities that won’t irritate the skin.
Heat and Its Effects on Treated Skin
Avoid hot showers, saunas, and steam rooms.
- Hot showers: Avoid hot showers for at least 24 hours after your treatment, as hot water can irritate the skin and increase redness or swelling.
- Saunas and steam rooms: Saunas and steam rooms should be avoided for 48 hours, as the heat can cause further irritation or even burns.
Heat can aggravate the skin, making it more sensitive and potentially causing complications in the healing process.
Swimming After Laser Hair Removal
Wait before swimming.
- Avoid chlorine: After your treatment, avoid swimming in chlorinated pools for at least 48 hours as chlorine can irritate freshly treated skin.
- Saltwater: While saltwater is less irritating, it’s still advisable to wait a couple of days to allow your skin to fully heal.
Both chlorinated and saltwater can irritate the skin after laser hair removal, leading to unnecessary discomfort and delaying the healing process.
Sun Exposure Guidelines After Laser Hair Removal
It's essential to stay out of the sun for at least 15 days to protect your skin. This helps prevent any additional irritation or pigmentation issues and allows your skin to heal properly.
- It's essential to protect your skin to avoid UV rays for potential complications.
- If you must go outside, use sunscreen.
Makeup Usage Post-Treatment
It's recommended to wait at least 24 hours before putting on makeup.
- Aftercare: Let your skin recover for a day before applying makeup. Ensure your skin is clean and free from irritation or redness before applying any products.
- Use gentle products: When you start wearing makeup, choose non-comedogenic and fragrance-free products to avoid irritation.
Long-Term Care & Follow-Up Sessions After Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair treatment can result in lasting hair reduction, but the process doesn’t end after your initial treatment. Long-term care and follow-up sessions are important to ensure that you maintain smooth, hair-free skin over time. Here’s what you need to know about the next steps after your laser hair removal treatment.
Number of Sessions Needed for Permanent Results
Multiple sessions are usually required for the best results.
- Laser hair treatment targets hair follicles during their active growth phase, requiring multiple sessions to effectively treat all hair follicles, as not all hairs are in the same phase simultaneously.
- Typical treatment plan: Most people need 6-8 sessions spaced about 4-6 weeks apart to achieve optimal results.
- Results vary: The exact number of sessions needed may differ based on factors like hair color, skin type, and the area being treated.
Hair Growth After Laser Hair Removal
Some hair regrowth is possible:
- The regrowth will typically be finer and lighter than before.
- Laser hair treatment provides permanent hair reduction, but it may not guarantee 100% permanent hair removal.
- If regrowth occurs, it is usually minimal and can be managed with occasional touch-up treatments.
Not all hair follicles may have been fully destroyed during the initial treatment, and some may remain dormant but capable of producing hair later. Follow-up treatments help keep regrowth at bay.
How Much Does Treatment Cost?
Timing Between Sessions
Allow time between treatments for the best results:
- When can you get another session? You should wait 4-6 weeks between sessions for the hair growth cycle.
- Why wait? Scheduling treatments too close together may not be effective as some hairs may not have reached the appropriate growth phase for treatment.
- Space between treatments: A well-spaced schedule allows the laser to target hairs at the right time and maximizes the effectiveness of each session.
Proper timing helps ensure that the laser targets the most hair follicles at once, increasing the overall success of the treatment.
Maintaining Smooth Skin Between Treatments
Proper care can help maintain smooth skin:
- Shave instead of wax: Avoid waxing, tweezing, or plucking between sessions, as these methods can remove the hair from the follicle, which is the opposite of what laser hair removal aims to do. Shaving is a safe alternative that doesn’t interfere with the treatment.
- Moisturize regularly: Keep the skin hydrated and healthy by applying a gentle moisturizer after each treatment. Hydrated skin helps promote healing and prevents irritation.
- Avoid sun exposure: Shield treated areas from direct sun exposure since the skin tends to be more sensitive following treatments. Use sunscreen from SPF 30 or higher to protect your skin from UV rays.
- Follow aftercare instructions: Always follow the aftercare guidelines provided by your technician to prevent irritation and optimize the results of your treatment.
Maintaining proper skin care between treatments helps to reduce irritation, promote healing, and support the effectiveness of your laser hair removal sessions.
Conclusion
Laser hair removal gives you a long-term solution for smooth, hair-free skin. But the process doesn’t stop after the treatment you need proper aftercare to protect your skin and get the best results.
Proper aftercare, long-term maintenance, and follow-up sessions play a crucial role in achieving the best and most lasting results. By following the recommended steps for skin care, hair shedding, and activities to avoid, as well as scheduling regular follow-up sessions, you can enhance the effectiveness of the treatment and keep your skin smooth and hair-free for longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
After laser hair removal, it's important to shower with care. Avoid high-pressure water, which can further agitate the sensitive area.
Stick to a gentle, non-irritating soap to cleanse the skin. Hot showers and scrubbing can cause discomfort or irritation, so a mild, soothing shower is ideal during the first 24-48 hours.
After laser hair removal, your skin becomes more sensitive to the sun, making it easier to get sunburned. Avoid natural sunlight for at least 14 days.
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