Have you ever stopped to think about how much time you spend removing unwanted facial and body hair? You can reclaim all that time with laser hair removal because laser treatments permanently stop hair growth.
If you’re thinking about laser hair removal, you’ll need to follow a few steps to prepare for your treatment. At Allure Dermatology, Theresa Durchhalter, DO, FAAD, explains everything you need to know during your initial consultation. But she also outlines the steps here so you can plan ahead.
If you’re thinking about laser hair removal, your first step is to schedule a consultation. After we evaluate your skin and hair type and learn about the body areas you want to be treated, we can give you specific preparation instructions. We’ll also discuss the number of treatments you may need and how long your sessions will last.
These are the top six preparation tips to follow before your laser hair removal session:
We can’t perform laser hair removal on sunburned or recently tanned skin. Avoiding natural sunlight and tanning beds is important in the weeks before your appointment. You also shouldn’t use sunless tanners. Be sure to apply a broad-spectrum SPF30+ sunscreen on exposed skin whenever you go outside.
Your skin will be extra sensitive to sunlight after your laser hair removal — and you’ll need to continuously protect it from burning or tanning until all your laser sessions are finished — so keep using sunscreen and preventing a burn or tan between your sessions.
Waxing and tweezing remove hair from the root, which affects your results. Laser hair removal targets the root (follicle) and destroys it. If the root is gone, the laser can’t treat that follicle until a new hair grows.
You’ll get the best results in fewer sessions if you stop plucking and waxing 4-6 weeks before your scheduled session. That also means you shouldn’t use these hair removal methods throughout your laser treatments.
You can safely shave throughout your laser hair removal sessions, but it’s essential to shave 24 hours before each appointment. We don’t want any long hairs remaining in the treatment area because the entire hair will absorb the laser’s energy and could cause discomfort. Shaving leaves just enough hair under the surface for the laser to target.
Don’t use topical products containing retinol, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or hydroxy acids in the days before your laser hair removal appointment.
Before your appointment, wash your skin, remove all makeup, and don’t use any creams or sunscreens.
Your wardrobe doesn’t affect your laser treatment. However, your skin may feel sensitive afterward, and wearing tight clothes after your session may be uncomfortable.
If you have questions about laser hair removal or how to prepare for your sessions, call Allure Dermatology or request an appointment online.
