Before Your Laser Appointment
For your laser hair removal to be safe successful, there are a few very important pre-care details and contraindications to keep in mind.
Right Before Your Appointment
For best results, make sure to shave your treatment area 24-48 hours before your laser hair removal appointment. It’s also important that when you come in, your treatment is clean and free of makeup, lotions, deodorant, and any other ointments or topical products.
Avoid All Kinds of Tanning
Any skin darkening habits, from casual sun exposure to fake tanning, can compromise the effectiveness of the laser treatment. Try to make sure that your skin is at its natural color, and avoid unprotected sun exposure, tanning lotions, tanning beds, tanning sprays, and tanning solutions for at least 2 to 4 weeks before and after your treatment.
Skip These Hair Removal Methods
Aside from shaving, avoid all other hair removal methods for at least four weeks before your appointment. This includes waxing, bleaching, tweezing, threading, or epilating.
Avoid These Medications & Treatments
These topical creams and medications can interfere with the laser treatment and increase your risk of side effects.
- For 3 days before and after your treatment, please avoid iron pills over 65 mg.
- For two weeks prior to your treatment, avoid antibiotics, tretinoin/Retin-A, Aspirin, and any blood-thinning medications.
- You cannot do laser hair removal if you’ve taken oral isotretinoin (Accutane) or immunosuppressants in the last 6 months.
Laser Hair Removal Aftercare
A bit of redness and irritation is normal after laser hair removal. To guarantee speedy, easy recovery, make sure to follow these aftercare practices.
- If your skin is a little irritated, you can apply a cool compress, aloe vera, or skin-soothing lotions after the treatment.
- Avoid any intense skin-renewing or exfoliating facial treatments, including microdermabrasion and chemical peels for at least 2 weeks before and after your laser treatment.
- Avoid all unprotected sun exposure. Wear sun-protective clothing or sunscreen when going outdoors in the daytime.
- Avoid sweating, intense exercise, or deodorant use for 24 hours after your treatment.
- For 24-72 hours after your treatment, avoid jacuzzis, saunas, steam rooms, or hot showers.
- We normally recommend you wait ten days after your laser hair removal treatment before shaving again, to avoid irritation.
