Why Skin Care Is Essential after Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal treatments are very popular for a good reason. Many people take it because it's a highly effective way of removing hair where the procedure involves a laser removing hair down to the follicles, which stunts further hair growth. While the tissues surrounding your hair follicles are safe from damage, your skin may react differently.
Although side effects from your laser hair removal treatment are rare, you may experience several symptoms. In some cases, these side effects may be severe enough for you to call for medical assistance. Luckily, there is a solution that doesn’t involve going to the doctor immediately: skincare.
In this article, we’ll go into detail about how skincare can help laser hair removal aftercare. Read on below to learn more.
Initial Post-Treatment Reaction
As mentioned earlier, lasers kill hair down to the follicles. The catch is that the laser also causes some symptoms to form, such as skin redness, swelling, or bleeding after treatment. Temporary discoloration and blisters may also occur. Some patients even experience a burning sensation on the skin. While it’s certainly alarming, it’s not a cause for concern because these go away after a day or two.
The patches of small red bumps may be itchy, so try not to scratch them. If you do, you could make the inflammation worse and even cause extreme discomfort and scarring. If the bumps are bothering you, you apply a cold compress to the area. Hold on the compress for a few minutes, and it will numb any irritation and reduce redness and swelling.
Skin Drying and Crusting
As the bumps disappear, your skin may feel excessively dry. In some cases, the bumps will dry out and begin to crust. Like the symptoms mentioned earlier, this is also a common issue in post-laser hair treatment, so don't worry.
You can apply various products on the areas of your skin that are drying and crusting, such as a healing ointment. You can also use petroleum jelly because it doesn't contain toxic chemicals, which lessens the risk of further irritation.
Post-Treatment Care
Caring for your skin doesn’t stop when skin symptoms and the drying and crusting stops because they may happen again in the future. Here are some ways to continue taking care of your skin after a laser hair removal treatment:
- Avoid scrubbing or wiping the treated areas harshly with a washcloth, body wash puff, or sponge. Instead, gently use a soft microfiber cloth to wash the area.
- Use aloe vera gel to moisturize the skin and lessen inflammations.
- Use a gentle body wash while bathing and showering.
- Use a gentle exfoliating body wash with your regular bathing routine to soothe the skin.
Sunscreen as Treatment
The easiest way to protect your skin is by using sunscreen. After all, the sun is the only thing that can cause significant damage to our skin. It’s even more critical because extreme exposure to sunlight can cause discoloration and inflammation in the treated area. If you have to go outside, try to minimize sun exposure as much as possible and use SPF 30 or SPF50 sunscreens.
Conclusion
Laser hair removal will remove any unwanted hair in the body. If you need to take it, go for it! Just remember that there may be side effects, but don’t worry because they will go away after some time, and you’ll need to use a skincare regimen to ensure they don’t get worse.
At Home IPL Hair Removal has devices for IPL laser hair removal that you can use at home. With our devices, you no longer need to come to a clinic because you can now do it in the comfort of your own home—all for a reasonable price. Contact us today to learn more!