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There are many precautions that people need to take before and after laser hair removal treatment. One of the biggest things that you need to avoid is sun exposure. Direct sunlight without any protective clothing or sunscreen can affect your treatment. Keep in mind that this also means avoiding tanning devices and self-tanning lotions.
Avoiding Sun Exposure before Treatment
When your skin has become dark due to tanning, the laser hair removal treatment becomes more difficult. The effect is the same regardless of whether the sun, a tanning bed or self-tanning lotion was used. This is due to the basic design of the laser, which targets dark hairs on lighter skin tones. Tanning reduces the contrast between the color of the skin and the colors of the hairs, reducing the treatments effectiveness.
Laser hair removal treatment uses a highly concentrated light beam that targets the follicles of unwanted hair. The light damages the follicle and destroys the hair when it is absorbed by the pigment. Tanning before the procedure will make the hair darker, and this makes it harder for the skin to absorb the laser light. As a result, you may find burns or abnormal bumps in the treated area.
Avoiding Sun Exposure after Treatment
In most cases, more than one treatment is needed for the treatment to be effective. This makes it even more crucial that you avoid the sun, especially in between treatments. Having a darker skin tone from tanning will still interfere with your ability to absorb laser lights during treatment.
Avoiding sun exposure is also recommended because the skin will be sensitive, and therefore may be prone to sun damage. Immediately after the procedure you may experience redness or swelling around the hair follicles. This is a sign that the laser treatment has been successful. In addition, your skin may look or feel like it has been sunburned over the next few days as your skin recovers. Your skin should be recovered before exposing it to the sun.
How Long You Need to Avoid Sunlight
The length of time that you need to avoid the sun after laser treatment will vary a little bit. This usually depends on the extent and location of treatment, but your skin’s sensitivity level should also be considered. Those experiencing extensive treatments in sensitive regions may want to protect their skin longer than someone who had a treatment performed on a less sensitive area.
Generally speaking, you should avoid the sun for several weeks. Some have suggested that it is wise to avoid the sun six weeks before and after laser hair removal, while others have suggested one month. Use caution to help you decide how long you need to avoid the sun and always use sunscreen to protect yourself. To learn more, contact us today and schedule a consultation.
