Post-treatment Results and Care
The best way to maintain desirable results and reduce the risks of problems or complications is to follow your doctor’s advice and recommendations. Here is a summary of what to expect in terms of results, and how to proceed with post-treatment skin care.
Results
The inactivated hair follicles will gradually shed the hair in the two or three weeks following your laser hair removal. Patients may not notice a drastic change because the hair needs to be shaved before the procedure anyway. The old hairs in the treated follicles will rise to the skin surface in the weeks following treatment. These should not be mistaken for new hairs and do not require plucking, tweezing or other removal methods. Instead they will simply fall away when scrubbed gently with a cloth. This process begins around one and a half weeks after treatment and can continue for another two weeks. Exfoliation can help to move along the process. Black dots known as ‘pepper spots’ commonly appear afterwards, and these will fall out in time.
Multiple Sessions
After one treatment session, certain hairs in the treated area will regrow due to the complexities of the hair growth cycle. These new hairs can be affected by the laser within 6 to 12 weeks, and this is when the second treatment should take place. The average number of treatments needed to achieve productive, desired results over the whole area is between six and ten. At the point when the treatments ends, the hairs should be either too fine for the laser to eliminate, or reduced to a satisfactory and notable degree.
If the laser’s settings were incorrect, i.e. the beam was set too low, then shedding may not occur. This is relatively rare, but simply speak to the clinic and specialist.
Skin Care
Redness and swelling is common after laser hair removal sessions, as the irritation to the area indicates that the hair follicles have been successfully heated and paused in their growth cycle. This change in color will occur at the base of the follicles. The extent of reddening and swelling largely depends on skin sensitivity and the effectiveness of the cooling mechanism built in to the laser. Redness, bumps and inflammation can all be minimized by applying a cold compress to the area in the days after treatment. Application of aloe vera to the treated skin is another invaluable tool to soothe the area for a number of days.
Makeup should be used sparingly in the first few weeks, but moisturizing creams can be beneficial for the skin. No waxing or plucking should be attempted if you still have sessions to come. Crusting over the skin can be diminished with Vaseline.
Sunlight and Tanning
In order to keep the skin healthy, to avoid any complications, and to keep the skin in optimum condition for your next removal session, you should refrain from prolonged sun exposure and tanning for 6 weeks after treatment. Always wear sunscreen when exposing the skin to sunlight, or if this is not always feasible then use aftercare products designed for reducing the sun’s effects on the skin. The ultraviolet light used in tanning booths is also harmful to the skin.
Infection
Any excessive redness akin to sunburn, blistering or a prolonged period of inflammation can be cause for concern, and the specialist may instruct you to return to the clinic if these symptoms arise. This can indicate an infection at the base of some of the hairs (folliculitis) which can be treated with antibiotics.