Summer is upon us in the northern hemisphere! Folks everywhere are breaking out their swimsuits and finalizing their summer vacation plans. As the weather is getting warmer and you’re showing off more skin, you might start considering laser hair removal.
Shaving is time-consuming and leaves bumps. Waxing is painful. Laser hair removal destroys hair follicles to prevent the growth of hair over a series of treatments. So why not undergo laser hair removal?
Some individuals will immediately jump in and tell you that it isn’t safe to get laser hair removal in the summer, because you’ll need to keep areas of your skin out of the sun before and after treatment.
While this is true, that doesn’t mean you need to wait until autumn before beginning your treatment. There are ways to make laser hair removal safe in the summer.
Avoid the sun
Even if you’re ready to get outside as much as possible, you’ll need to take some time away from the sun while you’re going through treatment. It’s generally recommended that you don’t expose your skin to sun two weeks before and two weeks after treatment, because your skin becomes more sensitive once exposed to the sun. Exposing sensitive, heat-damaged skin to laser hair removal treatment can cause burning, scaring, and other permanent damage.
It’s also easier to go into laser hair removal without a tan. It is harder to find the melanin pigments within tanned skin so that hair can be safely removed. While it is still possible to undergo treatment with a tan, you might have to attend several additional sessions before the hair is completely removed.
If you’re not sure how long you should avoid the sun after treatment, check with the professional that performs your laser hair removal.
Be as educated as possible
Before you commit to laser hair treatment in the summer, make sure you’re as prepared as possible. You’ll want to make sure your skin type is suitable for treatment, be aware of any potential side effects, and know how long the process will take.
You’ll also want to find a skin and laser center that best meets your needs. You’ll want to find a place with professionals that are able to communicate honestly and provide an exceptional experience.
For example, Ethos Spa, which is probably one of the best hair removal (laser) services in NJ, has trained physicians and technicians that will provide a consultation before treatment as well as provide a personalized skin care treatment plan for after treatment. Their website includes before and after pictures, a list of frequently asked questions, and client reviews.
While there are home laser hair removal kits, you’ll want to weigh the pros and cons of a kit. In general, a professional will provide a more optimal treatment because they have the knowledge on how to create an effective treatment plan and adjust the plan accordingly throughout treatment.
Wear Sunscreen
You should wear sunscreen even if you aren’t undergoing laser hair removal, but it is absolutely necessary if you do have the treatment done. Sunscreen helps protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays. Your skin will be more prone to burning, even if you’re not purposefully trying to catch some rays, and you’ll want to regularly cover the area that received treatment with a layer of sunscreen.
If you had your face treated, you should also consider covering up with a sunhat.
Let your skin heal
Laser hair treatment opens your pores, so after your treatment, your skin will be more vulnerable and more prone to infection. To allow your skin time to heal, you’ll want to avoid activities that expose you to sun, sweat, heat, and germs such as going to the gym, going to the pool, or visiting the spa. You’ll also want to invest in a cleanser designed for sensitive skin to keep the treated area clean.
You might also find that your skin is dry, red, and swollen after treatment. Using a lotion such as a fresh aloe vera gel can help relieve some of that discomfort. There are also moisturizers designed for sensitive skin that will allow your skin to heal while also preventing dryness.
Makeup and other harsh skincare products will further irritate your skin, so you’ll want to avoid using those for at least 24 hours. If you don’t already have an existing skincare routine, you’ll want to have one after laser hair removal treatment.
In conclusion
Laser hair removal in the summer is perfectly safe, but you may need to readjust your summer plans. If your current plans include laying on on the beach and catching the waves all summer, you might want to stick to shaving or waxing this summer and start laser hair removal treatment in the fall in preparation for next summer.
A professional writer with over a decade of incessant writing skills. Her topics of interest and expertise range from health, nutrition and psychology.