Many women like their bodies to feel smooth and free from body hair. Thanks to the continuous development of body treatments, there are now more than one way of removing hair from any part of the body. One of the hair removal procedures that has grown popular over the years in Singapore is laser hair removal.
Laser hair removal involves the use of a powerful equipment to remove unwanted hair. Getting one for the first time can be intimidating, so it is best that you do some preparations before checking in the laser hair removal clinic for your scheduled treatment. Read on to find out the dos and don’ts for a laser hair removal procedure.
PREPPING THE TREATMENT AREA
DO: Use sunscreen (SPF 30) or sunblock (SPF 50) daily prior to your scheduled laser hair removal treatment.
If the treatment area is often exposed to the sun, protect it with a layer of sunscreen (SPF 30) or sunblock (SPF 50) to reduce the chances of laser burns during your treatment.
DON’T: Use tanning beds, lotions, sprays and getting a tan several weeks prior to your hair removal treatment.
Some laser machines cannot clearly decipher between the color of the skin and hair. When this happens, the laser can mistake melanin caused by tanning as the hair follicle and target that instead, which will make the procedure ineffective. Likewise, laser is powered by heat energy, so getting a tan close to your procedure can increase the risk of adding burns and damage on your skin on the day of your treatment.
DO: Clean the treatment area before your procedure.
Be sure to clean the treatment area on the day of your laser hair removal procedure. Having a clean skin will help in preventing infections to happen and will also enable the laser to penetrate the hair follicles directly.
DON’T: Use lotions, creams, or fragrances on the skin on the day of your procedure.
Using lotions, creams, or fragrances on the skin can interfere with the effectiveness of the laser procedure. It is best to use a gentle cleanser and leave the skin as is after cleansing.
DO: Shave the area where the laser hair removal will be done.
A very important step that you should not forget a day or two before your laser hair removal treatment is to shave the area where the procedure will target. Shaving the hair will help the laser to easily target the follicles and destroy the pigment. This step also helps in reducing the chances of getting laser burns on the skin’s surface.
DON’T: Wax or pluck before the laser hair removal session.
The goal of a laser hair removal procedure is to target and destroy the hair follicle’s pigment that is embedded in the skin to keep the roots from growing back. Waxing and plucking the hair removes the root from the skin, which will make the procedure useless as the laser will not be able to successfully target the hair follicle’s pigment that has been uprooted.
DO: Use skin products that are safe and gentle on the skin.
Keeping the treatment area healthy is essential to achieve the optimum results of a laser hair removal procedure. One way to do this is to ensure that the skin is free from any discolorations, infections, injury, or wound. To do this, use only skincare products that are gentle and safe. Consult with your treatment provider about the products that are good for your skin prior to your treatment.
DON’T: Use skincare products with ingredients that can interfere with the desired outcomes of the laser hair removal procedure.
Some skincare products have ingredients that can interfere with the effectiveness of the laser treatment. It is important that you read the labels of each product that you use on your skin in order decrease the risk of inflicting any damage on it prior to your laser treatment. Here are some ingredients that you should look out for and avoid to use at least two weeks before your scheduled visit to the laser hair removal clinic:
- AHA/BHA exfoliants
- Benzoyl peroxide
- Retinol
- Other topical products that causes dry skin
PREPPING THE BODY
DO: Drink a lot of water to hydrate the body and skin.
The skin will be exposed to intense head during the laser procedure, so you would want the treatment area as well as the rest of the body to be fully hydrated on the day of your laser hair removal procedure. A hydrated skin decreases the chances of getting burned from the procedure.
DON’T: Drink alcohol and coffee a day before your procedure.
Alcohol and coffee rids the body of fluids. As a result, your skin becomes dehydrated and more sensitive, thus increasing the chances of discomfort and pain during the procedure.
DO: Schedule other cosmetic treatments before your laser hair removal session.
If you are planning to get Botox or dermal fillers, it is best to schedule them way ahead of your laser hair removal treatment as the laser treatment may cause adverse reactions to the injectables.
DON’T: Go to your laser hair removal treatment without clearance from you cosmetic provider following a Botox or dermal fillers treatment.
The best way to ensure that your body is ready for a laser hair removal treatment after receiving Botox or dermal filler injectables is to check with your cosmetic provider. Allow your body and skin to recover from one treatment before undergoing another.
DO: Inform your laser hair removal provider about the medications that you are taking. \
There are certain medications that can interfere with the laser treatments, therefore making them ineffective. The usual oral and topical medications that can intervene with laser treatments are for acne, birth control, photosensitizing, as well as antibiotics. Keeping your laser treatment provider informed about this will help them adjust the treatment to suit body’s your current condition.
DON’T: Take any pain medications on the day of your scheduled laser hair removal treatment.
Have an honest conversation with your cosmetic provider if you are worried about experiencing discomfort or pain on the day of your laser hair removal procedure. There are measures available to make your laser hair removal experience a pleasant experience. Do not take any medications without the proper supervision or guidance of an expert as this can increase your risk of getting unwanted outcomes and make your laser hair removal treatment unsuccessful.
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Far East Square
32 Perkin Street #03-01
S(048762) Lift Lobby C,
Metal Gate
Robinson Road
144 Robinson Road, #02-01
Robinson Square
S(068908)
Orchard Road
Orchard Centrepoint
Level 5 Main Atrium
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