Things To Remember As You Prepare For Removal Of Hair By Laser
October 21, 2008
Your first laser hair removal appointment can be exhilirating or nerve-wracking or both! Here is a checklist of things to think about:
A month or more in advance
Broach the topic of pain management with your hair laser removal clinic and decide on a plan.
There are topical anesthetics such as EMLA, which you apply to the skin. These products are very good if you are concerned about discomfort during the treatment, however do be careful if you are spreading it on large areas of skin as the chemicals are absorbed into the bloodstream. Ensure you follow the guidelines closely.
You should stop sugaring, tweezing, using depilation creams, epilating and waxing at the very latest 2 weeks before treatment, and if possible a month or more prior. These removal techniques interfere with the root that the laser hair removal treatment is designed to target.
Lose the tan! The lighter your skin is at the time you undergo your laser hair removal treatment, the more successful and enduring the results from removal of hair by laser are likely to be.
Consider if you want to take a photographic journal of the body areas you are having treated to keep track of how well the treatment works. The clinic may do this but in any case you may want to keep your own record.
The week of your appointment
Consider the option of taking time off work if you are getting laser hair removal on the face and think you might be self-conscious about the red skin that is likely to be present straight after the laser hair removal treatment. For other body areas, you can usually go straight back to your daytime activities after the hair laser removal appointment.
The night before
This is a ideal time to shave the body areas you are going to have laser hair removal done on. If you shave within 24 hours of the procedure you will find it is less painful and it can also be more successful because less of the laser energy is used on destroying the hair above the skin, meaning more of it is directed where it is needed, at the root, to kill it off.
On the morning
If you are having the hairs under your arms treated, skip the deodorant. Just wash the underarms with soap and rinse properly. If it’s really hot and you are at risk of getting too sweaty before the appointment, you could use unscented baby wipes to remove any smells.
For any body areas, don’t put creams or lotions on before removal of hair by laser.
20 minutes to go
It’s time to take two Tylenol – there’s no need to feel more discomfort than you have to when undergoing laser hair removal.
Good luck with your laser hair removal treatment!
Ingrid Preube
facial hair removal for women
