Laser hair removal is an excellent method for eliminating unwanted hair. Thanks to it, you can remove them from various parts of the body: on the face, legs and arms, in the bikini area and armpits. Preparation for laser hair removal is of great importance. So, about a month before the procedure, you should not sunbathe, because for the best effect and the absence of burns, the skin should contrast as much as possible with the hairs. Knowing this, many people prefer to remove excess vegetation during the cold season. If hair is supposed to be removed with laser in the summer, then a month before the procedure and a month after it, the skin must be treated with a special sunscreen. For these purposes, a cream with an SPF of 50 units is perfect. It provides 100% protection against ultraviolet rays.
How to properly prepare for the first procedure?
Proper preparation for laser hair removal is the key to obtaining the desired result and the absence of negative consequences. Therefore, it is necessary to take the preparatory procedures responsibly, not ignore the doctor’s recommendations, and ask questions about unclear points.
Laser hair removal today is one of the most effective methods of radical removal of unwanted hair, which has many advantages:
- painlessness;
- long lasting effect;
- no irritation or damage to the skin;
- affordable price.
The procedure is recommended for patients over 18 years of age. The technique is suitable for people who have a natural stripe color from light brown to dark. Moreover, the darker the hairs, the better they are removed. The essence of the technique is to apply the destructive properties of a laser to the hair follicle. A laser hair removal device generates radiation that interacts with the pigment found in the hair. Due to this, the hair shaft and root are heated, as a result of which the follicle is destroyed and hair growth stops for a long time.
A dermatologist-cosmetologist at the Medial clinic will tell you what to do before laser hair removal and how to properly prepare for it. By following all the recommendations, you will protect your skin from increased heat load, eliminate the risks of pigmentation, burns, peeling and irritation.
What devices are used for hair removal?
Epilation can be performed using different devices. There are four main types of laser:
- Ruby is the very first device that was used for depilation. The energy it conducts removes hair, growths - warts, papillomas. It can be used to treat the initial stage of varicose veins. Modern cosmetologists do not use ruby models due to the high risk of burns. The ruby laser procedure is the most dangerous, but the cheapest.
- Alexandrite is used to remove light and dark hair. The target for the laser is melanin and water in the follicle. The Alexandrite apparatus works on alexandrite, a mineral stone. This is its working environment in which electrical voltage is converted into a laser beam.
- A diode laser differs from an alexandrite laser in its working environment. There are no minerals in it and the device runs on LEDs. It allows you to remove all types of hair on the armpits, groin area and legs. It also eliminates small vascular patterns. This type is often used in cosmetology.
- The neodymium machine works using long-pulse neodymium units for hair removal and short-pulse neodymium units for tattoo removal.
What needs to be done immediately before the procedure?
Before the procedure, you must consult a specialist who will conduct an initial examination and survey to exclude contraindications. The procedure is not performed on patients with the following pathologies and conditions:
- herpes in the active stage;
- cancer diseases;
- decompensated diabetes mellitus;
- gray or red hair;
- tanned skin;
- skin damage;
- varicose veins;
- pregnancy and lactation;
- age up to 18 years.
If the examination shows that everything is fine with health and there are no restrictions, the specialist gives recommendations before laser hair removal, which are important to strictly follow and not ignore.
Contraindications and expert advice
Laser hair removal of the armpit area is not allowed for everyone, and before the session you should consult a cosmetologist or dermatologist for contraindications. The procedure cannot be performed in the following cases:
- if the patient’s age is less than 18 years (due to unformed hormonal levels);
- women during pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus;
- in the presence of skin damage at the site of hair removal (abrasions, scratches, cuts, suppuration, other dermatological problems);
- in case of varicose veins or other vascular pathologies, it is better to avoid laser;
- you cannot perform procedures while taking hormonal, antibacterial, antimicrobial drugs;
- in case of mental disorders, infectious diseases, inflammatory processes in the body, hair removal should also be abandoned until recovery;
- menstruation (for bikinis).
Removing unwanted vegetation with a laser is not a complicated and almost non-traumatic procedure. If it is performed by qualified craftsmen using high-quality equipment, you should not be afraid of the consequences, everything goes easily and quickly.
Basic recommendations for areas on the body
Cosmetologists advise starting preparations for removing unwanted hair from certain areas of the body 1 - 1.5 months in advance:
- 1.5 months before the procedure, you must stop tanning and use sunscreen with the maximum level of protection in the summer. You should also avoid visiting the solarium. A month before laser hair removal, you should not resort to procedures such as sugaring, waxing, or depilation. Overgrown hairs can only be removed with a razor.
- Two weeks before the procedure, it is advisable to stop taking certain groups of medications: antimicrobial, antibacterial, hormonal, etc. The fact is that the laser beam heats the hair shaft, destroying the bulb, and previously taken medications accumulate in the tissues, including the skin. Under the influence of high temperatures, some substances contained in the preparation can cause an unexpected reaction in the form of hyperpigmentation, irritation, or even reduce the effect of the procedure. If you must continuously take such medications, be sure to consult your doctor.
- Three days before epilation, you need to shave your hair with a razor. During this time, the hair will have time to grow a little (up to 2 - 3 mm), which will ensure maximum effectiveness of the session. You should not neglect the shaving procedure, as too long hair can cause discomfort during hair removal.
- On the day of laser hair removal, you should take a refreshing shower without soap, gel or other hygiene products. After a shower, it is forbidden to treat the skin with cream, lotion, deodorant, etc.
These were general rules that helped answer the question “how to prepare for the first laser hair removal procedure.” Now let’s look at the preparatory recommendations regarding certain areas that will be subject to laser treatment.
Bikini
In the bikini area, the skin is very thin and delicate, so the only way to easily and painlessly get rid of unwanted hair is to resort to laser hair removal of the bikini area. Preparing for the treatment of the intimate area requires compliance with the above rules, however, there is one more important nuance - if you have previously had genital herpes, 1.2 - 2 weeks before the procedure, the doctor will advise you to take an antiviral drug, the use of which will also need to be extended for another week after procedures.
To minimize the risk of discomfort during laser hair removal, you should not resort to the procedure during your period. The fact is that during menstruation the sensitivity of the skin increases, so not all women will be able to endure the session painlessly.
Face
Before removing unwanted hairs on the face directly on the day of the procedure, you need to abandon any skincare and decorative cosmetics. The skin must be absolutely clean. Do not forget that before the procedure it is forbidden to carry out peelings or use masks containing various acids.
Legs
Legs require more careful preparation. Five to seven days before hair removal, it is forbidden to pluck hairs using an epilator, wax or other means. Shaving is recommended 2–4 days before the procedure.
It is prohibited to use anti-cellulite products or resort to massage procedures. If there are bruises on the skin, an hair removal session is contraindicated. You must wait until the bruises have completely disappeared and only then begin the procedure.
Do I need to shave before laser hair removal?
About a month before laser exposure to the skin, you should not pluck hairs, lighten them, or do waxing. There is no need to shave immediately before the procedure itself, but should be done 2-3 days before it. Thanks to this, hair growth is activated and excellent results can be achieved. The best effect can be achieved if the hair length for laser hair removal is 3-4 mm, but if it grows much longer, hair removal may become more painful.
What should be the length of hair?
For a high-quality session, it is necessary that the length of the hair in the treatment area be less than 2 - 3 mm. This is an indicator for all types of procedures. Hair length is an important factor on which the results of the procedure directly depend. If the vegetation exceeds the recommended values, the risk of overheating of the follicle increases, which in turn will lead to injury and burns of the skin. Pigment spots, inflammation, burning, and peeling may appear on the treatment area, but the follicle itself may not die.
Side effects and complications
Before laser hair removal, you need to familiarize yourself with the contraindications and consequences of removing hair from the armpits.
Sometimes patients experience the following complications after the procedure:
- Immediately after removal, an inflammatory process is observed, but this is the norm. Despite the minimal danger, the procedure is still an intervention in the layers of the epidermis and inflammation occurs due to the destruction of the follicle. It goes away within 3-10 hours.
- Sometimes swelling appears in the depilation area. It is necessary to smear with cream or gel, which will be given by a cosmetologist.
If the cosmetologist used low-quality materials or faulty equipment, or does not have sufficient experience, the following side effects may occur:
- Tissue burns usually occur when the cooling system is poor. To get rid of them, you need to use Panthenol or any fatty baby cream.
- Itching, hives, or a small rash may indicate an allergic reaction to the compounds used during the procedure. To speed up the healing process, you need to take an antihistamine (Diazolin).
- The appearance of herpes on the lips or genitals (after hair removal of the bikini area) occurs extremely rarely, but can occur in clients with low protective functions of the body.
- If the doctor forgets to wear glasses to protect the eyes from laser flashes, vision loss may occur for a period of time. The cornea gets burned, like when welding, and as a result - inflammation of the conjunctiva.
In summary, we note that laser hair removal is an excellent way to get rid of body hair. If there are no contraindications and the cosmetologist does everything correctly, there is no need to be afraid of complications. A course of 3-5 procedures, with an interval of 1-2 weeks, will eliminate underarm hair for several years and provide beautiful, smooth skin.
Possible consequences
Cosmetologists claim that laser hair removal does not cause harm and does not cause severe pain. And possible negative factors after the laser can arise due to the stupidity of the client himself (did not adhere to contraindications) or a cosmetologist who is not sufficiently qualified. These include:
- skin burns;
- skin pigmentation;
- allergic reactions;
- inflammation of the hair follicle (folliculitis);
- herpetic rash;
- vision problems arise only when the patient does not wear special eye protection glasses intended for laser hair removal. Light rays negatively affect the retina of the eyeball.
- Swelling or redness after manipulation. They go away on their own within 24 hours, without pharmaceuticals. But this can also be avoided if you ask the specialist in advance to cool the skin before starting the procedure.
