Recommendations for laser hair removal in summer

Published on September 11, 2022 By Gentle Touch

Can I wax before or after going to the beach? What if I've had laser hair removal? Do I have to use a specific product for my skin afterward? If you are one of those with good weather you have doubts about this type, read on. We give you the best tips for hair removal in summer.  

In recent weeks the subject of hair removal has been one of the most commented on social networks, with doubts like the ones we mentioned at the beginning. If it is necessary to use products for skin care pre- and post-hair removal, following a laser treatment can be harmful if we expose ourselves to the sun. 

Care before, during, and after laser hair removal treatment 

This treatment is neither dangerous nor painful, but it is still advisable to take precautions. Here are some tips for perfect, hair-free legs all summer long: 

Before the session 

Shave the skin: it is necessary that no waxing or tweezing has been carried out during the days before the session. But instead, you can shave the hair. This is because the hair shaft is necessary for the energy to be conducted to its matrix, which is what you want to destroy. 

• Do not use products that bleach the hair or self-tanning creams at least one week before. 

• Always use sun protection. 

• If the skin has been burned or is very inflamed after sun exposure, it is advisable to contact the specialized medical center to reschedule the session if necessary. 

During the session 

There is no need to worry about anything since the specialist is responsible for resolving any doubt. There is also no need to fear that the session will be painful. Some years ago, it was common to feel discomfort, but technologies are evolving, and today, some devices barely perceive these sensations. 

First, the professional will analyze the hair and the skin tone (phototype) since the parameters to be used will change depending on this. Blond hair, for example, has a lower melanin concentration, making it somewhat more difficult to remove. 

On the other hand, a series of routine questions will be asked about the consumption of medications or usual hygiene patterns before the session. In addition, if moles are found, they will be covered with a white pencil. Subsequently, the treatment will begin. 

After the session 

After a session, the skin becomes a little rosy and hairless. But this is nothing special since the area remains sensitive for a couple of hours when a hot wax treatment is performed. 

The specialist must indicate to each patient the most appropriate product to use at this time. It is generally recommended a product with aloe vera, and that is regenerative. In addition, to avoid a focus of moisture and heat on the treated area, your center will offer you the post-laser cream that is specific after the session. 

It is possible to sunbathe, but in some people, the skin will be more sensitive, so it is also necessary to use sunscreen and avoid swimming pools and saunas on the day of treatment. 

Can you wax during the summer? 

If you have come to inquire about laser hair removal, or you are undergoing it, you have probably come across several recommendations and limitations. Namely: the skin cannot be tanned, do not sunbathe for the next two weeks, do not do sports on the day of the session, and, of course, go to the clinic between October and May.  

Summer and permanent hair removal have not traditionally gone well together, primarily because of the side effects that the sun can produce after the session. The conventional laser generates high thermal peaks on the skin, causing aggression that requires a recovery period before sun exposure. Radiation can produce stains on the damaged skin. The recommendation: wait 15 days. 

Neither tanned nor dark skins can undergo this type of laser. To remove hair, the process is performed on the pigmented structures of the hair follicle, which are responsible for hair generation. Tanned skin and very dark skin types may absorb some of this energy. As a result, the strength to disable the follicle is lost, and a transient thermal injury to the skin occurs. Hair color also reduces the laser's ability. White hair has no color (the element targeted by each shot), and blond and fine hair has little pigment load. It does not pick up enough energy to reach the photocoagulation temperature that kills it. 

Red hair also resists. Pheomelanin is responsible for this shade, which is different from the eumelanin found in brown or brown patients. However, the new generation of devices eliminates most of the boundaries this hair removal has set up until now.  

With today's technologies, summer is no longer an obstacle. There are new forms of laser hair removal that act progressively with no aggression on the skin; therefore, the sun can be taken a day after the session. However, it is recommended to wait between 48 and 72 hours. Once the inflammatory component has disappeared, the patient can begin sun exposure without any problem. 

These lasers can also depilate tanned skin and phototypes V and VI. And this is achieved by regulating the wavelengths that are applied according to the tone of the complexion and hair. 

At Gentle Touch, we will help you to get the skin that you want. If you have questions about our skin treatments, do not hesitate to contact the Gentle Touch Team to get a Free Consultation. Please call (860) 216-6225 to schedule your appointment or email info@GentleTouchCT.com.