Your beauty routine has just gotten a little more stressful thanks to this itchy rash. It’s the most common side effect of laser hair removal, and it can develop any time within a few days to several months after treatment. The good news is that it doesn’t last forever: Your skin usually clears up within one to two months. To help relieve the symptoms in between visits, try applying a topical steroid cream or calamine lotion. And don’t panic; this too shall pass.
Laser hair removal is a popular option for people who are tired of shaving or waxing their legs, underarms, and other areas of their body. Laser hair removal lasers heat up the pigment in your hair follicles and cause them to shatter. This prevents future growth of hair in the laser-treated area.
Although laser hair removal is an effective method for permanently removing unwanted body hair, it is not without its risks. As with any procedure that burns your skin, there is a risk of scarring or hyperpigmentation (darkening) of the skin. Additionally, some people experience an itchy rash after laser hair removal treatment.
Read on to learn more about Itchy Rash After Laser Hair Removal, Laser Hair Removal Risks & Side Effects and Laser Hair Removal Aftercare Do’s
Itchy Rash After Laser Hair Removal
Undergoing a laser hair removal treatment is an effective way of removing hair, but also for preventing future hair growth. The treatment utilizes specialized laser light to kill the hair follicles, which causes existing hair to fall out while stunting further growth. The laser does not damage the tissue surrounding these hair follicles, but your skin may react to this treatment. To keep your skin healthy after laser removal of your hair, use these simple tips to care for your skin.
Laser can give a stunning life change to the people who experience the ill effects of undesirable hair. It tends to be a simple way of eliminating an unwanted growth of body hair forever. In any case, the methodology can accompany some troublesome post-treatment, momentary incidental effects. Fortunately these can be effortlessly restored with the right aftercare and precautions.
The safety and effectiveness of your treatments is dependent upon your practitioner and equipment being used. A medical grade laser that has been certified by Candela ensures that your treatment is aiming for safe and permanent hair removal and treatments performed by a qualified, laser safety certified technicians mean your treatments are being conducted by a therapist who is able to treat you at a suitable wavelength to provide an effective and safe treatment for your skin type.
Laser Hair Removal Risks & Side Effects
Erythema: Redness, inflammation or a histamine reaction is normal, the area being treated will be red and bumpy after a treatment and should settle after 2 – 3 days. Any sort of trauma to the skin may react this way. Regular application of skinstitut laser aid will accelerate recovery.
Itchiness : A normal histamine reaction to the treatment and should settle 24 – 48 hours after treatment.
Pigmentation: Skin may become darker or lighter after a treatment. This is influenced by sun exposure, so make sure you avoid sun exposure to the area 6 weeks prior to your treatment. Even if you have had slight tan or have been sunburnt prior to your treatment it dramatically increases your chances of getting burnt.
Darker skin types are more susceptible to pigmentation as there is more pigment in the skin. Laser light is absorbed by pigment in the hair, however as the light cannot decipher between pigment in the hair and pigment in the skin, the skin can absorb the light also & may result in hyper or hypo pigmentation.
Crusting & Blistering – Sun exposure prior to your treatment increases your risk of being skin damage and being burnt, which can result in blisters and crusting, as the blisters and crusts heal you may be left with discolouration of the skin, the discolouration can heal on it’s own but may take quite a few months, in some cases however this discolouration may be permanent.
Laser Hair Removal Aftercare Do’s
Your physician will give you specific instructions for taking care of your skin after laser treatments. In general, you should do the following to help promote skin healing and to prevent side effects.
Apply cool compresses
Wet a clean, soft washcloth with cool water and place it on the treated area for several minutes at a time. You can also use an ice pack wrapped in a paper towel. This method helps to reduce temporary swelling and pain after your laser hair removal treatment.
Apply prescription creams as directed
Your physician may prescribe a steroid cream to help minimize any pain and discomfort following your treatment. You may also take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or anti-inflammatory medications for pain relief.
Protect your skin from the sun
Since your skin will be sensitive after laser hair removal, your physician will recommend that you avoid getting direct sun exposure. You should avoid the sun for 1 month before the procedure to 1 month afterward. After this time, apply sunscreen to the area of treatment every day.
Can I shave after laser hair removal?
Your physician will instruct that you shave before your procedure to ensure a more targeted treatmentTrusted Source. While you can also shave after laser hair removal, be sure to wait for several hours after skin redness or discoloration has subsided. Avoid shaving on any skin that’s:
- swollen
- red or discolored
- painful
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), says that laser hair removal is designed to replace shaving. However, the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA) says that your first procedure removes between 10 and 25 percent of your hairs.
According to Oregon Health & Science University, any repeat treatments are typically spread over several weeks or months. The AADA shares that most people need an average of six treatments in total, depending on the area of treatment and individual responses.