Is itching common after laser hair removal?

Having a laser hair removal procedure done may not sound like a big deal, but it really is. Your skin is important, for obvious reasons, and you have to take extra care of it when you have a laser hair removal treatment completed. Many people aren’t sure exactly how to care for their skin, or they simply slip back into old habits because the problem is “gone.” Here are a few ways you can keep your skin healthy and help the recovery process after getting a laser hair removal treatment in Arlington, Virginia.

Use Ice and Avoid Heat

Every person’s skin is different and will experience various reactions to treatments. A hot shower is a great way to relax after a long day, but don’t make them too hot for a few days after your skin treatment. The heat and steam could cause skin irritation and lead to other problems.

Instead, take a cool shower and be gentle with the treated areas. If you have any sort of irritation, use an ice pack or other cold object to help reduce some of the discomfort. It’s human nature to scratch an itchy or irritated area, but you don’t want to do that after a laser hair removal treatment.

Wear Sunscreen

Your skin will be more sensitive to sunlight after a laser hair removal treatment in Alexandria, Virginia. Even if it’s cool outside, you need to wear sunscreen if you will have any exposure to the sun. The skin will be vulnerable for a few days after the treatment so you’ll need to give it more care than normal.

Avoid Makeup

Mineral makeup is about the only safe type to use immediately following your laser hair removal procedure. Otherwise, try to avoid applying makeup to the affected area for at least a day or two afterwards.

Buy a Calming Cream

Many skin care professionals will recommend purchasing a calming cream to apply on the skin after undergoing a laser hair removal procedure. A calming cream can help reduce many of the side effects, such as redness, swelling, itching and overall discomfort. Again, it’s tempting to scratch the area or touch it often to try to soothe some of the discomfort, but those are the worst things you can do. Applying a cream as needed after your treatment will help you get through those uncomfortable first few days.

Laser hair removal is becoming more popular every day, but you have to understand how to take care of your skin afterward to prevent further issues. Please follow the above skin care tips after laser hair removal for best and optimal results. For more information on hair removal in Arlington, Virginia, contact us today!

Laser hair removal is one of the most popular long-term methods of getting rid of body hair, and laser clinics have sprung up around the country.

However, while it may be one of the best methods for more long-lasting results, there are a few downsides to laser hair removal. Not only is it one of the costliest options, but there are quite a few potential side effects to be aware of.

Laser Hair Removal Side Effects

Side Effects to Be Expected

There are a few side effects that are very common with laser hair removal:

This is a more severe example of a rash from laser hair removal

• Itching - The laser light is meant to burn off all the pigment cells in your hairs, but it can also damage the cells of your skin. If the light stimulates your skin cells too much, they may be damaged. In many cases, itching is a side effect of your skin making microscopic repairs to the damaged cells.
• Redness/Swelling - There are four cardinal signs of injury, and redness and swelling are two of the four signs. If your skin is damaged by the powerful laser light, your skin will redden as blood rushes to the damaged area to make repairs.
  
  Swelling is your body's natural protection against further injury, as swelling is the result of excess fluid being infused into the damaged tissue. The redness and swelling may be minor, but you'll often feel tenderness of your skin accompanying the other two signs of skin damage.

These two side effects are common after undergoing laser hair removal, but the good news is that they should fade within two or three days. The damage done to your skin will likely be fairly minor, and your body can repair the damage quickly.

More Serious but Less Common Side Effects

There are a few more serious side effects that may not be as common, but which you need to be aware of:

Bruising is a less common but possible side effect of laser hair removal for some people

• Hypopigmentation - When the laser light is beamed at your skin, it is meant to penetrate the skin and burn away the pigment cells of the hairs in your follicles. However, it's very likely that improper application of the laser will also burn away the pigment cells in your skin. You will end up losing the color on your skin, leaving patches that are lighter than the rest of your body.
• Hyperpigmentation - What causes your skin to produce more pigment cells? Light! When the laser light is shined at your skin, your skin may detect that it doesn't have sufficient protection against the light. As a result, it will produce pigment cells, even going so far as to overproduce it in certain parts of your skin. You may end up with patches of darker skin thanks to your body's natural reaction to light.
• Burns - Lasers are very concentrated light sources, and incorrect application of the laser can lead to burns. They will usually be first-degree burn, meaning it's not too serious. It can be compared to a minor sunburn, and will usually heal within a few days.
• Acne Flare-Ups - When the laser beams is shined at your skin, it can often stimulate your body to produce more sebum--the oil that protects your skin from damage. An increase in sebum can increase your risk of pimples forming, and adding the dead skin and hair cells is a recipe for an acne-flare up.
• Scabs - Your body uses scabs to protect damaged skin, and the laser light can often do enough damage to your skin to cause scabs to form. They will be fairly minor scabs--similar to those produced by tattooing.
• Purpura - This is the fancy name for bruising or purpling beneath the skin. They are the result of damage being done to the small blood vessels near the surface of your skin, and are fairly common if the laser is incorrectly applied. The laser light can actually burst the blood vessels by heating up the blood cells passing through them, leading to purpura.
• Infections - Skin that has been damaged is much more susceptible to infections, and incorrectly applied laser beams can cause damage to your skin. Once the skin is damaged, it's easier for bacteria and germs to inhabit the swollen, burned tissue before the body has time to heal them. The skin infections may range from mild to serious.

Other Less Common Side Effects that you may Experience

Here are some of the other side effects that people have noticed after laser hair removal:

You should avoid exposure to the sun for 48 hours after laser hair removal to prevent chance of further skin damage from the potentially harmful UV rays

Discomfort from re-growing hair. If you've ever shaved your chest, you know how uncomfortable it can be to wear clothes as the hair is growing back.

Very sensitive skin. For a few days after the hair removal session, you may find that your skin is very sensitive--easily affected by creams, lotions, and environmental damage.

Skin prone to sunburn. The skin has already been exposed to a lot of light, and adding sunlight into the mix just increases the amount of damage done.

Tingling or numb skin. If the nerve endings of the skin are damaged, they may be unable to send accurate feedback to your brain.

Allergic reaction to cream or gel. A numbing cream is often used before the treatment, and you may find that your skin reacts negatively to the cream. If you apply a pain-relieving gel after the session is done, you may also experience negative allergic reactions as well.

Here are some side effects mentioned by doctors:-

"If the settings of the laser are incorrect, any of the following may occur: blistering, darkening of the skin, erosions on the lip, development of cold sores, redness, and persistent pain. Most of these are temporary and can be avoided by proper preparation of the treated area prior to the procedure being performed."

Corey L. Hartman, MD

"Other risks, although not common, include scarring, viral infections like herpes simplex , damaging a tattoo in the area, or in very rare cases even causing more hair to grow"

Joshua L. Fox, MD

Laser Hair Removal Side Effects Study

A recent study was carried out to monitor the side effects that patients experienced from a treatment of laser hair removal.

As you can see from the chart, most people will experience redness (erythema) in the treatment area in the hour following a laser session. In some instances swelling can occur (edema).

Other less common side effects include hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin), crusting, hypopigmentation (lightening of the skin) and blistering.

It should be noted that all the side effects listed in the study were transient and were all resolved 12 weeks after the final treatment.​

Resources

[1] http://www.realself.com/question/what-potential-laser-hair-removal-side-effects http://goaskalice.columbia.edu/side-effects-laser-hair-removal

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