Laser Hair Removal Can Transform Your Daily Routine

Do your mornings consist of shaving and tweezing unwanted hair from your body? Perhaps you tired of this monotony a while ago and switched to waxing. But you dread every painful, hair-pulling session required to achieve those few extra hair-free weeks.

If these scenarios sound familiar, then you could benefit from laser hair removal. Consider what’s involved in preparing for and receiving treatment, as well as how laser hair removal can transform your daily routine.

Preparing for Laser Hair Removal

If you’re planning to schedule laser hair removal, you should stop plucking, waxing, tanning, or using self-tanners for six weeks leading up to your visit. Then, plan to shave one or two days before your treatment. You might also need to pause certain medications, so be honest with your dermatologist about any medicine you’re taking.

On the day of your appointment, avoid applying lotion, deodorant, or other skincare products to the treatment area. Ask your technician if there’s anything else you need to know about preparing for your appointment.

What is Treatment Like?

The session begins by cleansing the treatment area and applying a numbing gel. Then, your technician asks you to put on protective eyewear and begins the laser treatment. Many patients compare the sensation to warm pinpricks or having a rubber band snapped against the skin. The laser targets the pigment portion of the hair root, treating multiple follicles at once for the quickest appointment possible.

How Many Treatments are Needed?

To effectively stop all future hair growth, you’ll need three or more laser hair removal treatments. Office visits may range from monthly to every four months, depending on the thickness and location of the hair.

Post-Care Tips

You’ll achieve the best results after each laser hair removal session if you follow your dermatologist’s recommended aftercare:

• Avoid taking hot baths until the treated area has healed fully.
• Moisten the area with Cetaphil cream, Cerave cream, or Aquaphor healing ointment.
• Avoid sun exposure (or wear SPF 30 or higher sunscreen) for four weeks following treatment.
• Prevent clothing from rubbing the treatment area to avoid irritation.
• Do not apply deodorant for two to three days following underarm treatment.

Life After Laser Hair Removal

You can expect long-lasting results from laser hair removal, with hair taking weeks or months to grow back. Plus, unlike waxing, it’s perfectly fine to shave up to one day before treatment, so you don’t have to deal with uncomfortable stubble for several days before your appointment. Every subsequent session leads to thinner, finer hair growth until, eventually, the treatment area is almost completely hairless.

Are you ready to ditch your razors, tweezers, and waxing appointments once and for all? If so, seek laser hair removal at Swinyer-Woseth Dermatology. We use a state-of-the-art, FDA-approved diode laser to achieve up to 90% permanent hair reduction almost anywhere on your body. To learn more or schedule an appointment, please call our Salt Lake City or South Jordan dermatologist office at 801-682-4715.