Laser epilation for face and body - what to consider?
As summer approaches, many women are faced with the good old question: what to do with excess body and facial hair? By studying different methods, it becomes clear that laser epilation is the most effective in the long term. Thanks to newest laser technologies which are used at the “Skaistuma terapija” saloon, this procedure has become also a lot faster and less painful.
How laser epilation happens?
The procedure is performed using the laser epilation device HD MATRIX LASER EPILATION PRO 808 nm. The number of procedures individually depends on the area to be treated, hormonal levels, heredity and hair growth rate, thickness of their structure. For laser epilation to have a lasting effect, you must complete a full course. Procedure course: 6-8 procedures, with 4-6 week interval.
Before starting the laser epilation procedures, the specialist gets acquainted with the client's state of health and introduces all possible contraindications in order to be able to apply the appropriate laser power to each client, for maximum results. If everything is fine with health and there are no contraindications, then the procedure is initiated.
The parameters of each client are entered into the computer of the device - skin phototype, hair thickness, colour, etc., in order to select the most suitable mode for an effective procedure. "Beauty Therapy" uses the latest generation HD Matrix laser (Overline/Italy), which provides 12 laser flashes in one second, thus making this procedure much faster, more efficient and painless. The laser manipulator acts as a coolant that cools the skin to reduce pain and irritation.
What are the limitations before and after the laser epilation procedure?
• The hair before the procedure should be shaved (2-3 days before) or cut.
• It is not recommended to sunbathe and visit the solarium for 2 to 3 weeks before the procedure, as there is a high risk of unwanted pigmentation and skin burns.
• Hair should not be removed with wax, tweezers or epilator for two weeks before the procedure.
• After the procedure, the treated skin area should not be moisturised for at least 6 hours.
• Skin irritation usually resolves within the first day, but may rarely persist for two to three days after the procedure, and folliculitis may occur.
• Do not stay in the open sun and visit the solarium for 2 - 4 weeks after epilation, as there is a high risk of unwanted pigmentation and skin burns.
• In summer, use sunscreen (SPF 50) on exposed areas of the body where laser hair removal has been performed.
• Refrain from visiting the sauna, swimming pool and gym for 3 days.
• Do not use alcoholic lotions, irritating deodorants or peeling for 2-3 days.
In which cases is it necessary to reschedule laser epilation at a later time?
Prior to the procedure, the specialist must tell his client about all contraindications and possible consequences. The client, in turn, provides information about his illnesses and medications used. This will help you avoid misunderstandings and problems in the future, and will help you achieve the desired result - smooth and healthy skin - much more effectively! Many of these contraindications are temporary in nature, which means that the procedure is likely to simply need to be rescheduled.
•Pregnancy and breastfeeding – no matter how difficult it is for a pregnant woman to get rid of her hair physically, the hormonal background during pregnancy is so unstable and the skin is sensitive that the process will be more painful and the risk of pigmentation higher. The effect of the laser beam on the unborn child has also not been studied. Therefore, it is better to wait and perform the procedure after childbirth
• Age under 18 years – children lack dark pigment or melanin in their hair, therefore the procedure would not make sense at all. At the age of puberty, when active hair growth begins around the age of 12-13, the adolescent's body is already overloaded with hormones and other changes. It is better to let it deal with the ongoing processes and think about the hair afterwards.
• Tanned skin – should not sunbathe for at least 2 weeks before or after epilation (also in a solarium or using self-tanning products). Firstly, the skin exposed to the sun is drier and more sensitive and can become inflamed after epilation. Secondly, epilation with dark hair on light skin will work better than vice versa.
•Bio epilation or waxing –at least 30 days must elapse after treating the hair with wax or sugar paste, as these types of epilation destroy the hair roots and laser epilation will simply be ineffective.
• Signs of inflammation in the area of skin to be treated – for example, in the case of folliculitis, the infection may spread further after epilation. In addition, the presence of infection in the body lowers immunity, which also slows down tissue healing. The use of laser epilation in circumstances of inflammatory processes can also cause pigmentation.
• Skin damage – there should be no peeling, burns, allergic inflammation, trauma or microtrauma on the selected area of skin. Otherwise, epilation will be ineffective, and the condition of skin diseases and damages may only worsen.
• The use of drugs that cause sensitivity to light –- including painkillers, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs against heart or liver disease, hormonal contraception, antidepressants, tranquillizers and many, many others, as well as anti-allergic ointments, antiseptics and even anti-aging creams. They can all cause skin reactions such as rashes, redness, pigmentation spots.
• Acute infectious diseases – influenza, herpes virus and others weaken the immune system. Also, laser should not be performed during fungal diseases.
In which cases laser epilation is not performed at all?
Chronic skin diseases: psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, etc.
• Autoimmune diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis
• Vitiligo (or white spots disease) cases in family history
• Sugar diabetes
• Oncologic diseases
• HIV and AIDS
• Keloid scars
• History of herpes (may be exacerbated by laser)
• Allergy against sun and light
• Course of chemotherapy or radiotherapy procedures
• Psycho-emotional instability (laser procedures can cause peculiar stress and hormonal imbalances)
• Diseases of internal organs
• Tattoo on the treated area ofthe body, but it can be covered and not treated
• Epilepsy
Let’s admit, these are not so common, and it is very likely that you do not have any of them. If you feel healthy, certainly consider laser epilation – a procedure that will free you for a long time from other, less effective and more painful methods of getting rid of tired hair!