How to Use Hair Removal Cream After Having a Laser Treatment

Wait at least four days after your treatment before shaving.

Laser hair removal treatments effectively slow hair growth. During the process, a laser beam damages hair follicles, which causes hair to grow much slower in the future. Following your treatment, you'll experience redness and swelling that's similar to a mild sunburn. It usually takes a few treatments to provide an extended hair-free period, so in between treatments you'll still need to remove hair. Make sure that you allow your skin to recover for a few days after a laser treatment, however, before you resume shaving.

Things You'll Need

• Moisturizing cream or aloe vera gel
• Corticosteroid cream or sunburn lotion/spray

Instructions

1. Wait at least four days after your treatment before attempting to use hair removal cream. The treated area(s) on your body will be red or pink, slightly swollen and sensitive to the touch, so you do not want to irritate your skin even more. After having your treatment, and before you begin using hair removal cream, apply a moisturizing cream or aloe vera gel to hydrate your skin and a topical corticosteroid cream to help reduce redness and swelling.

2. Use a hair removal cream formulated for sensitive skin. Even if your skin isn't normally sensitive, it will be after your treatments. Using a more delicate hair removal cream will help reduce possible discomfort, such as stinging, burning or itching.

3. Check your skin before using hair removal cream. You may use the cream following a laser treatment as long as your skin isn't blistering, crusting, swollen or otherwise irritated. If your skin is still swollen and/or painful, wait at least one more day before shaving. If it looks and feels normal, you can go ahead with shaving.

4. Apply the hair removal cream evenly to the area(s) where you want to remove hair. If you feel a slight stinging sensation, that's normal. Rinse off the cream after the amount of time specified on the cream's package. However, wash off the product immediately if you experience extreme stinging, redness, swelling, or even bleeding.

5. Apply a moisturizing cream or aloe vera gel after washing off the hair removal cream to help hydrate your skin.

6. You can continue to shave between laser treatments but make sure to stop two or three days before your next appointment. Avoid shaving the day of, or the day before, a treatment because you do not want the area to be irritated when you have laser hair removal.

Tips & Warnings

• It is recommended that you avoid waxing, bleaching and plucking hair in the treated area(s) between your laser treatments.

References

• Skin Care Guide: Laser Hair Removal
• Simply Hair Removal: Depilatory Creams
• Lakewood Ranch Hair Removal Center: Hair Removal Advice
• City Laser Clinic: Before & After Female Laser