If your first laser hair removal treatment is looming, you might be wondering about what the days afterward are going to bring. Luckily, laser hair removal is a fairly easy process, as is the recovery period afterward. When you know what you need to do to protect your skin, you can help improve the condition of your skin after laser hair removal treatment.

Exfoliating and Shedding Loose Hair

In the weeks following your laser treatment, the skin in the affected area is going to develop what appears to be blackheads. This is a normal reaction, as it is your skin's response to the shedding of hair follicles. If you want to speed the process along, you can exfoliate your skin gently with a loofah. Just remember not to use anything that's too abrasive, because your skin may remain sensitive for a few days after the treatment.

Dealing with Irritation and Itch

The first few days that follow a laser hair removal treatment are often plagued with some itching and mild irritation. You might find your skin to be abnormally itchy, sensitive or red. Your dermatologist may suggest using an aloe cream or hydrocortisone lotion to help soothe it.

Avoiding Damage from the Sun

Your skin may become more sensitive to the sun's ultraviolet rays in the days or weeks after laser hair removal. The best thing you can do for your skin in this case is to use a quality sunscreen product. Don't dismiss this as unimportant – a sunburn on skin that's recently been treated for hair removal can be painful. You'll also want to skip the tanning bed for a couple of days after treatment, just to be safe.

Addressing New Hair Growth

After a laser treatment, once the skin recovers, you're likely to see some new hair growth. Don't touch the tweezers, no matter how tempting they may be. You can use a depilatory product or a razor, but if you tweeze it, you'll pull the follicle out. Leaving the follicle in place is key to making sure that subsequent treatments eliminate any residual hair.

Laser treatments for hair removal can make an otherwise persistent problem much easier to deal with. Unfortunately, if you don't know how to properly care for your skin afterward, it can be increasingly difficult. With the tips presented here, you'll be able to face your first treatment with confidence, because you'll know how to care for your skin afterward to help ensure success. If you have specific questions about laser hair removal, talk with a doctor at a place like Drs. Young & Wouters Calgary Vein & Laser.