IPL hair removal offers a user-friendly and convenient solution for long-lasting hair removal. Although IPL technology is carefully designed to make it safe for at-home usage, it still makes skin sensitive after the IPL hair removal session.
IPL hair removal is a popular choice for those seeking effective and convenient hair removal solutions, but it is important to recognize that skin sensitivity may occur after treatment.
This is in addition to other mild to moderate IPL hair removal side effects, such as skin irritation, discomfort, redness, and inflammation.
Understanding potential side effects is crucial for ensuring a comfortable recovery after your session.
You need a proper aftercare routine to address all of these concerns associated with IPL hair removal treatment. Therefore, in this article, let’s discuss what to do and what not to do after an IPL hair removal session.
Implementing a well-structured aftercare routine is essential to minimize discomfort and promote healing after your IPL session.
Following an aftercare routine not only aids in recovery but also enhances the effectiveness of the treatment.
Table of Contents:
- Part 1: What is IPL Hair Removal and How Does it Work?
- Part 2: Why is it Necessary to Do Aftercare of IPL?
- Part 3: Do’s of IPL Hair Removal Aftercare
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Part 4: What Not to Do After IPL Hair Removal Session
What is IPL Hair Removal and How Does it Work?
Understanding the science behind IPL hair removal can enhance your appreciation of its benefits and effectiveness.
Not only does it help in hair removal, but it also makes the results last for many months, allowing its users to enjoy several months of silky, smooth, and hairless skin.
IPL technology not only removes hair effectively but also offers long-lasting results, contributing to smoother skin over an extended period.
IPL devices are based on broad-spectrum, non-coherent beams of light that transform into heat energy to destroy hair follicles. The broad spectrum allows IPl to cover a large treatment area and remove unwanted hair quickly.
Effective hair removal is achieved through the conversion of light energy into heat, which specifically targets hair follicles.
Why is it Necessary to Do Aftercare of IPL?
Understanding IPL hair removal is crucial as it highlights why aftercare is essential for effective treatment.
Aftercare is essential for minimizing discomfort and maximizing the effectiveness of IPL treatments.
- It helps in calming down the irritable skin after IPL hair removal
- Aftercare prepares the treatment area for the next IPL hair session
- It helps in shedding the hair with destroyed follicles
- It prevents the side effects of IPL hair removal treatments
Calming the skin is vital as IPL can cause temporary irritation post-treatment.
Temporary irritation can occur due to the treatment, making skin calming aftercare important.
Preparing for the next session ensures that your skin is ready to receive further treatments effectively.
Effective preparation for subsequent IPL sessions can lead to better overall results in hair reduction.
Aftercare is crucial because it supports the natural process of hair shedding, ensuring optimal results.
Shedding hair effectively is part of the hair removal process, making aftercare an important step.
Preventing side effects is essential for a safe experience, as it reduces the risk of irritation or discomfort.
Preventing side effects is a key reason to follow aftercare instructions, as it helps maintain skin health.
Do’s of IPL Hair Removal Aftercare
The aftercare of IPL hair removal is not as difficult as laser hair removal because IPL is a relatively gentle procedure.
Unlike more intensive treatments, IPL hair removal is designed to be user-friendly, allowing for easier aftercare.
IPL hair removal aftercare is generally easier than other methods, making it accessible for many users.
Thus, the following tips can help you recover from your IPL hair removal session quickly.
Following these tips can facilitate a smoother recovery and enhance the effectiveness of your treatment.
Quick recovery tips can significantly enhance your experience and results following an IPL session.
1. Take Sun Protection Seriously
Most IPL hair removal devices must be used a few times every week until you complete 1 to 2 months of full treatment. It means that the aftercare of one session is also the pre-care of the next session.
Maintaining sun protection is vital, as it protects your skin from potential damage during the treatment cycle.
Consistent sun protection is critical, as it helps safeguard your skin during the entire hair removal process.
Sun protection is the most important step in skin care during IPL hair removal treatment. IPL makes skin prone to the damage caused by the sun. therefore, you should,
Applying sunscreen daily is especially important after IPL, as your skin's sensitivity can increase its risk of sunburn.
Sun protection is essential because it helps prevent potential damage that could occur due to heightened sensitivity from the treatment.
- Try to stay indoors as much as possible
- Apply a liberal amount of sunscreen and reapply it when you are outdoors
- Wear UV protective clothes like arm sleeves and sun hats
Applying sunscreen effectively shields your skin from harmful UV rays, which can exacerbate any post-treatment sensitivity.
Wearing UV protective clothing can further shield your skin, reducing the likelihood of irritation from sun exposure.
2. Calm Down Your Skin with Cold Packs
Although IPL hair removal devices are less painful than laser hair removal, slight discomfort, itching, redness, and swelling are common.
You do not need anti-inflammatory or pain-killer medicines for this. Rather, cold compresses with ice packs or ice wrapped in clean clothes can help your IPL hair removal aftereffects settle down.
3. Nourish Your Skin with Moisturizer
Although the energy that falls into your skin during IPL hair removal is light, it transforms into heat when it reaches the undersurface. This heat can dry and sensitive your skin.
Moisturizing your skin after treatment is crucial, as it can help restore hydration and alleviate dryness caused by the heat from IPL.
Moisturizers are crucial after IPL because they help combat dryness and maintain skin elasticity following treatment.
So, you need to moisturize your skin immediately after IPL hair removal. Also, moisturize it whenever you wash the treated area, and ensure you use a lightweight yet enriched moisturizer.
Consistent moisturizing is crucial to prevent dryness and enhance the skin's overall texture after IPL treatment.
4. Stay Hydrated and Eat Healthy Meals
While treating your skin from the outside, remember that internal nutrition and hydration are equally important, if not more so. Refresh yourself with fresh juices and water.
Hydration is vital for skin health, as it helps support overall recovery and can reduce post-treatment discomfort.
Additionally, restrict the intake of alcohol, artificial sugars, and smoking. These ingredients not only dehydrate the skin but also cause inflammation. Taking foods healthy for the skin can help your skin recover faster.
Avoiding these substances will not only **preserve hydration** but also **promote a calmer skin response** post-treatment.
Healthy foods rich in vitamins and antioxidants can significantly enhance your skin's healing process after treatment.
Incorporating **nutritious foods** can support not just skin health but overall wellness, enhancing the benefits of your IPL treatment.
5. Delay Your Other Cosmetic Treatments
In your initial sessions of IPL hair removal, it is important to focus solely on the IPL treatment. The skin can only bear one cosmetic treatment at a time, so do not get any other cosmetic treatments on the area treated with IPL hair removal devices.
You should avoid chemical peels, photo facials, microabrasion, and botox cosmetic treatments.
6. Keep the Treated Area Clean
IPL hair removal burns the hair follicles and causes unwanted hair to shed between treatment sessions. Therefore, you should wash the treated area once or twice daily to speed up the shedding.
Keeping the treated area clean is essential for optimal recovery and minimizes the risk of irritation.
Also, always use a gentle facial or body cleanser with lukewarm to cool water to keep the treated area clean.
Using a gentle cleanser is important to **avoid further irritation** and ensure that the skin remains in good condition after treatment.
7. Use Products That Help in the Recovery of the Skin
While avoiding products with active ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, AHA, BHA, and other exfoliants is recommended, you can still use some mild anti-oxidants to boost skin recovery after IPL.
Using products that aid in recovery can enhance your skin's healing and overall comfort after treatment.
Such ingredients include fruit and flower extracts, aloe vera gel, essential oils, and vitamin B5.
Natural ingredients can be beneficial for soothing and repairing your skin.
8. Visit a Doctor, if Needed
IPL hair removal is an FDA-approved alternative to laser hair removal, which signifies the safety of the treatment. However, the safety is also determined by the device you are using and your underlying health condition.
While IPL is generally safe, individual responses may vary, so it's wise to monitor any changes post-treatment.
Monitoring your skin's reaction is essential, as some individuals may need additional care following IPL treatments.
If you are using a cheap device, the risk of aftereffects is high. So, consult a dermatologist if you experience any unusual IPL hair removal side effects.
What Not to Do After IPL Hair Removal Session
In addition to the important things in IPL hair removal aftercare, there are some things you should not do. Let us discuss those below.
1. Do Not Use Any Product with Harsh Chemicals
Although IPL devices mainly target the hair, some rays also get absorbed into the skin, leading to skin sensitivity. Also, the heat from the IPL device can add to the sensitivity.
Avoiding harsh chemicals is crucial, as they can exacerbate skin sensitivity and hinder the healing process.
Harsh chemicals can lead to further complications, making it vital to choose gentle alternatives during recovery.
Therefore, you must not use any product containing a chemical that has the potential to irritate your skin. It could be harsh body washes, exfoliating agents, products with active ingredients, and makeup.
2. Do Not Swim, Sweat, or Take Hot Showers
As IPL light heats up the inner layers of the body to destroy the unwanted hair follicles and there is slight inflammation after the treatment, you need to avoid anything that adds to this heat for 2 days. For example, sweating, hot showers, steam, excessive exercises, and saunas.
Moreover, scheduling your swimming 24 to 48 hours after IPL hair removal treatment is better because chlorinated water from swimming pools is incompatible with IPL-treated skin.
Waiting 24 to 48 hours after treatment allows your skin to recover and minimizes the risk of irritation from chlorinated water.
Chlorinated water can irritate IPL-treated skin, making it essential to wait before swimming to ensure proper recovery.
3. Do Not Touch Your Skin Repeatedly
It is common to feel discomfort and itching on your skin after IPL hair removal treatments, which tempts you to touch or scratch it. To prevent the compromise of a healthy skin barrier, it is best to resist the constant urge to touch it.
Rather, you can use cold compresses to calm it down.
Using cold compresses can help reduce redness and discomfort, promoting a more comfortable healing process.
Cold compresses can provide relief and help soothe any irritation, offering a gentle alternative to touching your skin.
4. Do Not Shave, Pluck, or Wax Hair
Shaving is the recommended method of hair removal to prepare your skin before IPL hair removal. So, it is likely that you will see a few hair strands growing out after your IPL treatment. Leave these strands alone, as the hair follicles are killed, and the hair is shedding.
So, avoid shaving the treatment for 1 to 2 days after IPL hair removal. Also, do not pluck or wax the unwanted hair in between the sessions, even if you see hair growth, as these hair removal methods remove the roots and make
5. Use no Exfoliating Products
There is a risk of excess peeling off of the skin if you immediately exfoliate your skin after an IPL hair removal session. Therefore, wait for at least 2 days to use a soft washcloth to gently exfoliate the treatment area.
Furthermore, do not use chemical exfoliating agents, physical exfoliants, or harsh chemicals for 5 to 7 days.
Refraining from exfoliation helps maintain your skin's barrier and supports the healing process after IPL treatment.
Avoiding exfoliating products is crucial to prevent further irritation and allow your skin to heal effectively after treatment.
6. Do Not Expose Yourself to UV Light
The light from IPL hair removal devices contains some UV rays. However, the UV filters in reputable IPL hair removal devices prevent them from harming your skin.
Even with UV filters in IPL devices, protecting your skin can significantly improve recovery and reduce potential side effects.
While IPL devices have UV filters, it's still wise to protect your skin from additional UV exposure to enhance healing.
UV sun rays can cause more damage after an IPL hair removal session. Therefore, try to avoid direct sunlight as much as possible. Stay indoors and carry a UV-resistant umbrella when you go out.
Limiting sun exposure is crucial after IPL, as your skin is more sensitive and vulnerable to damage from UV rays.
Excessive UV exposure can lead to skin damage, so taking precautions is vital for maintaining skin health after IPL sessions.
7. Do Not Tan Yourself
IPL hair removal devices only work on lighter to brown skin tones and are incompatible with dark brown or black skin tones. Therefore, if your skin tone is compatible with IPL hair removal devices, do not tan yourself artificially after your initial treatment.
In this case, IPL hair removal devices either won’t work on dark skin or are more likely to burn tanned skin tones.
Dark or tanned skin may not respond well to IPL treatments, emphasizing the importance of skin preparation before sessions.
8. Do Not Wear Tight Clothes
Tight clothes rub against the sensitive skin after IPL hair removal, prevent ventilation, trap heat, and cause you to sweat. This can lead to an increase in discomfort and swelling.
Loose, breathable clothing promotes comfort and aids in recovery, reducing the risk of irritation on sensitive skin.
Therefore, always wear lightweight, breathable, loose clothes after your IPL hair removal session.
Choosing lightweight clothing can help keep your skin cool and comfortable, supporting the healing process after IPL hair removal.
Conclusion
IPL hair removal aftercare is essential to gain the best results from IPL hair removal treatment sessions without the risk of serious side effects.
Proper aftercare not only enhances treatment results but also minimizes the chances of experiencing unwanted side effects.
Some IPL hair removal aftercare tips include protecting your skin from the sun, nourishing it, maintaining hygiene, and carefully choosing products.
Following these aftercare tips is essential for maintaining skin health and achieving optimal results from IPL hair removal treatments.
Furthermore, we have also talked about what not to do after IPL hair removal sessions above.
Understanding aftercare is crucial for optimal results following your IPL hair removal sessions. By adhering to the guidelines discussed, you can enhance your skin's recovery and maintain the effectiveness of the treatment.
Following these guidelines can help ensure that you achieve the best possible outcomes from your treatment. Proper aftercare may significantly impact your skin's health.
