If you’ve ever considered laser hair removal, a pre-laser consultation will be conducted, and key points will be explained.
Before any cosmetic procedure, a consultation is necessary to explain all aspects of the procedure for you to carefully consider.
Following the advice you’ve been given before and after your laser hair removal will make a big difference to the success of your treatment.
You can expect a version of the following during your consultation:
- How laser hair removal works.
- Whether you’re a suitable candidate.
- Contraindications and possible unexpected outcomes.
- What to expect immediately after your treatment.
- How many treatments will you need?
- How to prepare your skin before and what you should do post-laser.
It’s a lot to take in, and you may have skipped some of the advice in your eagerness to book your first appointment to remove unwanted hair permanently.
So, let’s break down the key points of your laser hair removal consultation and why pre and post-care are essential to positive and optimal results.
Understanding how laser hair removal works.
Laser hair removal is a cosmetic procedure that uses laser light to target and destroy hair follicles, reducing unwanted hair growth.
The laser targets the melanin in the hair, converting light energy to heat, which damages the follicle. Multiple sessions are needed to achieve comprehensive results due to hair growth cycles.
Jumping in before you’re ready.
It’s often tempting to jump right in before the skin is ready, no matter the treatment, whether it’s laser hair removal or any other non-surgical treatment.
Depending on your current skincare routine, the skin’s barrier function may be compromised, making it more vulnerable to adverse reactions and reducing the treatment’s safety and efficacy, leading to longer-term skin health issues.
However, when the skin is prepared correctly, you can expect optimal results and minimise unexpected outcomes.
How can inadequate skin preparation and poor barrier function impact laser hair removal outcomes?
Let’s take a closer look.
Increased Sensitivity & Redness
When the skin barrier lacks integrity, there is a risk of heightened sensitivity, and redness can occur, making the skin more reactive to laser treatments and potentially intensifying side effects.
Dehydration & Dryness
Dehydration and dryness affect the skin when its moisture-retaining capabilities are compromised, leading to discomfort during treatment and a slower recovery time.
Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIHP)
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIHP) appears as darker patches of pigment on treated areas. This happens when the skin’s natural pigment-regulating enzyme, tyrosinase, reacts to laser-induced inflammation, leading to an excess production of melanin.
Skin Infection
A compromised barrier function heightens the risk of bacterial infections, particularly if the laser treatment causes micro-wounds or aggravates skin irritation.
While these side effects can feel daunting, proper skin preparation and healthy barrier function will significantly minimise side effects and provide a successful laser hair removal experience.
Integrating a tailored skincare regimen enhances skin health and minimises risks like post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, increased sensitivity, dehydration and infection.
Let’s start with healthy skin.
The path to radiant and healthy skin starts with the essentials of a great skincare routine.
Our easy-to-use cosmeceutical-grade skincare keeps your skin in peak condition. Whether embarking on specialised treatments like laser or just wanting healthy glowing skin, you’ll have a headstart for optimal skin function.
To fully understand why preparing your skin to ensure the barrier function is not compromised, we must look closer at the skin’s protective lipid barrier.
A balanced and harmonious skin.
Your skin’s lipid barrier is a protective layer and is your skin’s natural defence mechanism against environmental stress.
It emerges as the outermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, a continually formed layer that acts as a protective shield and consists of dead skin cells bound by lipids, keeping harmful substances out while maintaining skin hydration and resilience.
The health of your skin’s lipid barrier is the foundation for how it looks, its glow of vitality, its strength and resilience and how well it responds during and after skin treatments.
A healthy, robust and perfectly balanced skin barrier is an essential skin goal when caring for your skin.
Things to avoid when caring for your skin.
Harsh cleansers and abrasive scrubs disrupt the balance of lipids, dead skin cells and water balance, leaving the barrier function compromised.
Overcleansing or using the wrong type of cleansers and exfoliants dismantles the lipid barrier, and the skin eventually loses its ability to protect you and struggles to retain moisture.
This constant disruption leaves the skin susceptible to environmental pollutants entering the skin, creating a cascading event of dehydration, sensitivity, and the proliferation of pathogens.
Can you imagine having a laser treatment when the skin is so vulnerable?
Nope, neither can we, so protecting the skin pre- and post-laser becomes crucial, ensuring a balanced skin barrier through targeted skincare.
Specialised skincare preparation made easy.
Our specialised laser skincare program aims to minimise the risk of any unexpected outcomes post-laser.
With Balense Skincare, you can be confident your skin is primed and ready to achieve the best possible results from your laser treatments.
Let’s explain the full potential of our skin care program, setting the stage for successful laser hair removal treatments and lasting skin health and vibrancy.
Choosing the Right Cleanser for Laser-Ready Skin.
Often overlooked, your choice of cleanser is essential. It’s the foundation that determines optimal skin function. The right cleanser either supports or disrupts your lipid barrier, setting the tone for your skin’s health, especially in preparation for laser hair removal.
Cleansers, powered by surfactants like anionic, cationic, amphoteric, and non-ionic, play varied roles in cleaning your skin. However, not all are created equal.
- Avoid Harsh Surfactants: Anionic and cationic surfactants, found in traditional soaps, can strip the skin of its natural oils, leaving it dry and irritated. They might be effective for deep cleaning but can disrupt your skin’s pH balance, making it less suitable for laser treatment preparation.
- Opt for Gentle Alternatives: Amphoteric and non-ionic surfactants, on the other hand, offer a milder cleanse, maintaining the skin’s moisture and integrity. These gentle surfactants ensure your skin’s lipid barrier remains intact and balanced, setting a healthy foundation for laser treatment and beyond.
Daily Gentle Cleanser: For Balance and Harmony.
Our Daily Gentle Cleanser, enriched with amphoteric and non-ionic surfactants, offers a gentle yet effective clean, preserving your skin’s lipid barrier and ensuring balance and harmony. Ideal for prepping your skin for laser treatment.
Micro Exfoliant: Preparing Your Skin.
Prep your skin with our Micro Exfoliant to remove dry, dead skin cells that can interfere with laser effectiveness. Formulated with biodegradable Jojoba beads, salicylic acid, and nurturing blue-green algae, it’s gentle on your skin while ensuring optimal laser focus.
Brightening Serum Concentrate: For an Even Skin Tone.
Target uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation with our Brightening Serum Concentrate. Supported by Glabridin from liquorice root extract, this serum inhibits tyrosinase, the enzyme that activates melanin, preventing post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and ensuring an even complexion.
Recovery Laser Gel: Soothing Post-Treatment Care.
Experience immediate relief after laser treatments with our Recovery Laser Gel. Infused with Grifolin from Albatrellus Ovinus mushrooms, it calms irritation, reduces redness, and hydrates deeply with Hyaluronic Acid and Chondrus Crispus.
UV Defiance SPF50+ Lotion: Essential Daily Protection.
Shield your skin with UV Defiance SPF50+ Lotion, your daily defence against UVA and UVB rays. Lightweight and fast-absorbing, it’s formulated with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E to protect your skin from premature ageing, minimise hyperpigmentation and maintain skin health post-laser.
Balense Skincare: Your go-to skincare laser specialist.
What sets Balense apart is our commitment to innovation, which results from our use of advanced ingredients like Glabridin from liquorice root extract for superior brightening and the soothing properties of Grifolin from Albatrellus Ovinus mushrooms.
Combined with our HylaTech Active Delivery system, these ingredients ensure deep, lasting hydration and targeted skincare results.
Preparing your skin with proper skincare pre and post-laser is crucial for the best outcomes, reducing side effects and maintaining your skin’s health.
Ensuring the success of your laser hair removal treatments can be found in our easy-to-follow skincare routines, and Balense offers two tailored kits:
- Post Laser Kit with SPF focuses on balancing and preparing the skin while protecting it from the sun’s harmful rays.
- Post Laser Kit with Brightening Serum Concentrate supports the skin and minimises uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation.
Each kit is designed to meet your skin’s specific needs before and after your laser treatment.
Begin your custom skincare journey with Balense to achieve and maintain exceptional results, starting with your first laser hair removal session.
With Balense, we want you to feel confident your skin is well-cared for and glowing with long-lasting radiant health.
