Laser hair removal has become very popular in the last few years. Lasering your hair away is a thing that lots of women dream of because then you don’t have to take care of that part anymore!
It is not only popular, but it is one of the most popular nonsurgical cosmetic procedures in the United States in 2016! And when I talk to people around me, it hasn’t lost anything in popularity!
As I said, many women dream of it but having a laser burning hair of your body still can be a bit daunting. Not to mention painful to some.
Most women are not a stranger to waxing and know that that hurts! Does laser hair removal hurt that much? No, it luckily does not but I can imagine that people want to use something that numbs the pain for them.
Is Ibuprofen the right way to go? Today you’ll find out that it is not. Read on to find out why it isn’t and how you can take care of the pain with other solutions!
Can I take ibuprofen before laser hair removal?
No. It is not advisable to take Ibuprofen for your laser hair removal appointment. To take it a step further, most laser hair removal clinics ask you to stop taking any product that contains Ibuprofen 48 hours before your session.
This way all the chemicals can leave your body before the treatment and this makes sure that your medicine intake won’t interfere with the treatment.
Below you’ll find some further explanation about why you should not take Ibuprofen before your laser hair removal appointment. If you scroll further you’ll also find other solutions to manage the pain you may experience with the treatment.
Why should you not take Ibuprofen before laser hair removal?
Laser hair removal clinics advise you not to take Ibuprofen before your appointment because it can interfere with your treatment. Ibuprofen (Advil) can thin the blood and this leaves the patients at more risk for bruising after the treatment.
Now, you should know that if you experience bruising after the laser treatment, it is nothing to worry about. It is a normal and temporary reaction to the treatment. Your skin will return to normal if you let it heal for a couple of days.
PRO TIP: To help with your skin returning to normal, you should lightly massage the area with Arnica cream. Arnica cream is a cream that you can put on the skin as much and how often you want to. This creme is a herb product en is works wonders for your bruised areas.
How to manage pain during laser hair removal?
Even though laser hair removal is not as painful as waxing, for example, there is still a chance that it hurts and it is only logical that you want to do something about it. Now that you know that it is better to not take Ibuprofen, you might be wondering what you can do to ease the pain during (and before) your appointment, and rightly so.
Below you’ll find 3 things you can do to ease the pain from a laser hair removal treatment.
Prepare your body for the treatment
Preparing your body for the treatment is likely the most important thing you can do. Being relaxed and optimistic about the outcome can reduce the amount of stress (and pain) greatly.
By preparing your body I mean that you should:
Sleep
Try to rest well the night before you need to go to your treatment. Sleeping can regulate your body’s pain sensors and thus this can help reduce the pain you feel with the treatment.
Hydrating yourself
Another great thing that you can do is keeping yourself hydrated as well as possible. This means that you should drink lots of water (more than your usual amount) and it is also great if you can avoid caffeine. Reducing your caffeine intake will also help with better sleep which in turn will help you feel less pain.
Shaving
When you want to feel as little pain as possible, it is also great to shave the area that gets the treatment as best as you can. Shaving the skin will help because it can make the treatment less irritating to your skin.
Your period
The last thing that I want to mention for the before part, is that you should not schedule an appointment before or during your period. Your pain receptors are more active and this would make the appointment unnecessary painful.
Choose the best pain relievers (for during and after the treatment)
That it is better to not use Ibuprofen before (or during) your laser hair removal treatment, doesn’t mean that you can’t use any pain relievers. Choosing the ideal pain reliever will help you in a great way in not having as much pain. You can ask the clinic (or your doctor) which pain relievers you can use. Often times they have a preferred list of what you can use safely.
Numbing cream
Another great way of relieving the pain is by using a numbing cream. You can either apply this at home before your appointment or once you get to the office. This is up to your doctor and therefore you should discuss this with the clinic.
Ice packs
Using an ice pack can do wonders for the skin irritation that occurs. It also has a numbing effect which can reduce the pain that you feel.
Aftercare is important
As you can imagine, caring for the area that had the treatment is important. Taking proper care of the area can help you tremendously in relieving the pain. You can do this a couple of ways.
Clothes you wear
Take it easy on your skin! Don’t try to force yourself in those skinny jeans, but wear loose-fitting clothes that won’t irritate the area and gives it enough room to breathe and heal. When working out, you should remember that the area should stay clear of and sweat (especially if the area includes the underarms of the bikini line).
Do not scratch
I know, I know, it might itch and you just want to scratch it real bad. Don’t do this! Never scratch the area that has been treated because scratching that area can cause irritation.
What should and shouldn’t you do after laser hair removal?
We’ve come a long way in determining which things you can and cannot do in regards to a laser hair removal appointment, but there are some other things that you need to take into account. Below I’ll give you some answers to the most common do’s and don’ts for laser hair removal.
Before
Before you undergo laser hair removal, it is essential that you do not expose the area to the sun or a sunbed. If you cannot avoid this, you should use a sunscreen of SPF 30 (or higher)
Do not pluck, wax, or anything in that regard that can interfere with the treatment for six weeks. This will preserve the root and pigment of the hair. This goes a long way in having a successful treatment.
The day before you the treatment you should shave the area as well as possible. This will prevent you from having a thermal injury to the surface.
During
During laser hair removal you should always wear glasses (protective eyewear) to prevent the risk of damaging the retina.
After
We’ve already been through some of the things that you can do after the laser hair removal, but there’s still something I want to mention and that is swelling.
You can apply ice when swelling occurs. Wrap the ice in a clean soft cloth and place it against the area that is swollen.
It is best if you avoid (very) hot baths, showers, saunas, and such things for two to three days. This is also the case for swimming. Do not swim in chlorinated water for those two to three days.
Calling a doctor if you’re unsure
Sometimes there can be complications. There can be signs of an infection (like pus, tenderness, fever). If that happens, it is always a good idea to contact the clinic. They can advise you on what to do to relieve you from these signs. If they advise you to see your doctor, you should. Better safe than sorry!
Final thoughts
Even though it might seem like there’s much to take care of, it still is an enjoyable experience! Not because it doesn’t hurt or something like that, but it makes you feel like a million dollars!
After the treatment, you need a couple of days/weeks for your body to restore to its natural and healthy state, but if you give it that time, I know for sure that you will be happy with the results!
If you have any doubts, questions, or anything particular that you want an answer to, do not hesitate to call the laser hair removal clinic! They are there to help you and answer your questions! If you have a good clinic, they will take the time for you and will help you every step of the way!
