Removing unwanted hair from your body by waxing, shaving, and tweezing can only give you temporary satisfaction. For a more effective permanent method, laser hair removal proves to work extremely well as it targets and destroys the hair follicle and stops regrowth. At Tropicalaser, we understand that laser hair removal is a medical procedure, and you may be unsure or just new to this treatment. Moreover, committing to skin treatment can be viewed as a stressful or laborious task, but with a little preparation, you can quickly and easily handle your nervousness.

As experts in skin treatments, we’ve created a handy checklist to help you prepare before and after laser treatment with as little stress as possible.

1. Skin colour and hair colour
Laser hair removal is used to destroy the hair follicle, and the laser preferentially targets the pigment of the hair. It is crucial that the hair colour be darker than the skin, and that the hair has sufficient pigment to attract the laser.

At Tropicalaser, we can successfully and safely treat all skin colours and most hair colours except for blonde, very light brown, ginger, red, grey, or white hair.  

2. Medical exclusions
When it comes to laser hair removal, there are not too many medical contra-indications. However, there are a few to be mentioned,
a. Use of Accutane
Accutane is a prescription medication used to treat severe acne. It is known to make the skin photosensitive, so it is an absolute contra-indication to hair removal. We require at least three months to elapse following the last dose before lasering a client.
b. Other medications
Many antibiotics also result in skin photosensitivity, so preclude laser treatment. Please consult your medical practitioner or pharmacist on the safety of laser treatment while on any prescription medication.
c. Pregnancy
There is no evidence that laser treatment is harmful to an unborn fetus. However, most responsible laser clinics will not treat a pregnant woman without written clearance from her attending physician.

3. Sun Exposure
Although we can safely laser treat any skin colour, we cannot laser sun-exposed skin. Sun exposure causes the melanocytes in the skin to become very mobile, and the laser will target them even without visible signs of tanning. For your safety, it’s highly recommended that you always use a high-quality mineral sunscreen and avoid any prolonged sun exposure during your treatment.

4. Tattoos
The laser is attracted by pigment, so when working on tattooed skin, it will damage the tattoo and cause burns to the underlying skin. So, if you have a tattoo within the area being treated, we will laser around it.

5. Preparation before treatment
Before laser treatment, prepare your skin and follow this skin routine:
a. Shave before treatment. Ideally, it would be best if you shaved between twelve to twenty-four hours before treatment. The cleaner the shave, the better. We don’t want to waste the laser’s energy in burning hair but use the energy for root destruction.
b. Please make sure your skin is free of all lotions or oils before treatment.
c. Please keep your skin well moisturized and cared for during your treatment. We cannot safely treat ultra-dry or broken skin.

6. Other pre-treatment
You need to avoid exfoliation and peels of the area to be treated for one week before treatment. Make sure you also avoid waxing, tweezing, bleaching, and depilatory creams for at least three weeks prior to treatment.

7. During treatment
Ensure that you get technicians who will regularly check in on you throughout your treatment so that you are comfortable. At Tropicalaser, we encourage our clients to provide feedback on the treatment they undergo with us.

8. Post Treatment
Post treatment:
a. Avoid unprotected sun exposure for two weeks.
b. Avoid swimming in chlorinated water for at least three days after treatment.
c. Avoid exfoliation or peels of the treated area for one week.
d. Avoid hot water on the skin for two days. This particularly includes hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms, hot showers, and baths. You are free to bathe or shower but keep the water lukewarm.
e. Lastly, avoid all physical exercise for twenty-four hours. On the second day, you can do light exercise only. And, after a full three days, you are free to exercise as vigorously as you wish.

9. Before selecting a laser clinic
There are certain things to consider before choosing a laser clinic:
a. Firstly, you need to visit the clinic before booking a treatment. Decide if this place is a good fit for you. Do they make you feel comfortable, or is something just a little off? Trust your instincts.
b. Do ask if the technicians are trained and certified. Laser hair removal is unregulated in Alberta, and there are some dodgy operators. Good clinics will have no objection to being questioned and providing related credentials.
c. Ensure you are given a thorough consultation and have asked all the questions you need to before making a booking. This is an elective procedure, and you need to be fully informed before starting treatment.

10. Check reviews
Although some bad reviews are entirely undeserved, too many should serve as a warning. Check the bad reviews to see if reasonable complaints are raised. If the clinic has no response, this should warn you that they either don’t care or have no sound response to the complaints raised.

If you have any concerns about laser hair removal treatments, reach out to the team at Tropicalaser serving Edmonton, AB. We are a team of highly trained and experienced technicians offering the best skin treatment to help you meet your body goals. We only use superior equipment with the latest FDA approved genuine lasers and radio frequency (RF) technology. Our services include laser hair removal, skin tightening, and skin rejuvenation, body sculpting, cellulite reduction, and microneedling services, and it’s available to clients across Edmonton, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove, Fort Saskatchewan, Leduc, Nisku, and Fort McMurray.

To learn more about our skin treatment services, please click here. Have a question? We’d love to hear from you. Contact us here.