If you’ve recently had a laser hair removal session, then it’s absolutely crucial to give your skin some time to rest before soaking up the sun.

This does not mean that you should completely avoid laser hair removal treatments during the summer months. While prolonged direct exposure to the sun should be avoided year-round, the summer months are just as good as any for laser hair removal.

Keep reading to learn more as we discuss some tips and precautions to consider.

How Long after Laser Hair Removal can you Tan?

While it’s important to protect your skin from the sun’s harsh rays both before and after a laser hair removal appointment, you must go to all possible lengths to shield freshly treated skin from lengthy sun exposure.

Optimum results aside, you’ll be saving your skin from extreme damage by taking all precautions.

The cardinal rule is: you must avoid sun tanning for a minimum of 2 weeks before and after a laser hair removal session. 

There’s rock-solid scientific evidence behind this logic:

Right after a tanning session, your skin remains highly sensitive (up to 2 weeks at least). The sun makes matters worse by heating your skin using its highly harmful rays.

Exposing your skin to lasers for hair removal after a sun tan may cause:

• Hyper-pigmentation
• Burns
• Scarring

Likewise, after a laser treatment, your skin needs time to adjust to the effects brought onto it. This is when sun-bathing and tanning must be avoided at all costs.

This also means bidding farewell to beach visits for at least a fortnight.

Why shouldn’t you Tan after Laser Hair Removal?

During the summer months, experts say that you mustn’t laser your face or other areas of your skin which are prone to damage from sun exposure.

Other areas include:

• Arms
• Legs
• Fingers
• Toes
• Elbow

This is Important because:

Skin on the body parts mentioned in the list above are often sensitive. Skin tends to be stretched taut during certain movements involving these body parts.

Areas that can Receive Year-round Laser Treatment

While tanning may not seem harmful, UVB and UVA rays definitely cause long-term damage.

UVB radiations impact your skin’s top layer, while UVA rays penetrate into the deeper layers of skin. If you shower after hours of tanning, you’ll notice your skin becomes darker than your regular tone.

This is especially true after a recent laser hair removal session. This is so because a laser hair removal treatment exfoliates your skin’s top layer.

Thus, the newly revealed underlying layers are more sensitive and prone to tanning’s effects.

While tanning certain areas must be avoided for a laser hair removal treatment during the summer, certain other areas are always shielded. Such areas are suitable for year-round laser treatments, and are not seasonally restricted.

For example: the underarms which are protected by your shoulders and arms. Likewise, your bikini area is also similarly suitable for obvious reasons. 

Use Sunscreen Generously

Daily sunscreen use is crucial.

Apart from helping to protect skin after a laser hair removal session, sunscreen will also slow down your skin’s aging process. Remember, sunscreen becomes even more necessary after a laser treatment.

Choose a broad spectrum SPF which will shield your skin from both UVA and UVB rays and apply sunscreen generously even when it’s not especially sunny.

Taking extra precautions is much better than skin damage and premature aging! If you experience dry, flaky skin right after a laser hair removal treatment, try aloe-vera or a lotion to hydrate your skin.

Avoid Gyms/Workouts/Jacuzzi to let your Skin Heal

Since laser hair removal exposes your pores, your skin becomes excessively sensitive, susceptible and vulnerable to infection after a treatment.

You must take several precautions to avoid irreversible damage until your skin heals completely. It is extremely imperative to avoid workouts or gym sessions during this time.

Not only this, you should also avoid Jacuzzis, saunas, or swimming in chlorinated pools or oceans for a minimum of two days.

Once this critical period is over, it’s absolutely safe to get back into exercising and sweating it out.

It’s also important that you avoid skin exfoliation for five days post treatment. So keep aside your body scrubs, shower loofahs and bath sponges until your skin is ready to take them on.