Why Do You Need to Use Sunscreen After Laser Hair Removal?

The skin becomes more sensitive to the sun after a laser treatment. It’s crucial to put on sun protection after the procedure and avoid exposure to the sun up to 8 weeks to avoid serious sunburn.

Because several laser hair removal sessions may be required to achieve the hair reduction results you desire, sun exposure should be minimized in between treatments. There are gentle and effective lasers nowadays that provides permanent hair removal, but it pays to be careful when it comes to taking care of your skin.

Laser Hair Removal Treatments – Choose the One Best Suited to Your Skin Type

There are many ways to remove or reduce unwanted hair. A safe and effective way to achieve hair-free skin is to use laser, intense pulsed light (IPL) or light and heat energy (LHE). The results are noticeable and long-lasting, two of the main reasons why many patients are going to laser clinics in Orchard which is not only well-known location for shopping but also for hair removal and other aesthetic treatments.

Laser hair removal uses a single, concentrated beam of light that targets a specific skin depth where the hair follicle is located. The melanin in the hair absorbs the light (much in the way a dark skin does), and this destroys hair at the root. Laser is best used on light to darker skinned patients with dark hair because of the clear contrast between the color of the skin and the color of the hair.

IPL hair removal in Singapore works the same way. The difference between IPL and laser is that IPL uses a broad-spectrum light that targets various skin depths. IPL can also deliver its light energy to hundreds of hair follicle at a time which is more spread out than laser.

LHE hair removal, on the other hand, uses both light and heat energy to destroy the hair follicle. LHE was developed so the darker and sensitive skin types can get their unwanted hair destroyed permanently, and safely.

Avoid Getting Burned After Your Laser Hair Treatments

Whatever type of laser treatment you undergo, your skin becomes more susceptible to photodamage; hence, the importance of sun protection afterwards to avoid sunburn, premature aging.

There are various levels of sun protection you can use as indicated by the SPF number of a sunscreen.

Sun Protection Factor is a measure of how long a sunscreen is going to prevent you from getting sunburned than you normally would without a sunscreen. So a sun protection product like Dr. Sylvia’s Oil Free Sun Protection SPF30 will give you protection 30 times longer than your normal rate of sunburn.

After the initial application 30 minutes before you go out, you will need to reapply at least every two hours for as long as you are outdoors and have prolonged sun exposure. Dr. Sylvia’s Sun Screen Spray SPF 29 makes it easier and more convenient to reapply even in hard-to-reach areas.

These sun protection products are part of the advanced skin care products developed by Dr. Sylvia Ramirez, a Harvard-trained anti-aging specialist in Singapore. Her medical aesthetic clinic in Singapore also offers permanent hair reduction and removal treatments that use US FDA-cleared laser procedures.

For daily sun exposure, SPF 30 is recommended. SPF 30 already protects the skin from 97% of all incoming UVB rays, which are responsible for immediate sunburn. So a higher SPF doesn’t significantly protect you from further sunburn. In fact, SPF 50 filters out 98% of the UVB rays, while a fraction of that, at SPF 15, the sunscreen already protects you from 93% of all incoming UVB rays.

Choose Broad-Spectrum for Stronger Sun Protection

Instead of using much higher SPF, use a sunscreen that has a ‘broad spectrum’ label. This refers to the sunscreen’s ability to protect you not just of sunburn caused by UVB but also from the aging effects of UVA rays, which can actually penetrate glass. Hence, even if you are indoors but exposed to sunlight, you still would need to slather on.

Physical barrier such as long-sleeved shirts, pants, umbrellas and sunglasses can further help provide the skin additional protection against the sun. Then underneath, lather a sunscreen containing zinc oxide, a mineral that has now been widely used in sunscreens for its ability to deflect UV rays.

In conclusion, using an effective sunscreen will help protect your skin from sunburn and temporary changes in the color of the treated skin. Furthermore, using the right sunscreen can also help your skin avoid any irritation caused by exposure to the sun as the skin is more sensitive after a laser hair treatment.