Quick answer: You should avoid the sun for several weeks before and after laser hair removal, but very mild exposure, with SPF30+, should be harmless.
When you come in for your consultation before you have laser hair removal, we will advise you to avoid the sun as much as possible both before and after treatment. It’s good to know this well in advance, especially as many people have hair removal treatment because they are going to be going somewhere hot and sunny, and will be wearing bikinis, swimming costumes or trunks on the beach.
So if you’ve not booked your holiday and are due some laser treatment, try to book the holiday for several weeks later. If you have already booked your holiday and were hoping to squeeze the hair removal in a few days before you go, it’s best to stick to shaving or waxing for now, and get your hair lasered after you come back home. (Incidentally, it’s best to have laser treatment a few weeks before going on holiday anyway, as the hairs can take a week or so to shed after treatment.)
We will also ask if you have used a tanning bed or even self-tanning products before proceeding with any laser treatment, as we don’t advise having treatment after these, either. There are very good reasons for all these precautions, which we’ll explain in this article.
Why sun exposure matters before laser treatment
Laser hair removal works by heating up the melanin pigment inside your hair follicles to the point where it damages the cells and stops the hair from ever growing back. When skin is exposed to UV light, it naturally produces melanin as a protective response. That’s what a sun tan is. This increased melanin in the skin can theoretically cause the laser to heat up both types of melanin, which can cause damage to the skin.
UV damage has a secondary effect, too. It can increase skin sensitivity and inflammation, so there could be other adverse reactions. In short, if you have used a sun bed or even got a relatively light tan in the past few weeks, it’s not a good idea to get laser treatment on that part of the body. If you have been sunburnt, where the skin goes red, peels or blisters, you’ll need to wait for it to return to some level of normality before proceeding.
Pre-treatment sun guidelines
Our general advice is that you should stay out of the sun (including tanning booths) as much as possible for the three weeks leading up to treatment. If you get a very light tan, that might not be a problem, but we’d always recommend you err on the side of caution and stay out of the sun unless it’s absolutely necessary. Don’t forget that you can still get tanned even when it’s quite cold and cloudy, and UV can reflect off snow, sand and water. It’s not just a summer thing.
The less exposure you have in the days before the treatment, the better. You’ll know how your own skin reacts, so will probably already know how to avoid getting tanned or burnt. But using at least SPF30+ on the parts you’ll be having treated is a good start, if they are likely to be exposed. Wearing long sleeves, sun hats, long trousers and full foot covering will make sure you don’t accidentally get tanned. And of course, staying indoors or in the shade helps, too. This all applies for 2–3 weeks before treatment.
Our lasers do have a “sun safe” setting that alters the wavelength of the laser so it is kinder to tanned skin. It will give you a bit more freedom, as it means you should only avoid the sun for about three days before and after treatment (rather than three weeks).
After your treatment
The laser treatment can make your skin hypersensitive for a day or two, which can lead to blotchy skin if it comes into strong sun for relatively short periods of time. If you can avoid the sun completely for the first 24 hours, that would be great, but if not, take the same precautions as mentioned above: SPF30+, clothing and shade. After that, try hard to limit exposure for another 2–3 weeks, taking the same precautions as you did before the session.
Laser treatment is technically an injury, albeit a mild one, but your skin still needs time to heal. Being exposed to UV rays and excessive heat can stop or slow down your body’s natural healing process during a relatively vulnerable time. It can also lead to hyperpigmentation (darker spots) or hypopigmentation (lighter spots).
As you’ll need several sessions of laser hair removal, try to stay vigilant about your sun exposure over the course of the treatment. A very light tan or some mild exposure will probably not stop you from having your treatment, but it’s all a matter of degrees and timing, so if you’ve got a laser appointment coming up, start preparing a few weeks before.
Remember, once the treatment is complete, you may never need another visit, or it could be years before you do. Even die-hard sun-worshippers might agree that that is worth a few months of staying out of the UV rays. If you schedule your sessions for autumn and winter, you probably won’t even notice the difference.
Although not directly related to sun exposure, we’d also recommend you avoid swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas and any physical exertion that makes you sweat, too. This applies for a few days after treatment.
What to do if you get sun exposure after treatment
As careful as you might be, you might accidentally get exposed to the sun after treatment. A good first step is to put SPF30+ on the affected area, and cover up as soon as you notice you are exposed. That will stop UV exposure in its tracks and prevent things from getting any worse. Don’t forget, there’s UV light bouncing around everywhere, even in certain shady areas.
Apply some aloe vera gel to soothe any irritation, and moisturise, preferably with a mild, non-scented moisturiser. This will stop the skin from drying out. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
If you are concerned, contact your laser clinic, who will be able to advise you on the next best steps. If you have got quite badly exposed so you can see changes in your skin that you find concerning, you should seek medical help from a doctor or hospital drop-in centre. This would be the case with or without laser treatment, however, as severe sunburn can be dangerous.