Laser Treatments Are A Challenge In The Summer – Here’s Why

Everything in life has a time and place, including laser treatments. Summer might seem ideal for booking a few laser sessions to show off younger or more youthful skin. After all, summer is all about showing off natural, bare skin, and many of us are ready to use those vacation days! But before you get excited and call to book those laser treatments, pump the breaks! While summer can be a great time for some people to get lasers, it comes with a few caveats that can make it more trouble than it’s worth for many. Today, we’re breaking down the top four reasons why laser treatments are a challenge in the summer!

Reason #1: You can’t have a sunburn

At DermacareHR, we always preach that sunscreen is the foundation for healthy skin and the most important thing you should put on before heading out for the day! But if you spend more time in the sun than your body is used to or don’t reapply sunscreen throughout the day, you may wind up with a sunburn. That isn’t ideal for any kind of laser treatment because we can’t laser over a burn (ouch!). You also don’t want to get a laser treatment and then accidentally get a sunburn a few days later. Sunburns damage to the skin, and depending on the laser treatment you received, you could do some serious damage to freshly lasered skin!

Reason #2: Some lasers work best on untanned skin

If you’ve spent the last few months, weeks, or even days in the sun, you’ve likely deepened the color of your skin. (That’s one of the goals for summer, right?!) While we love a summer glow, many laser treatments work best on untanned skin. And this goes for all skin tones!
Depending on what treatment you’re getting, having your skin at its palest will help the laser better do its job. So unless you stay out of the sun regularly, we recommend saving some laser treatments for the fall and winter!

Reason #3: You can’t have significant sun exposure

We’ve talked about sunburns and tans being a non-starter for laser treatments, but now we’re getting to clarify those points even more. We might sound like a broken record saying this, but it’s critical to get the best results from your laser treatments while minimizing your chances of adverse reactions and side effects! Not only should you avoid getting a sunburn at all costs, but you also need to avoid any significant sun exposure at least three weeks before and one to four weeks (depending on which laser treatment) after laser treatment sessions. No exceptions. So whether you’re looking at laser hair removal, BBL FotoFacial (Advanced IPL), Laser CoolPeel—or whatever—any sun exposure around the time of your treatment can affect the results.

• Sun exposure before laser treatment – Skin irritated by sun exposure (even if there isn’t a sunburn) is more prone to irritation, burns, and complications from some laser treatments.
• Sun exposure after treatment – Exposing to the sun skin that is healing can increase the risk of sun damage, irritation, and complications.

For anyone thinking, “But the BareHR laser hair removal system can get rid of hair any time of year,” you’re not wrong. BUT BareHR can only be performed on skin that has not been significantly exposed to the sun.

If you still want to get laser treatments during the summer, you’ll need to keep your face, arms, legs, or any other target area as covered as possible until you’re finished with your series. This can be a challenge for many people–so much so that most providers won’t perform laser treatments in the summer.

Reason #4: You can’t wax, thread, or tweeze hair before treatments

Considering laser hair removal? You should avoid waxing, tweezing, and threading for about a month before the first treatment and for the duration of your laser hair series. (Shaving is fine, as it leaves hair within the follicle, which the laser needs to be able to deliver its energy efficiently to the follicle.) Avoiding plucking and waxing on top of keeping the treatment area out of the sun can be hard in the summer, which is why we usually recommend waiting to get this treatment in the fall and winter.

What treatments can you get in the summer?

Alright, enough of us talking about what you can’t do! While laser treatments aren’t ideal for most people in the summer—there are still PLENTY of anti-aging and skin-refreshing treatments you can get in the summer. From Vivace RF Microneedling to injectables to aesthetic treatments—and so much more—our Dermacare Experts are here to help you find the right treatment(s) to suit your goals and needs! Our skincare experts have over 60 years of combined experience and can help you make the right decision.

If you’re looking to restore a more youthful appearance or help prevent yours from fading away, we’d love to help. Book a free, no-pressure consultation with our team or call us directly at 757-317-3748. We’ve excited to provide you with a unique treatment plan to meet your skin goals!