When it comes to skin procedures, the aftercare is as important as the treatment itself.
Avoid harsh cleansers or anything with fragrance. Instead, use mild, hypoallergenic products, like non-soap cleansers and fragrance-free moisturizers. After washing, gently pat your face dry with soft towels. Avoid sun.
Treatments and procedures are an exciting way to let your best face shine, but be cautious when taking care of your skin post-treatment.
Avoid harsh chemicals, peels, waxes, or other laser treatments at least two weeks after your appointment. Avoiding these will allow your skin to heal and return its hardy barrier to its natural state. Since your skin may be more inflamed than usual, stick to the basics: gentle cleansing, moisturizing, and minimal contact.
Once the skin is clear of dead cells, toxins, hair, or any additional skin condition the treatment is targeting, it’s time to give the skin a break.
After treatment, avoid makeup or topical creams on the affected area. These products may clog pores and lead to further irritation. If necessary, apply makeup or creams in small amounts to see if irritation does occur.
Post-treatment, the skin’s protective barrier is weakened. Since the protective barrier isn’t as strong, it leaves the skin more vulnerable and inclined to damage.
After your procedure, it is crucial to stay out of the sun for at least seven days post-treatment. Direct exposure to the sun is detrimental to the skin due to the harsh effects of UV rays, which will slow down the healing process. This is due to the excess skin sensitivity from a treatment that leaves you more inflamed and irritated than usual. The vulnerability of the skin post-treatment calls for cold temperatures and reduced exposure to heat. Avoid excess heat from hot showers, tubs, heating pads, or saunas. A surplus of heat causes the pores to open up, which could cause further irritation and discomfort.
Aftercare serums and sunscreen are essential after skin treatments.
Recently, treated skin, such as laser removal and microdermabrasion, makes the skin extremely vulnerable and prone to damage. The sun and its damaging effects require you to stack up on the SPF. Even brief sun exposure requires sunscreen and supportive aftercare serums to protect the skin and aid recovery. Wearing sunscreen will ensure that your skin will stay protected, even in the harshest of conditions. It’s important to remember that being in the sun for a short amount of time still does some damage. With that said, don’t forget to layer up on the SPF and reapply every so often!