Are you a fitness freak who never misses a single day at the gym, whether you have a hectic schedule, it's raining or there's no transportation? Also, are you planning to undergo laser hair removal?
However, you are confused because you have learned that exercise is prohibited after laser hair removal, as stated in the guide Did you see “ laser hair removal guide ” mentioned? Don’t worry, we will help you with your concerns.
So let's find out if you can exercise after laser hair removal, when you can exercise after lasering, and what the risk factors are when exercising right after treatment.
- Part 1: How does sweat affect laser hair removal?
- Part 2: Possible risks and complications of exercise after laser hair removal?
- Part 3: When can you exercise after laser hair removal?
- Part 4: Types of exercise you should avoid after laser hair removal
- Part 5: Guidelines for immediate follow-up
- Part 6: Conclusion
How does sweat affect laser hair removal?
The main problem with exercising after laser hair removal is the production of sweat on the skin, so we need to understand why sweating is bad for laser hair removal results.
First of all, there are two types of sweat: eccrine glands and apocrine glands. The eccrine glands open directly into the pores on the surface of the skin and produce a clear, watery fluid. The apocrine glands, on the other hand, are closely connected to the hair follicles and carry sweat from the follicles to the skin. They produce a thick, protein-rich fluid.
The apocrine glands are more commonly found in hairy areas of the body, such as the armpits and pubic area, and also produce bad body odor. When the laser destroys the hair follicle, it also blocks the channel that carries sweat to the skin.
As a result, sweat is produced and accumulated, causing skin irritation and slowed healing after laser treatment. In addition, sweating triggers the side effects of the laser and slows down the healing of the skin.
Therefore, you should avoid any activities that cause you to sweat for at least 2 days after laser hair removal.
Possible risks and complications of exercise after laser hair removal?
It is recommended to avoid exercising for 48 hours after laser hair removal. That's about 2 days, which may seem like a lot for gym enthusiasts, but exercising immediately after laser hair removal may lead to worse results.
The potential risks and complications of exercise after laser hair removal are as follows:
- Excessive sweating and overheating of the skin
- Sweat leads to bacterial development on the skin
- Inflammation in the hair follicles, which leads to folliculitis
- skin redness, discomfort and irritation
- Changes in skin pigmentation
- blisters and scabs on the skin
- Delayed recovery of the treated area after treatment
When can you exercise after laser hair removal?
When we talk about exercising before laser hair removal, you can do whatever you want, but make sure you take a cold shower and clean the area to be treated well before the session. This is about how long it takes to exercise again after laser hair removal.
After laser hair removal, you should avoid exercising for 48 hours. You should wait at least 24 hours before exercising. In addition to exercising, you should avoid hot showers, sun exposure, and anything that heats up your body.
You should also avoid exercising if you have had laser treatment in your armpits or bikini line, as this area has dense hair and sweat glands. You can exercise about 1 to 2 days after laser hair removal. If you do not exercise for 2 days, your body will have enough time to heal.
Therefore, you should schedule your workouts during the week when you have a break without disrupting your daily routine. You can also simply do an extra workout in the coming days to keep up with your muscle building and weight loss.
Types of exercise you should avoid after laser hair removal
A hairless body is like the icing on the cake of well-trained muscles. However, exercising immediately after laser hair removal is not a good idea. Therefore, you should avoid the following types of exercise after laser hair removal.
- Any exercise that can increase your heart rate. This includes especially endurance training such as rowing, mountain climbing, jumping jacks, circuit training, boxing, skipping rope, burpees and jogging.
- Exercises that increase the core body temperature. These include planks, squats, push-ups, sit-ups, flutter kicks and jumping lunges.
- Also avoid cycling, swimming, weight lifting, Zumba, CrossFit and brisk walking.
Even if you should avoid these activities, there are low-impact exercises you can do.
- Meditation and yoga, as they are not associated with increased body temperature or sweating
- Take a walk when the weather is nice
Guidelines for immediate follow-up treatment
Here are some aftercare tips to get the best results from laser hair removal. You need to follow these steps for 2 to 7 days after the treatment.
- After laser treatment, pamper your body with cool compresses, aloe vera and moisturizer to nourish your skin and promote healing.
- Use prescription creams if your doctor has recommended them. Also follow your doctor's instructions for aftercare
- Do not exercise or swim
- Do not wear makeup or use active skin care products
- Do not go to spas, saunas or take hot showers
- Do not scratch or pick at the treated area
- Wear loose clothing and ensure airflow
Conclusion
Exercise causes the body to sweat and heat up. This leads to skin irritation, rashes, inflammation and delayed recovery. That's why doctors recommend their patients take a two-day break from exercise after laser hair removal.
Even if you enjoy exercising, you should pamper your body and let it recover before going to the gym.
