The kind of IPL hair removal aftercare tips one would want to see from an Australian are not complicated. Cool down the skin and put some protection on it against the sun, for the first 24–48 hours do without heat or friction, put off active products such as retinoids or AHA BHA for a couple of days and be sure to apply a good post-treatment moisturiser with SPF 50+ to any exposed parts. But this is the crux of it: “I’ll be right” is no way to approach your skincare when you have freshly treated, sensitive skin and our sun is what it is.
Julian Norwood here. Anyone who has had a guest wonder why the weather was not put in the brochure will know I am not one to gloss over aftercare. The errors people make in the wake of an IPL are rarely anything dramatic. It is the everyday sort of thing: they will have a hot shower or head to the gym in a sweat, go for a stroll on the beach, or put on their usual night serum without a second thought.
Quick Aftercare Wins
You will do most of your protecting in the day or two following treatment. A few simple habits in that time will keep redness and irritation at bay and you will not be left grumbling for a week over what should have been a routine matter.
Consider the following a handy checklist for post IPL care. Better to put a screenshot on the phone before you are in the car park trying to recall it all.
- Put a cool compress on if the area is warm or has a prickly, sunburnt feel.
- If the clinician is of the mind you should, a gentle cooling gel or aloe vera will do.
- Stick to a fragrance-free moisturiser to look after the skin barrier.
- Make a habit of putting SPF 50+ on the treated skin and stay out of the sun.
- For 24–48 hours leave the sauna, steam room and any strenuous exercise alone.
- Loose clothing is called for, particularly for leg, underarm or bikini line work.
- There is no contest between shaving and waxing; shave. Do not pluck or thread in between sessions.
- Let the skin get over itself before you resume with exfoliants and the like.
- Some redness and swelling is to be expected, as is the odd “pepper spot” in the ensuing weeks. Should you have blistering or pain of any consequence, get some advice.
First Two Days Matter
It is not the time for anything fancy so much as making sure you do not aggravate the area. You may find your skin is tight and tender, like you have been in the sun longer than you meant to.
My view on it is to be boring for 48 hours. Boring is something of an understatement but it spares you the trouble in the long run.
Keep Skin Cool
On the face or underarms a cool compress can take the edge off. Not icy though. A cold pack for a few minutes is fine, but there is no point in being rough as guts with ice on top of treated skin. Heavily perfumed gels are not going to do you any favours either; if you use aloe vera let it be plain.
Wash Gently
A mild cleanser and lukewarm water for the first day or two. Hot water will only add to the redness and inflammation, a lesson some learn to their regret. And dry by patting, not rubbing with a towel; friction has a way of catching you out.
Steer Clear Of Triggers
What you don’t do is often more valuable. In Australia the conditions are such that you could walk from your car to the shops and put enough sun on your skin to ruffle it.
Sun And Heat Risks
Especially in the first 48 hours but really for the whole period in between, avoid the sun. IPL is about pigment and a recent tan or burn can lead to an uneven response. Here in Australia that is no idle concern. According to the SunSmart guidance of the Australian Government, a UV level of 3 or more calls for all five types of sun protection: sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses, as well as shade and appropriate clothing. One can find the official advice on UV and sun protection at Australian Government SunSmart. The recommendation is of particular import in the wake of any light-based treatment.
For the first 24 to 48 hours you should steer clear of hot baths, the sauna, steam room, hot yoga and spas. The heat will only exacerbate redness, swelling and sensitivity. As for exercise following an IPL procedure, a conservative approach is best: no less than 24 hours off from anything strenuous, and 48 if the area is still hot or irritated.
Skincare Ingredients To Put On Hold
There are some ingredients that will sting like a mozzie bite you cannot stop at: retinoids, AHA BHA acids, strong vitamin actives and scrubs. Unless your clinician has said otherwise, for a few days post-treatment use nothing but unadorned skincare that is kind to the barrier.
A mistake many make is to think what is normally “gentle enough” will do now; with skin in a sensitive state after IPL it may not be. Products that would not ordinarily be an issue can provoke a reaction.
Hair Removal Between Sessions
Waxing, plucking, threading or the use of an epilator are out between sessions since they take out the root IPL is meant to target. Shaving is the way to go as it leaves the follicle intact while cutting the hair at the surface. Users of home devices from Braun or the Shaver Shop can be forgiven for being put off by patchy regrowth, but that is no reason to start yanking hair by the roots. Leave the follicle be and follow the plan.
Simple Skin Support
You will not find glamour in the products one should use after IPL. They are quiet achievers in the form of a plain sunscreen, a fragrance-free moisturiser and maybe a soothing gel from the clinician. When Julian Norwood speaks of simple he means it in earnest, not the sort of thing with a citrus scent and twelve botanicals added for marketing purposes.
Moisture And Barrier Care
To see the area settle and to put an end to dryness a post-treatment moisturiser of the bland variety is useful. After laser hair removal opt for something without fragrance and made for sensitive skin. You may be put on to their own post-care line by a brand or clinic such as VicLaser, Silk Laser Clinics, Laser Clinics Australia or Australian Skin Clinics. There is nothing wrong with that, but what is important is the principle, not the label: it should hydrate and be free of strong actives and irritation.
Daily Sun Protection
In Australia SPF 50+ is a sensible minimum for treated skin on show. Be liberal with the application and put some on again when you are out and about. Do not consider it a pass to bake in the midday sun; if you can cover up, do so. The cooler months are often preferred for IPL simply because it is easier to avoid the strong sun and to keep from sweating as though one was lugging camping equipment through a car park.
Hair Will Shed
Do not expect to see results on the spot. Hair is not going to disappear off the bed like a rabbit from a hat. In time, over a day or two or even weeks, it will come loose and shed. Some are taken aback by this thinking it is regrowth when in fact the treated hair is making its exit.
What to Expect
Some swelling and redness in the vicinity of the follicles is to be had in the immediate aftermath of treatment, though it will subside in a matter of hours or so. Shedding tends to begin in a week or two but depends on the device settings and hair type. Since hair is cyclical in its growth, you need several sessions for a reduction to be apparent. 4-6 weeks is a typical interval, though the face might be put on another timetable at the clinician’s discretion.
| Stage | What You May Notice | Typical Timing | What To Do |
| Right After Treatment | Slight swelling, warmth and mild redness | First few hours | Cool compress and gentle skincare, nothing hot |
| Early Recovery | Follicular bumps, tenderness | 24–48 hours | Wear something loose, apply SPF 50+ and moisturiser |
| Shedding Phase | An appearance of growth before the hair loosens | 7–14 days or so | Shave as you must, but no waxing or plucking |
| Visible Reduction | Regrowth is slower and patchier | Once you have had a number of sessions | Adhere to the plan |
| Next Session | Time for a repeat | 4–6 weeks in most cases | Observe the advised wait |
There is a certain reality to it: if a beach weekend is but a day away, you would not want to be having a treatment on any exposed part of the body. You might appear to be in good order for the most part, yet your skin could prove more reactive than it seems.
Watch For Trouble Signs
For the most part laser hair removal aftercare is unproblematic; some redness and swelling is to be expected. But one should know the difference between what is normal and what is not. Have an instinct that something is amiss? Put stock in it. A clinician will put you right rather than have you at home with a raised eyebrow and a search engine open.
Common And Usually Mild
After IPL it is not unusual to report a warm feeling, dryness or itchiness, and mild swelling of the follicles. Sensitive skin, say on the face or bikini line, can be a little more responsive. A cooling gel or a good moisturiser and steering clear of triggers will see these things over. Your clinician may put you on a topical corticosteroid for a while and for good reason (seek advice), but do not be tempted to self-prescribe anything stronger without professional input.
When To Contact A Clinician
Should you have blistering, crusting, pain of any consequence, pigment alteration, infection or redness and swelling that does not abate, get a medical review. Those with a propensity for skin sensitivity or who have been in the sun of late need to be all the more careful. SkinCeuticals and Healthline have their general information, but for matters pertaining to your treatment the clinician in charge is the one to call.
Match Care To Area
IPL has different effects on different parts of the body. The face is more fussy and shows it, whereas the legs will put up with daily life but are subject to more friction from exercise and clothing. Some practicality in how you care for the area will spare you irritation and worry.
Face And Neck
Plain skincare is the order of the day for a few days, no exfoliation or active serums and do not linger in the sun. An SPF 50+ and a hat are de rigueur as this is not so easily concealed under trackies as your legs.
Underarms And Bikini
Loose clothes are best. Deodorants and the like can sting so leave them be. Gym work, hot surroundings and tight activewear are better left until the skin has settled; they are irritants enough with the sweat and friction involved.
Legs And Arms
It is easy to be lulled by how well these larger areas feel and overdo it. Aggressive exfoliation, a long walk or a hot shower are the usual offenders. Wait for your clinician to give the nod and for the skin to be completely calm before you exfoliate and then do so with a light hand.
Plan The Next Session
IPL is about consistency, not heroics. It is a process that works in cycles so spacing is integral to the treatment. It is a case of making sure you are in good nick for the next session with no setbacks to speak of.
Timing And Shaving
You will be put down for another appointment in the region of four to six weeks, the exact interval being a matter for the clinician and the device employed. If it is a home unit you are using, the manufacturer will tell you what to do, do not take your cousin’s word for it. As for shaving, the answer is generally yes, or at least as directed. It is to keep the surface hair from getting in the way and let the light do its work on the follicle. Do not turn up waxed and think it will make any difference.
What To Sort Beforehand
There are the practicalities one is apt to forget prior to an appointment: new actives in your routine, medications, a fake tan or time in the sun. Or whether you can forgo the heat and exercise to follow. If you are going to be in a sweaty dash across town because of work or the lack of parking, book accordingly. A lunchtime slot and then an afternoon in constricting trousers is hardly sensible. Where you can, book when there is less of a chance of sun on the areas to be treated.
- Shave as you are told, but plucking and waxing are out. Should your clinician see fit, put the retinoids and exfoliants on hold before you are treated.
- Make sure to put on something loose and do not make a rush of it on the way home. And have a good post-treatment moisturiser, SPF 50+ and a mild cleanser at hand prior to the session.
Think Like An Australian
You will not find the sort of IPL aftercare advice we put out in Australia by way of some generic treatment notes lifted from overseas; it has to be suited to our climate. The UV is no joke here, humidity will exacerbate any friction and an unthinking weekend outdoors can put all your careful treatment habits to waste. Local conditions are as important as what is set on the machine.
Sun, Seasons And Real Life
Autumn or winter tend to be the time for IPL in this country for most Australians since one can more readily cover the skin and control sun exposure. One can get away with it in summer if one is sufficiently disciplined and plans accordingly and forgoes the impromptu trip to the beach.
Then there is indirect exposure to contend with: time behind the wheel, at a café table in the glare, on the sidelines of a game or picking up the kids from school, even a few minutes with the dog. It does not take an excursion into the bush to aggravate newly treated skin. A normal Thursday will suffice.
Who This Is For
We have put together these tips for the clinic or home-device IPL user looking for something they can put into practice. It will also serve those who want to measure the counsel of Silk Laser Clinics, VicLaser, Laser Clinics Australia or Australian Skin Clinics against one another; while they may put forward different products, the underlying aftercare is much the same.
Those with blistering, an active skin condition, pigment that is behaving oddly, a recent bad sunburn or a propensity for strong reactions to light-based treatments should not rely on this as their sole guidance. Seek clinical advice for a tailored approach instead of trying to muddle through.
FAQ
Once you are back home and your treated skin is warm, you are apt to second-guess yourself and wonder about the gym timetable. We can understand that. Aftercare is only simple until then.
Best aftercare for IPL hair removal?
The essentials are to cool the area, apply a gentle moisturiser and SPF 50+ where the skin is exposed, and for 24 to 48 hours shun heat and friction. Leave the waxing and plucking between sessions.
What to avoid?
Hot showers, the sauna or steam room, hard exercise, sunbathing, retinoids and AHA BHA or any waxing or plucking. People will tell you these are the usual culprits for irritation.
Is shaving a must with every IPL?
For the most part, yes, you will be directed to shave beforehand so as not to interfere with the IPL like waxing would and to leave the follicle intact.
When do results show?
In a week or two some of the hair will be shed but you need several sessions for a marked reduction. Hair grows in cycles so a full course takes its time.
And how long before I can work out?
Twenty four hours is fine for light activity provided the skin is calm. But if there is redness or heat still present, bide your time for 48 hours with anything strenuous. Better to wait a day than to go ahead and ruffle the area.
A Word From Julian
There is nothing complicated about proper IPL aftercare, it is a matter of common sense and discipline. Protect the skin from the sun, keep your products unadorned, let the treatment do its job and stay clear of heat and friction. You will have your troubles if you do too much too soon because the skin appears to be alright.
Treat aftercare as integral to the session and you will have an easier time of it. In Australia where the sun has a way of making an uninvited appearance and staying for the afternoon, being a bit careful is not being fussy, it is good judgement.
More on this: ideal season for IPL.
