PCA EXFOLIATION TREATMENTS

The effectiveness of IPL/SHR removal is highly dependent on your cooperation. There are many things a person can inadvertently do to decrease either the safety or effectiveness of their treatment. THEREFORE, IT IS imperative to follow these directions.

1. Tanning should be avoided for 4-6 weeks prior to treatment. Self-tanning creams and sprays also need to completely fade. If a patient is exposed to sun during the course of the treatment, sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 should be applied as a thick layer 20 minutes before sun exposure.
2. No sunless tanning or tanning beds during the treatment phase.
3. Medicated Creams (examples include Glycolic, Tretinoin, Retinol and some Antibiotics) that make you photosensitive should be stopped one week prior to treatment.
4. No chemical peel skin care treatments for two weeks before and after laser treatments.
5. Applying ice packs to the treatment area before and after your treatment will help reduce pain, redness and adverse reactions.
6. Do not wax, tweeze, bleach, thread or use depilatory agents for 4 weeks prior to treatment. 
7. If facial hair is being treated, usually avoidance of these methods for 2 weeks is necessary because facial hair grows faster.
8. If a form of hair removal is necessary, shaving or clipping can be done because the methods allow the hair to stay in the follicle.
9. Lotions, creams, makeup and deodorant are removed before treatment as they can obstruct or refract IPL/SHR light negatively.
10. Applying ice packs to the treatment area before and after your treatment will help reduce pain, redness and adverse reactions. 
11. SHAVE 1 DAY PRIOR TO YOUR TREATMENT. SHAVING SERVICES ARE NOT OFFERED.

 Your cooperation is essential to ensure the success of IPL/SHR treatments. Please follow explicit directions with regards to tanning, other hair removal methods and topical agents. 

Although pre-treatment instructions are more important to follow in order to ensure safe and effective results, some ALSO concern themselves with post-treatment care. Below is a list of post-treatment instructions.

1. Immediately after treatment there may be mild redness and swelling at the treatment site, which could last up to 2 hours or longer. The redness could last up to 2-3 days. The treated area will feel like a sunburn.
2. Apply ice in 15-20 minute intervals for the first few hours after treatment to reduce any discomfort or swelling. If redness or swelling persists, ice can be used in 15 minute intervals 3-4 times a day for 3 days.
3. Makeup may be used immediately after the treatment unless there is blistering.
4. Avoid sun exposure. Sunscreen SPF 30 or higher must be applied when in sunlight.
5. Avoid picking or scratching the treated skin. Do not use any other hair removal treatment products or services (waxing, electrolysis or tweezing) that will disturb the hair follicle in the treatment area.
6. Wash the treated area and pat dry for 3 days after treatment. Do not scrub.
7. Start gently scrubbing treated area on the 7th day (exfoliate).
8. Anywhere from 5-20 days after the treatment, shedding of the surface hair may occur and will appear as new hair growth. This is not new hair growth.
9. There are no restriction on bathing except to treat the skin gently and avoid using extremely hot water (as if you had a sunburn) for the first 24 hours.