The perfect solution to continuously growing unwanted hair on your face and body is getting hair or IPL done. These methods stop the hair from growing for a period of 6 months to two years or even more in some cases. You can get laser or IPL done by a professional or use at-home hair removal devices like Ulike Sapphire Air3 to give yourself a smooth and comfortable hair removal treatment.
But, there are certain measures you need to take while undergoing hair removal sessions. The use of deodorants after IPL is one of them. There is a debate on whether you can use them after IPL/Laser or not. So, let’s end the debate in this article.
Also Read: IPL Hair Removal: The Ultimat Guide
Table of Contents:
- Part 1: What Ingredients Are Present in a Deodorant?
- Part 2: What are the Pros and Cons of Wearing a Deodorant?
- Part 3: Can I Use Deodorant After Laser/IPL Hair Removal?
- Part 4: After How Much Time Can I Continue Using Deodorant?
- Part 5: What Type of Deodorant Should I Use after Laser/IPL Hair Removal?
- Part 6: What Can I Do Instead Of Wearing A Deodorant?
- Part 7: Are There Any Other Things Should I Avoid After IPL/Laser?
Part 1: What Ingredients Are Present in a Deodorant?
Have you ever wondered about how a deodorant works? And how can it stop your underarms from excessive sweating and exuding an unpleasant disorder? Well, most deodorants and antiperspirants have certain ingredients in them that work in different ways to serve the purpose. Let’s see some common ones
- Aluminum salts: Aluminum salts such as aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex or aluminum chlorohydrate are used in deodorants to block your sweat glands and refrain from excessive sweating.
- Talc: Talc, a combination of magnesium, silicon, and oxygen is used to absorb extra oil and moisture from the body. This results in reduced body odor.
- Cyclomethicone: It is usually present in aerosols, as an alcohol substitute, to hold all the ingredients together.
- Alcohol: Different deodorants use different alcohol which serves various functions. For instance, stearyl alcohol can heal your dry skin while other alcohols are added to give your body a cooling sensation.
- Triclosan: it is an antifungal and antibacterial agent that stops odor-causing bacteria from growing and thus reduces the unpleasant smell from your armpits.
- Fragrance: Deodorants also have fragrances for you to smell good and mask the body odor.
Part 2: What are the Pros and Cons of Wearing a Deodorant?
We discussed the most common ingredients present in deodorants so that you know what effects can deodorants cause and whether are they good or bad for you. Now, let’s discuss their benefits and side effects.
Pros
- Deodorants make you smell good. Smelling good gives you the confidence to interact with others and feel fresh throughout the day
- They increase the acidity of your skin causing bacteria responsible for odor to die. As a result, they prevent you from giving off a bad odor
- As you smell good, you will attract more attention from everyone and will look more tidy and clean than those who do not use the deodorants
Cons
- The very first con of wearing a deodorant is that it can cause allergic reactions. Parabens, propylene glycol, and lanolins can be the reason for these reactions
- The fragrances present in deodorants can irritate your skin
- The deodorants that also work as antiperspirants have aluminum salts in them. Studies show that aluminum can lead to Alzheimer’s disease or breast cancer. However, there is no solid proof of the association of these with aluminum salts
Part 3: Can I Use Deodorant After Laser/IPL Hair Removal?
Now, you know very well about the main ingredients, benefits, and side effects of deodorant. Here, the question arises about their suitability after IPL or laser hair removal.
As mentioned earlier, deodorants can lead to allergic reactions and skin rashes, which means they might not be good for everyone. After Laser/IPL hair removal, your skin becomes extra sensitive and the chemicals in deodorants can make your already sensitive skin more prone to redness, rashes, allergies, and blistering.
So, it is prohibited to wear a deodorant immediately after IPL/laser hair removal.
Part 4: After How Much Time Can I Continue Using Deodorant?
Some people are very accustomed to using deodorants and discontinuing their use feels like impossible to them. But, if you want your body to stay hairless for a long period, you will have to make this sacrifice.
This does not mean you can never use deodorant. Their use is usually prohibited for 1-2 days and you can continue using deodorants after this. Moreover, waiting for a maximum of 2 weeks is considered even better so that your skin can recover completely and no adverse reactions occur.
Part 5: What Type of Deodorant Should I Use after Laser/IPL Hair Removal?
Completely stopping the use of deodorants for 1-2 days is necessary but a week’s time period is too long to wait. To minimize any skin reactions and let your skin recover for 15 days, you can replace your deodorant with an alcohol-free and fragrance-free one.
Try to buy a deodorant with more natural ingredients and less chemicals in it. Additionally, you can try crystal deodorants as they are less harsh on your body as compared to normal deodorants.
Part 6: What Can I Do Instead Of Wearing A Deodorant?
Instead of using deodorant and taking risks, you can bring some changes to your daily routine, and use natural ingredients to drive away the odor and smell pleasant.
Use Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is a natural anti-inflammatory agent and also works as an astringent. This makes it capable of absorbing excess moisture from your skin and killing bacteria. So, when you apply it on your body, it absorbs sweat and prevents bacteria from growing and causing smell.
Shower Regularly
There are times when we do not have any energy to go and take a bath after a strenuous physical activity. If we do not take a shower after sweating a lot throughout the day, the moisture stays in our body, promoting the growth of bacteria.
As bacteria grow, you will start producing odor. So, make showers your routine.
Wear Loose Clothes
Tight clothes do not cause sweating but they take away your body’s freedom to breathe in fresh air. Moreover, it will slow down the evaporation process which means the sweat is going to stay there and cause a foul smell.
So, make sure you wear loose clothes so that the air can pass through, release heat from the body, and minimize sweating.
Wear Clothes with Natural Fabrics
Wearing clothes with natural fabrics like cotton, linen, merino wool, or linen can also reduce sweating and thus prevent foul smell. Cotton can absorb moisture, bamboo is resistant to bacteria and mildew and merino wool is known for regulating the temperature of your body.
In addition, these fabrics are breathable and offer even airflow throughout your body.
Avoid Some Foods
There are some foods like garlic, onions, or red meat that can make you smell after eating them. Furthermore, those who eat spicy foods tend to sweat more. Therefore, avoiding these during your skin repair time after the laser can prevent you from smelling bad and sweating more.
Part 7: Are There Any Other Things Should I Avoid After IPL/Laser?
The precautions after IPL/Laser are not limited to deodorants only. If you want your hair removal to go well, avoiding the following is also necessary.
Makeup
Makeup might be your solution to hide the flaky and scabies skin after laser, but it can cause skin irritation and discomfort. The makeup also interferes with your skin repair so avoiding it at least for a day is a must.
After 1-2 days, you can start wearing makeup but wear the non-abrasive one with the least harmful chemicals in it.
Skincare Products
Just like how makeup has harsh chemicals in it, certain skincare products also contain alcohol, parabens, and fragrances in them. These can cause redness and irritation on your skin. Therefore, avoid applying them for 2 days.
You can apply gentle moisturizers on your skin as they speed up the recovery process.
Sun Tanning
Your skin is sensitive and its outer protective barrier is disturbed after laser/IPL hair removal. We are well aware of how UV rays penetrate our skin and can cause hypopigmentation and skin cancer.
Now, since the outer barrier is broken after laser, it means UV rays can penetrate more easily, damage your skin, and lead to hyperpigmentation, redness, and burns.
Shaving
Hair removal with a razor is usually recommended in between the laser or IPL sessions. But, shaving immediately after your session can irritate your already sensitive skin. It can abrade the epidermis even more thus leading to some serious skin damage.
So, wait for at least 5-6 days before shaving your unwanted hair from the body. You can follow the right way of shaving before your next session from How to Shave Before Using Ulike IPL Hair Removal Device
Retinol
Retinols make your skin sensitive specifically to light. This occurs as retinol increases your cell turnover and makes your skin thin. When you go for your next hair removal session, the thin skin can burn easily or scarring can occur.
So, do not use it for a minimum of three days to keep your skin safe.
Hot Showers
Hot showers or saunas can act as external aggressors for your sensitive skin. So, when you take a hot shower after IPL or laser, it will more likely cause skin burns and blistering.
Wait for 2 days and then you can go back to your normal skincare and showering routine.
Conclusion
Deodorants have become an essential part of our lives to smell good and avoid excessive sweating. They help us in smelling good while IPL/Laser helps us in getting smooth skin for years. However, using a deodorant after laser/IPL can irritate your skin and cause blistering.
So, avoid wearing a deodorant for at least 2 days after your session. You can try wearing loose clothes with natural fabrics and apply witch hazel during this time. This helps in reducing the sweat and growth of bacteria.
