How to treat folliculitis after laser hair removal

Before we get into how to get rid of folliculitis using laser hair removal, you might be wondering what, exactly, folliculitis is.

This skin condition is relatively common, caused by hair follicles that have been inflamed due to a bacterial or fungal infection. The inflammation is visible to the eye, and usually appears as tiny red bumps or what look like white-head pimples surrounding the affected hair follicles.

Different kinds of Folliculitis

There are two different kinds of folliculitis: superficial, which only affects part of the hair follicle, and deep, which affects the entire hair follicle. Folliculitis can be caused by a variety of things, including:

Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that lives on top of the body, but can cause issues when it goes into the body by way of an open wound.
Pseudomonas bacteria, found mostly in hot, moist areas, like a hot tub or heated pool, where the pH levels and chlorine are not properly regulated. This is commonly referred to as “hot tub folliculitis” and appears on the skin as a red, round, itchy rash.
Pseudofolliculitis bacteria, also known as razor bumps, is caused mainly by the presence of ingrown hairs that develop after shaving or sometimes can occur after waxing as well.
Pityrosporum folliculitis, caused by yeast infections, shows itself as a red, itchy blister that continues to come back on areas of the body such as the back, neck, chest, shoulders, arms, and face.

Deep folliculitis conditions are much more concerning than those described above. Varieties include:

Sycosis Barbae, which occurs in men when they first start shaving.
Gram-negative folliculitis, which can occur as a result of acne medication.
Furuncles and Carbuncles, also known as boils, occur when the hair follicles are severely infected by staphylococcus aureus.
Eosinophilic folliculitis, a condition that is found mostly in those affected with HIV/AID

Although it’s not a life-threatening condition, many people who develop Folliculitis experience itchiness, burning, soreness and achiness in the area of the skin that is affected. Additional symptoms include the development of blisters filled with pus that either break or form a crust over top, tender skin, and large and/or swollen bumps. Those suffering from Folliculitis can also start to feel self-conscious and embarrassed, as the skin condition is very noticeable and can sometimes even cause permanent scars and/or hair loss.

There are some cases where the Folliculitis is less serious and will clear up on its own, but if it appears severe, spreads over large areas of the body, continues to come back over and over again, or your symptoms do not subside after a couple of days, it is imperative to see a doctor as soon as possible so you can be prescribed to correct antibiotic of antifungal medication to control the condition and clear it up.

Laser hair removal has been known to be a great solution to people who are prone to folliculitis because it destroys the hair follicle at its root and it does not grow back. Without the presence of a hair follicle, there is no follicle for bacteria to latch onto, therefore making it impossible for folliculitis to occur.

Laser Hair Removal to treat Folliculitis

If you have suffered time and time again from folliculitis, it might be time for you to consider laser hair removal as an option for treatment. Our laser technicians are experts in the field and are happy to answer any of your questions or concerns during a consultation prior to treatment. Not only will laser hair removal help get rid of folliculitis, but it will also leave you with smooth, hair-free skin that is also free of the itchy, embarrassing red bumps and any other skin woes that occur as a result of a folliculitis skin condition. Call our office Fox Vein & Laser Experts today at 954-627-1045 to book an appointment.

Once you have completed your laser hair removal treatment, you may be wondering how your body will react, what results you will get and what are after care instructions.

Here is a complete breakdown of what to expect after your laser hair removal treatment.

Post laser hair removal treatment changes

First of all, you may experience a bit of temporary swelling and sensitivity in the areas that were treated. Occasionally folliculitis is possible.

Folliculitis can be a nuisance but can also be considered a good reaction to have after laser hair removal because it means that the hair follicles have swelled from treatment. Folliculitis will look like all bumps on the surface of the skin, and it should subside within 48 hours. Some experts believe folliculitis means laser energy penetrated the hair follicle to kill it completely, which is what you are hoping for in your laser hair removal treatment.

If you do have any other reaction or your reaction lasts longer than a day, make sure to contact your laser hair removal clinic immediately so that they can help you as needed. So in summary the changes are

1. You will see redness and swelling around the treated hair follicles immediately following treatment. After a 20 minuted to a few hours, the skin will go back to its normal look and feel.
2. Blisters and crusting are extremely rare, and are more commonly seen in darker skinned individuals.
3. Seven to fourteen days after treatment, hair may be extruded from the follicle.

Post laser hair removal treatment care

1. Immediately following treatment, cold compresses can be applied to the skin surface

2. Emollients and/or topical corticosteroid creams can be used to keep areas moist and reduce redness and swelling.

3. Blisters and crusting are treated with antibiotic ointment and daily soaks.

4. If the healing process is taking longer, the patient should relax, and not take on stressful and demanding activities.

5. You should strictly avoid the sun for 4-6 weeks before and 4-6 weeks after each session in order to prevent pigmentary changes

6. Avoid irritating the treated area. This includes shaving, waxing, plucking and bleaching. Keep the area clean to avoid infections

Laser hair removal recovery tips

It’s important to begin to exfoliate the surface of the skin 1 week after the treatment. As the body begins to push out the dead hair follicle, it will look like the hair is still growing, but it is not. The process is called purging or shedding. You may wipe way these hairs with a damp cloth or loofah once the sensitivity of treated area resolved.

Recovery after laser hair removal can be eased if you take care and use the professionally recommended skin care products after the procedure.

This step is important to help your skin stay healthy through out.

If you notice hair that is still growing in the area that was treated, it is important to contact your laser hair removal clinic right away because it could be a missed spot. A missed spot can happen if the patient was jumpy during the treatment or breaks needed to be taken. We at our Laser hair removal clinic offer you a follow-up treatment to target all missed spots completely.

Another important thing to note after laser hair removal is moisturising your skin. Take care to use it in the proper amounts and schedule. Moisturizing is necessary because it keeps the skin in balance, and it will allow for greater results in removing the dead hair underneath the surface of the skin.

You also can shave any of the dead hair pushing out if necessary, whether it is on your underarms or bikini area. The important to keep in mind is that the hair is dead as it pushes out, and it is not growing

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