The first 72 hours
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Apply cool compresses if the area feels warm. | Take hot showers or baths. |
| Use fragrance-free moisturizer 1–2 times per day. | Use saunas, steam rooms, or hot tubs. |
| Wear loose, breathable clothing over the treated area. | Exercise strenuously or sweat heavily. |
| Sleep on clean sheets on treated body areas. | Swim in chlorinated pools or the ocean. |
| Stay out of direct sun. | Apply retinoids, exfoliants, or active ingredients. |
Why heat is the main rule
Freshly treated follicles are still holding residual heat. Adding more heat (from a shower, workout, or hot tub) is what triggers most preventable irritation and prolonged redness.
The two-week window
- · Daily SPF 30+ on the treated area whenever exposed.
- · Gentle, fragrance-free cleanser and moisturizer only.
- · No exfoliation — physical or chemical — for the first 5–7 days.
- · Gentle exfoliation from day 7 onward helps shedding hairs release.
- · Shaving is fine once redness has fully resolved (usually 24–48 hours).
- · Never wax, pluck, or thread between sessions.
Ongoing (until your next session)
Between sessions, treat the area normally — with two exceptions: continue daily SPF, and stick to shaving (or trimming, or depilatory cream) for hair management. Skincare routines can return to normal after the two-week window, but resume retinoids and acids gradually.
Detailed guidance for each product category: moisturizers, sunscreen, exfoliation.
When to call your provider
- · Blistering of any size.
- · Pain that persists or worsens after 24 hours.
- · Redness spreading outside the treated area.
- · Signs of infection: warmth, pus, fever.
Full detail on normal vs. warning reactions lives in Common Side Effects.
Key takeaways
- · 72 hours: no heat, no sweat, no direct sun.
- · Two weeks: daily SPF, no exfoliants, no active ingredients.
- · Fragrance-free moisturizer is the only product you strictly need.
- · Shaving between sessions is fine — waxing is not.
- · Persistent pain or blistering warrants a same-day call.