Hi, I’ve been reading this website extensively and appreciate so much all the informative posts - thank you!
I had a question after reading several posts about unexplained rashes or other skin inflammation post-laser. I remember when I first visited a tanning bed that afterwards I had the most horrible irritation that was, by trial and error, eventually traced to my choice of bath soap. (at the time Tone and Dial deodorant soap) These were the soaps I used PRIOR to tanning. They reacted with the UV to cause the irritation. Does anyone know if this could perhaps apply to laser light as well? I always use Dove unscented now whenever I know I will be exposed to intense light of any kind. (including laser)
Might be something to think about before your next treatment.
I know you say it was traced to your soap choice, but how do you know that the rash was not caused by your skin touching an unsanitary surface that was not wiped correctly after the customer before you? Not rinsing the skin well after lathering with soap can cause a contact dermitis as well. Just throwing some other possibilites out there that may not relate to different spectrums of light.
I am aware that lasers do not emit UV. However, some of the same medications contraindicated with UV exposure (antibiotics, accutane etc) are also contraindicated with laser. If you do a websearch on “photosensitivity” and “soap” you will find many dermatology related articles on the subject. It’s simply one more thing worth considering that could “possibly” eliminate post-laser irritation or allergic reaction.
Just because one type of light treatment has the same precautions as another does not mean that they are in anyway the same. There are many different variables as to why your skin may break out.
#1: Your skin is highly sensitive to being treated with laser #2: Your skin does not like being shaved in certain areas #3: Anti-ageing products that you use (containing substances such as Retin A and Glycolic Acid) #4: What Dee said about them not cleaning the treatment area after each client #5: You have not kept the treated area clean and sanitised (I am not saying that you haven’t, but simply saying that it is possible with some people)
There are also many many more reasons as to why you may have such a skin out come, however the type of soap that you use would probably be towards the bottom of the list in terms of probability.
I also noticed that you mentioned Accutane as well, as lagirl said, laser treatment and a lot of other hair removal tecniques such as electrolysis and waxing are advised against until 6 months after your last course of this particular medication. The main reason being because of the drugs incredibly aggressive effects on the skin, so I wouldn’t really consider this a valid example of how the effects of the soap you used prior to UV treatment can link to laser (just for the record, I am not slating Accutane or Ruaccutane at all, in fact I would happily agree that it saved me from a couple of extra years of being called “pizza face” in senior school).
Although I won’t completley disagree, it would be worth some consideration if it appears that there is not other reason for a skin reaction like that.