So I was talking to the person who does my electro and also does laser, and she was telling me that they don't do laser in the summer because when skin is in the sun for the summer months it gets extra melanin (a.k.a. gets tan), which interferes with the laser effectiveness and can result in sunburn-type effects from the laser.  I'd never heard this mentioned in my reading on here or anywhere else so I was wondering what people think about that.

It's got me down a bit because the electro is so expensive and also very slow, but now hearing that I would have to wait until September/October is just not very encouraging .

shouldn't have problems with laser during summer, just use sunscreen to avoid damage.

Ketsy, I was told the same thing about summer laser. They told me that no amount of sunscreen would work, but I spend a lot of time in AZ and CA. Others have had good luck with sunscreen and not so sunny areas. The risk is that you'll also erase any skin pigmentation. So instead of a dark gray beard shadow, you'll have a pasty white laser shadow. Is that a risk you want to take?

So I'm in the same boat as you... Wait till fall to start laser. Seems as though patience is mandatory for transition!! grrrr!!!

In the summer my hair gets a lot fairer too, though I hardly tan. I expect that would play a role as well.

Quote from: ƃuıxǝʌ on June 01, 2010, 03:56:19 PM
White laser shadow = far easier to cover with makeup.

lol!! True! But I'd rather have neither!

I had laser throughout last summer. I used sunscreen any time I was going to be out in the sun. It worked fine. I don't spend a lot of time outdoors anyway, and even more rarely in direct sun. If you spend a lot of time in the sun this might be different for you, but if not you should be okay.

Mind you, that's not going to change the policy of the place you get your laser done. But if you can talk them into doing it, you should be fine.

I get laser every 8 weeks. The woman that does mine made no mention of this. my make-up has sunscreen it it and it really works. When I wash it off, my face is lighter than the rest, so I cant really tell if the laser changes the skin pigment. It's not suppose to though, at least thats what I was told my the tech.
Just my two cents.

My laser tech said to always use the highest spf I could find twice a day in the summer.  And I tan so easy I used spf makeup in addition.  And I never had a problem.

And I love that dress in your pic!

I go to Amerejuve in Houston, and the one time I had a laser appointment on an exceptionally sunny day they made me apply sunscreen before leaving.  But beyond that, I've only received the usual warnings and suggestions for sunscreen. I'm a very reclusive person, so direct sunlight sees my skin for not much longer than it takes for me to go to and from my car. What little direct sunlight I get hasn't seemed to affect my laser progress at all.

The laser kills the hair by attacking the pigment in the hair follicle.   This heats up and explodes the hair.   This is the same chemical that causes your skin to tan.  If you get a strong tan, the power of the laser is not focused on the hair follicle and can cause loss of pigment in the skin.   Lovely white blotches will be there permanently.   Most laser technicians will not treat customers with strong tans and advise the use of sunscreen (SPF 15 and above).

My laser tech will not treat strongly tanned customers.

I am going to a spa for lip augmentation and they told me they don't do foto facials during the summer. The doctor said it is just too difficult to adequately protect your face from the sun and it can be a bit dangerous.

In my meeting with the aesthetician before we scheduled my first laser session, I was asked all about my habits of being out in the sun and such, so that a proper evaluation could be made.

She wanted to be sure that we were on the same page about it before we got underway.

I have my own machine, I was born with brown skin, but my machine is IPL, I am not caring and using it every month
Not hearing you guys, I think its better not to take chances in summer

That's foolish. Make sure that you are using an appropriate level for your skin tone, that's all. You can go a bit more intense in the winter. And use sunblock. I had laser all last summer, and it's really sunny where I live -- especially up high in the mountains. I just wore sunblock every day, and I was fine.

I live at high elevation and the sky is often cloudless.  I got laser all summer but was cautioned to limit my sun exposure.  I wore high SPF (45) sunblock and, when I worked outside, a sun hat.  I was careful not to get even a little tanned and the laser didn't leave any scarring.

- Kate

Just had laser session number seven.   You just have to be careful in the sun and wear a good sun factor (15 or above).  I have not had treatment for four months and the latest one was to attack the last few stubborn areas.   With any luck I am done and any further treatments will be infrequent touch ups.