Shorts Season: Getting Your Legs Hot for Summer
TGI Summer! As we all slowly start to make our way back into the world just in time for summer fun, we must look our best. And who are we kidding? All this time in isolation, many of us have not kept up with our skincare routine and that includes letting our usually hairless and smooth legs grow some serious fur! But before you go run and hide in a pair of pants, we’re going to help you shed that quarantine growth and get your legs ready for shorts season.
Bye Bye Hair
When getting your legs hot for summer, the first thing we have to do is say bye-bye to unwanted hair. Despite the numerous horror stories about hair removal, getting rid of leg hair can be a breeze.
Shaving
We all know shaving is a convenient way to quickly get rid of unwanted hair. When you’re in a rush, nothing beats a quick shave in the shower. With the right razor, your legs will be virtually hairless in less than five minutes. Although, we recommend you do not rush. Take your time while shaving to avoid cuts and nicks.
Waxing
Waxing may be your choice of hair removal compared to shaving as waxing often causes your hair to grow back at a slower rate. There are two different types of waxing techniques: strip waxing, and stripless waxing. During strip waxing, a certified aesthetician applies warm soft wax to the body and a strip of paper over top of the wax. Once the wax cools a bit, he or she then rips the paper away removing the hair follicles in the process. In stripless waxing, “hard” warm wax is poured onto the body and left to cool and harden. Once the wax has solidified, the aesthetician will pull away the wax along with the hair follicles. It’s no secret that waxing can be a bit painful, but if you can handle a little pain, then waxing isn’t a bad solution.
Laser Hair Removal
If you want to opt for something a little more technologically advanced, then may we suggest laser hair removal. Far more effective than shaving or waxing, laser hair removal is a permanent solution to getting rid of unwanted hair. This is how it works: a dermatologist prepares the treatment area with a light numbing agent. Once it takes effect, a concentrated beam of laser light is delivered directly to the hair follicles. This light turns into heat and ruptures the cells within the follicles. When the cells die, so does the hair and soon it falls out. After several treatments, the cells eventually stop reproducing thus keeping the hair follicles from growing back.
Hello Smooth and Silky
Once the hair is gone, it’s time to make sure your legs look and feel silky smooth. Here are a few ways to give your legs that healthy summer glow.
Exfoliate and Moisturize
To keep your legs smooth, you absolutely must exfoliate to get rid of dead skin cells resting on top of your skin. These dead skin cells are responsible for giving you that reptile skin look. So, use an exfoliating brush, or scrubbing gel and work that skin a bit. Once you’re finished, apply moisturizer to your legs to keep the skin from drying out and cracking.
Use Sunscreen
The sun may be beautiful but it loves to suck the moisture out of anything and everything. That’s why we use sunblock to keep the sun’s harmful rays from negatively affecting our skin. These rays do more than just dry us out; they cause wrinkles, sunspots, cracked skin, and even skin cancer. So be sure to cover up with SPF 50 or higher to keep your beautiful legs healthy.
Consider Ultrasound Therapy
This may seem like a strange suggestion, but many people wish they could get rid of leg and knee wrinkles. Well, you can with Ultherapy (ultrasound therapy). This is a procedure in which ultrasound waves are delivered to the tissue just below the skin. The waves convert into energy and begin to rupture the skin cells. As the cells react to the heat, collagen, a natural substance in our bodies, is signaled to flood the area to promote healing. As the collagen heals the area, it begins to plump and fill out the top layer of tissue, making the skin seem fuller and younger. And voila! Smooth, less-wrinkled skin!
Get Rid of Spider Veins
For those of you suffering from spider veins, we understand how important it is to get rid of them in time for shorts season. There are multiple ways to get rid of spider veins; from laser therapy to sclerotherapy, and endovenous laser therapy. Each of these treatment options involves stopping the blood flow within the veins that is causing them to protrude. All three options have relatively high success rates and can be considered as viable options for getting rid of spider veins.
If you are in the Cincinnati, Ohio area and want help getting your legs ready for summer, our experts at The Dermatology Group are ready to give you the advice and resources you need. Give us a call today!