Can I use Neet to remove facial hair and still get IPL treatments if I wait ten days before treatment?

We do not recommend using Neet on the face prior to any IPL treatment. Neet and similar topical hair removal creams can cause skin irritation or even chemical burns that would prevent from having a safe and effective IPL treatment. If removal of unwanted hair is desired, a great combination with IPL is Dermaplaning. Dermaplaning is a safe and effective treatment to gently exfoliate the skin and remove any unwanted facial hair and peach fuzz, and can be done immediately prior to IPL. In fact, Dermaplaning can make IPL more effective when paired together! Hope this helps. Let us know if you have any further questions. 

No, I don't recommend this. It is recommended to shave either the night before or day of the treatment. Keep in mind, it will take a series of treatments to get improvement with laser hair removal and some people will need treatments to maintain. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Garbo28,
Are you getting the IPL for hair removal or are you interested in just getting rid of any facial hair prior to IPL for an issue other than hair removal?

Thanks for you question, but I don't think you understand how Laser Hair Removal (LHR) works.  Every laser is built to a wavelength for a specific target.  For LHR, the laser energy is looking for the melanin/pigment in a hair shaft.  The energy follows the hair shaft down into the follicle, heats it and destroys its ability to produce another hair.  If you wax, pluck or use a depilatory (like Neet or Nair), you remove the path for the energy to follow.  Conversely, if you don't shave and you leave too much target on the surface, you can get string-like burns.  You have to shave between treatments in order to get good results.You should probably seek out a laser vs. IPL to help avoid complications.  Almost all newer lasers are safe for all skin types and have features built in (such as sapphire cooling tips) to make them more comfortable.  Some of the newer technology is also more efficient, allowing for lower energy settings to be used with better results and less discomfort.  With modern equipment, your treatment should only be mildly uncomfortable, but not painful.  We never use numbing cream for LHR.  We want our patients to be able to tell us if they feel pain or an unusual level of discomfort.We recommend finding an experienced and reputable provider in your area with updated equipment.  A consistent overlapping technique is the key to avoiding patchiness in LHR.   Calibration and power of the laser is important for a safe, comfortable and effective treatment.  Find out what laser they will use and if it is under a maintenance contract.  If their laser isn’t calibrated on a regular basis or is underpowered, your treatment may be painful or inefficient. After a series of 6-8 initial treatments, you may need a touch up every 3-5 years.