Your laser patch test: what happens and how to prepare

Before your first laser session, we always carry out a patch test. It's part of your free consultation, and it shows us how your skin responds before we treat a whole area.

Before you come in

• Shave the area you'd like tested 24 hours before. Don't wax, pluck or use hair-removal cream.
• Avoid sun, sunbeds and fake tan for at least two weeks.
• Let us know about any medication, especially anything that makes your skin sensitive to light.

During your consultation

We'll talk through your goals, check your medical history and look at your skin tone and hair colour. This is where we decide whether diode or Nd:YAG suits you best, and where we'll tell you honestly if laser isn't likely to work.

The patch test itself takes a few minutes. We treat a small, discreet spot at the settings we'd use for your course. Most people feel a warm flick.

Afterwards

We ask you to wait a short time, usually 24 to 48 hours, before your first full session, so any reaction has time to show. Mild redness that settles within hours is normal.

Then you're ready to start your course, with a written plan and prices in hand.