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Specific instruction for 2 days post treatment:

Gently apply pure aloe vera gel, or other bland moisturizing cream to treated area until redness subsides
When showering and washing, gently pat dry and do not rub.
Cold pack may be used to reduce any swelling or tenderness for first 24 hrs. Tylenol (not Aspirin) can be taken for pain or discomfort if required.
Avoid using any harsh or irritating topicals in treatment area
Avoid internal and external heat sources, as this may stimulate melanocytes, leading to hyper-pigmentation. (i.e. Hot baths, sauna, extreme exercise, hot oven, etc.)

Precautions:

Avoid friction from clothing, rubbing, scratching, and do not pick or remove scabs or crusts if they occur. Where applicable, avoid make-up on the treated area if skin is broken. If there are no scabs or blisters, make-up may be used but remove gently.
Some blistering may occur in treatment area. Crusts and scabs may develop but infection is rare after laser treatment. Just keep wound clean and apply antibiotic ointment.
Avoid sun exposure for approximately 1 month and use sun-block, to limit risk of hyper-pigmentation.

Reminder:

A "regrowth or stubble" may appear in1-3 weeks. This not new hair but represents the old hair being expelled from the follicle. This hair falls away from the skin with easy friction (i.e. washcloth of soft puff in the shower)
After the first three treatments, which are done 4-6 weeks apart depending on treatment area, subsequent treatments are done, if and when regrowth apppears. The effects of further treatments are cumulative, with an average of 4-6 treatments for body areas, and 4-8 treatments for facial area.
Hair growth is also affected by factors such as : age, ethnic background, sex, body size, hormones, and medical conditions.
A small percentage of patients may be non-responders and will experience significant regrowth even after several treatments.

What to expect after Laser Hair Removal Treatment

Avoid bathing or washing with very hot water. Use tepid water
You may feel like you have a mild to moderate sunburn. Minor crusting or minor peeling of the surface layers of the skin is not unusual. Over the counter Hydrocortisone Cream and Aloe Vera Gel may help with redness or inflammation of your skin.
Keep ther area clean. Wash gently.
Avoid direct sun exposure after your treatment. If you do go in the sun, protect the treated area with sunscreen of 30 SPF or higher.
Do not shave the treated area for at least 4 days after treatment. Do not wax, pluck or use depilatories for the hair that grows back. After laser treatment, hair may continue to grow out as if it were never even treated. Typically this will occur for about 2 weeks and then these hairs will simply begin to fall out.
Avoid any irritating medications or chemicals, particularly on the face. Examples of these are Retin-A, Benzoyl peroxide, glycolic acid or astringents.

Possible Side Effects.

Hyper-pigmentation - dark spots in area of treatment can occur as early as 3-4 days after treatment. Avoidance of the sun, use of sunscreen, and bleaching cream if needed, Avoid activities, which increase internal heat, i.e. Hot tubs, aerobics for 24-48 hrs post treatment. Darker skin types are at higher risk. May take 2 weeks to 6 months to resolve.
Hypo-pigmentation - lightening of skin can occur, especially in darker skin types. No treatment available. Usually resolves within 6-12 months Sun Avoidance is critical.
Pinkness and tenderness (sunburn-like feeling) occurs in most people for a short period of time (lasting several hours to 2 days)
Textural changes - crusty, scabby roughness to skin can occur within 3-4 days. Usually returns to normal with 10-14 days.
Purpura - reddish-brown tine "bruise like" marking is rare but can occur. Resolves without treatment in about 2 weeks.
Scarring has not been seen to date but all lasers have the potential to scar if not used with care or when used on patients with contraindicating medical conditions (i.e. Accutane user). It is prudent for full disclosure of medical history during consultation, and any changes to medical history before each treatment.
Tattoos, freckles and dark moles may change colors, this may be permanent. Rule out malignancy in all unusual looking moles and nevi.
Treated hair can be slow to expel. It will take longer to purge hair in certain areas and shaving immediately post treatment may lend to ingrown hair.

Precautions and Contraindications:

History of keloid scarring
Impaired healing - diabetes, dermatoses, chemotherapy or radiation therapy
Photosensitizing medications
History of pigmentation problems - melasma, vitiligo, post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation
Skin conditions - rash, infection, inflammation, eczema, psoriasis
History of herpes simples periorally. Ajny stimulation may cause eruption of cold sores.
Questionable moles or pigmented lesions
Tanned skin - natural sun, tanning bed, or tanning lotion (treat at lower fluency)
Accutane use within 12 months of treatment - predisposes risk to developing keloid scar from skin injury

Pretreatment Measures

Avoid active tanning (includes tanning beds) for 3 days before and after treatment
Use a sunscreen on exposed areas, 15-30 SPF (preferably with ingredients including titanium dioxide or zinc dioxide)
Avoid waxing, bleaching, depilatories, or electrolysis for at least 4 weeks prior to treatment
Hyper-pigmented area can be treated with Hydroqinone 4% for a few weeks before and after laser treatment to inhibit melanin production as result of photo-stimulation. Continue to shave for up to 2 days prior to treatment. Hair should only be 1-2 mm length at time of treatment . For large treatment areas or areas with high density , coarse hair , less stubble or surface hair is ideal. (i.e. Men's back or women's bikini area)
If documentation photo are taken, they should be compared to a baseline of photos of pre-treatment hair at full growth, usually during time of consultation
Anti-viral prescription can be obtained from doctor if there is a strong history of cold sore outbreak. Can usually prevent an eruption if medication started at first sign of tingling on lip. Can also be taken as prophylaxis when treating bikini area on patient with history of herpes
Do treat when there is active herpes in treatment area.