Hi. I’ve just had my 4th treatment of a full-body, 9-treatment package. I am skin type 2 using the Candela gentlelase alexandrite. Until now I have avoided the sunshine, but I don’t know how I will make it through the whole summer avoiding the sun. Even with sunscreen, I know my skin will pick up color just from being outside. My next treatment will occur at the end of summer. Would it make sense for me to quit stressing so much about the sun exposure and just ask for the YAG for a one-time treatment (my 5th treatment) and then resume with alexandrite for the rest of my treatments, which will be during the fall/winter when my skin will be white again? Is there a danger in switching laser types midway thru?
A couple things to mention here:
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Laser only works on coarse and dark hair. >99% of the population does not have such hair all over their body. You shouldn’t be treating areas that don’t have coarse, dark hair; otherwise, you run the risk of inducing MORE hair growth.
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Even with Nd:YAG, you would have to avoid sun exposure. For you, being a type II, an alex is generally much more effective. Switching to Nd:YAG is not in your interest.
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Yes, it’s summer, and yes we all want to be outside enjoying ourselves. I don’t blame you. Unfortunately, with LHR you have to avoid sun exposure if you want results. It is a commitment you have to make.
How far apart are your treatments spaced?
LAgirl, it is 10 week intervals, per a contract. I think after the 5th treatment it increases to 12 week intervals. However, as I mentioned in my other post, I don’t know if I’ll get to that point or not…?
Thanks for the response, JM. Yes, I truly did have the coarse-type hair all over - even on the forearms (and I’m female, by the way). Although as I mentioned in my other post, those types of hairs seem to have already responded and at this point I’m mainly just dealing with non-bothersome finer, “normal” hairs.
You should wait at least 6 months to judge true reduction. At 10 weeks, you can’t tell the whole story and it doesn’t sound like you’ve ever waited longer than that. Either way, for very coarse hair and good settings, your results are in line with what they should be.
Good info. Thanks, I really appreciate it! 
LA girl, do you mean 6 months from the onset of treatment, or 6 months past the most recent one?
6 months after your very last treatment.