Dr Rachael Teo, a specialist in dermatology and consultant at Raffles Skin & Aesthetics; and senior consultant dermatologist and associate professor Chua Sze Hon at the National Skin Centre, share some pointers.

Brow embroidery:

Check that the blades are disposable by asking to see them before the treatment.

Sterile single-use blades should be used to avoid transmission of blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis B and C, as well as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This is especially important if skin is broken during the session.

After the treatment, keep the area clean and dry. Do not pick on scabs. Allow them to fall off naturally; this will take around one to two weeks. In the meantime, apply antibiotic ointment on them.

Intense Pulsed Light hair removal:

Those with darker skin are more prone to getting burns from IPL treatments; try laser hair removal procedures instead.

Avoid sun exposure before and after IPL sessions as treatments on tanned skin might cause burns.

For hygiene purposes, single-use razors should be used to shave off unwanted hair before an IPL session. It is possible to get tiny cuts on the skin during shaving and this may lead to the transmission of blood-borne infections, although the risk is low.

Make sure the therapist applies a cold gel on the skin before the treatment as it is essential for preventing skin from being burned.

IPL sessions should be spaced out with around eight weeks in between. This allows hairs in the "resting" phase, to enter the "growth" phase, as hairs in the latter phase are ready for IPL hair removal procedure.

Bleaching, waxing, epilating and plucking reduce the effectiveness of IPL treatments.

Use a mild moisturiser two or three times daily for the next three to five post-treatment days to soothe skin.

This article was first published on July 25, 2014.
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