Summer is winding down, and so is the sun exposure that made this stretch of the year trickier for certain laser treatments. If your skin took a beating over the last few months—extra sun, extra tan, a little more dehydration than usual—it’s a good time for a late summer reset with lasers, which require some time away from the sun to heal, as well as a series of treatments you can extend into fall.
Dr. Talon Maningas, a triple board-certified cosmetic surgeon, and the team behind Joplin laser treatments at Maningas Cosmetic Surgery build each patient’s treatment plan to work with your lifestyle, the time of year, and your goals.
Yes, You Can Still Get Laser in Late Summer
After any laser treatment, you shouldn’t expose the treated area to the sun. This makes summer a tricky time for some people to get lasers. However, the precaution that matters most is sun exposure right around your appointment, not the season itself. And this includes sun exposure before, not just after: Sun-tanned skin holds more melanin at the surface, and that added pigment competes with the hair follicle for the laser’s energy, which raises the risk of burns, blistering, or uneven results.
The licensed aestheticians at Maningas Cosmetic Surgery ask patients to keep treatment areas out of direct sun and tanning beds in the days before and after each session, then apply sunscreen once any redness has settled. Follow those instructions, and lasers are still on the table this time of year.
With school starting back and summer activities winding down, now may be the perfect time to start your laser treatment series! Your follow-up appointments will happen in the fall and winter, when laser aftercare is easy to follow indoors.
Here are some of our favorites, plus considerations as you time your first appointment:
Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal targets the pigment inside a hair follicle, not the surrounding skin, which makes it one of the more forgiving laser treatments to undergo with some summer still ahead of us. Many patients actually book laser hair removal through spring and summer specifically because they want smooth, hair-free skin ready for pool days, shorts, and swimsuits—but the earlier you can start before next year, the better, as everyone’s body responds differently and may require a different number of treatments before you’re waking up every day with smooth skin.
IPL and Sun-Damage Treatments Need a Sun-Safe Window
IPL, or Intense Pulsed Light therapy, treats sun spots, redness, and uneven skin tone by targeting pigment sitting at the skin’s surface. Just wait until your vacation tan has faded before starting treatment: Freshly tanned or sun-exposed skin makes it harder for IPL treatments like Lumecca to tell the difference between the pigment causing your sun damage and the pigment in the surrounding skin, which raises the risk of blotchy results, burns, or new hyperpigmentation.
- Wondering if you need IPL or laser? Our comparison of IPL vs. laser treatments breaks down how the two technologies actually differ.
CO2 Laser Resurfacing Is Worth the Wait
CO2 laser resurfacing removes damaged outer layers of skin to reveal smoother, more even texture underneath, and that fresh new skin is especially vulnerable to UV damage while it heals. Sun exposure during the two to three months your skin spends rebuilding collagen after CO2 resurfacing can undo your results and increase the risk of scarring or lasting pigment changes—which means that the Maningas Wellness + Injectables team recommends scheduling CO2 laser resurfacing for a date during the fall or winter months, when limited natural sun exposure gives new skin the room it needs to heal properly.
Non-Laser Options That Fit Right Now
Not every skin goal has to wait until fall, and not every skin goal responds best to laser. These treatments work with the sun you’ve already had this summer, and they’re an easy way to start your reset while you plan the laser series ahead:
- HydraFacial treatments require zero downtime and carry no real sun restrictions at all, which makes them one of the easiest ways to give your skin a reset now — hydrated, clean, and glowing — while you plan your next laser appointment for cooler weather.
- Morpheus8 uses radiofrequency energy rather than light, so it carries less sun sensitivity than true laser treatments and remains an option right now, even with some lingering summer sun, as long as you keep up with daily sunscreen.
- Traditional Rejuvapen microneedling works the same way: it stimulates collagen with tiny needles rather than light or heat, so leftover summer sun exposure is far less of a concern than it is with IPL or CO2 resurfacing.
Many patients pair two of these now, like a HydraFacial with microneedling, for a back-to-school reset before booking IPL or CO2 resurfacing in winter.
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What a Personalized Plan Looks Like
No single laser treatment is universally right or wrong for summer. That holds for laser treatments in Joplin just as much as anywhere else. Your skin tone, your tanning habits, your travel plans, and the specific concern you’re treating all shape the safest timeline for you.
Dr. Maningas and the aesthetic team build that timeline together with you during a consultation, matching the treatment to your skin and your season rather than fitting you into a one-size-fits-all summer rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still get laser hair removal if I have a tan?
A recent tan raises your risk of burns and uneven results because the laser has a harder time telling hair pigment apart from skin pigment. Tell your provider about any sun exposure or tanning before your appointment so they can adjust settings or reschedule your session if needed.
Will laser treatments make my skin more sensitive to sunburn?
Yes. Treated skin stays more vulnerable to UV damage for days to weeks after most laser and light treatments, which is why sun protection matters even more than usual during that window.
What SPF should I use after a laser treatment?
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher, along with sun-protective clothing and shade, after light and laser skin treatments of any kind.
How soon can I be back in direct sun after a laser treatment?
It can be a matter of days or weeks, as the right window depends on the specific treatment and how your skin responds. Your provider will give you a specific timeline during your consultation—there is no blanket rule that applies to every laser.
Schedule Your Skin Reset Consultation
Ready to find out which laser treatments to plan for fall? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Talon Maningas and the aesthetic team at Maningas Cosmetic Surgery in Joplin, MO. Call 417-437-0303 or request an appointment online to build a treatment plan around your goals, your skin, and your season.