Laser hair removal involves applying powerful light beams that penetrate your skin and hair pigment, heating up hair follicles to damage them so they cannot grow anymore hair.
Treatment might feel like a series of pinches and can take anywhere from five minutes to an hour, so it’s essential that patients refrain from tanning prior and post treatment as well as use high SPF sunscreens.
1. You’re not a good candidate
If you have tried shaving, waxing or plucking to get rid of unwanted hair without success, laser hair removal could be an alternative solution for you. But it may not be suitable for everyone and certain considerations should be kept in mind prior to beginning treatment.
Typically speaking, darker hair types respond best to laser treatments. Lasers work by targeting melanin pigment in your locks – melanin causes hair follicles to absorb light which destroys them without harming surrounding tissues or damaging skin cells. As such, light or blonde locks might not show significant improvements after only a few sessions have passed.
Your skin type is also an important consideration; though perhaps less so than hair color or thickness. When choosing a clinic or med spa for treatments on your skin, make sure it offers high-quality equipment and experienced technicians; this is because poor technique could result in complications or subpar results.
Before undergoing laser hair removal, it’s also wise to assess your medical history. Some medications could interfere with its efficacy such as antibiotics, steroid creams and birth control pills – so be sure to speak to your physician first if taking these products.
As previously stated, age can also play a factor in how well laser hair removal treatments respond. Younger skin is more sensitive to heat produced by laser treatments that work to destroy hair follicles – hence why many doctors recommend waiting until late 20s before starting laser hair removal treatments.
If you’re curious to see if laser hair removal could be right for you, schedule an appointment at Silk, A Medical Spa. They have offices located in Encino and can create the ideal plan to meet your unique needs! Contact them now to set up your free initial consultation consultation – don’t wait – schedule it now!
2. You’re not a good candidate for the treatment
Laser hair removal is one of the most efficient and permanent ways to eliminate unwanted body hair. Additionally, it can alleviate common skin ailments like folliculitis and discoloration while cutting down time spent shaving, waxing and plucking hairs. Unfortunately not everyone qualifies for this procedure.
Lasers and pulsed light treatments work best on people with darker skin tones and darker hair colors, as the lasers use pigment differences between your pigmented locks and skin to target and destroy hair follicles more effectively. Lighter hair colors such as blonde, red and white do not respond as effectively as there may not be enough melanin present for the lasers to effectively target and destroy each individual follicle.
When considering laser hair removal, it is essential to consult a professional first. They will be able to offer tailored advice about which treatment series are right for your individual skin type, hair color and medical history – including any medications you’re currently taking or have taken previously, family medical histories that might impact how your skin responds and family history of conditions that could influence its response to treatment.
Preparing for laser treatments requires shaving the areas to be treated. Do this one or two days prior to your appointment in order to ensure that lasers target hair follicles rather than surrounding skin cells.
As well as that, it is highly advised that no waxing or tweezing occurs prior to receiving laser treatments as this could cause your skin to burn and lead to uneven results.
Finally, be certain that the person conducting laser treatments is appropriately qualified and certified. Many lawsuits have been filed by people injured by inexperienced practitioners; to protect yourself from this happening to you, do your research carefully and request a portfolio of previous clients from them as well as talk directly with them regarding training and experience.
3. You’re not a good candidate for the treatment
Laser hair removal is a semi-permanent way to get rid of body hair permanently. Through a series of treatments designed to target individual roots and destroy them permanently, eliminating the need for shaving, waxing or tweezing and saving both time and money in the process.
Unfortunately, laser hair removal may not work for everyone; it may not produce optimal results for individuals with certain conditions or skin tones. If you have very dark skin tone, for instance, laser energy could absorb too readily by your pores, possibly leading to burning or discoloration; similarly if you have very light hair it may also absorb energy quickly without being as effective at killing follicles.
Women who are pregnant may not be suitable candidates for laser hair removal due to hormonal fluctuations that cause hyperpigmentation in the treatment area. If you’re unsure whether laser treatment could benefit you, visit a professional esthetician for a personal consultation – they will assess your skin tone, melanin levels present and other variables which might impede its effectiveness.
Treatment is generally quick, though it’s essential that any tanning be avoided for at least a month prior to and during treatment in order to achieve maximum contrast between your skin and hair. Shaving may also help ensure minimal hair remains. Tweezing and waxing should also be avoided because these practices prevent laser light from properly targeting and damaging hair follicles.
As with any procedure, always run a background check on anyone performing it. Verify reviews and certifications to make sure they understand how to operate the machine safely and effectively. It is wise not to go for just any practitioner; seek someone with extensive experience using all sorts of lasers as well as knowledge on specific laser types. Also ensure they’ve registered with national registers that demonstrate they meet set standards of training and skill.
4. You’re not a good candidate for the treatment
Laser hair removal works by emitting powerful light that is absorbed by melanin (commonly referred to as pigment) found in your hair, and converted into heat by this melanin, damaging hair follicles responsible for producing unwanted hair. Unfortunately, if too light or in the wrong phase to target by laser light removal sessions it won’t be effective; to maximize results it is wise to limit plucking, waxing and using depilatory creams before scheduling laser sessions.
Laser hair removal may also not be appropriate if you take certain medications such as antibiotics or anti-seizure drugs, as these could alter how your skin responds to treatment. Also avoid laser hair removal if you suffer from conditions like Genital Herpes and cold sores; in these instances you should wait six weeks after getting sunburnt before going under the procedure.
Excessive facial and body hair may be caused by hormonal fluctuations; in these instances, consulting with a physician or dermatologist about laser hair removal could be the appropriate course of action.
If you are an ideal candidate for laser hair removal, be prepared to commit to regular treatment sessions – usually three to eight sessions will provide permanent results. If you live near Encino and would like more information about Silk A Medical Spa’s tailored laser series!
If you’re wondering whether laser hair removal is right for you, speak with one of our licensed practitioners immediately. We strive to deliver quality care, working closely with each of our patients until we achieve the results that suit them! For optimal results when selecting a practitioner to assist in performing laser hair removal treatments, choose someone certified by a reputable medical association and with extensive experience performing it – you can find these professionals by searching online or verifying whether or not their registration meets strict standards for education, skill and insurance coverage.
