Unwanted hair growth can be bothersome and time consuming to remove with shaving or waxing alone, but laser hair removal offers a permanent solution that can reduce unwanted hair on almost every body part.
However, depending on your hair and skin tone, results of laser hair removal treatments may differ accordingly. So who responds best?
Darker Hair
Unwanted hair can be an uncomfortable reality for men. It causes irritation, itching and embarrassment for many. There are ways to manage unwanted hair such as shaving, waxing and depilatories; however, these options only provide temporary solutions with limited effectiveness. Luckily, laser hair removal provides long-term solutions safely and effectively.
Laser light passes through the skin, being absorbed by melanin pigment in hair follicles to convert to heat that destroys them, rendering them incapable of growing more hair. The number of treatments needed will depend on factors like hair color and thickness as well as skin tone – darker hair tends to respond better and therefore requires more treatments compared to lighter locks.
To determine your suitability for laser hair removal, the first step should be scheduling an appointment with a practitioner. They will conduct an exam of the area that needs treating as well as discuss goals and concerns with you as well as medical history/medication history/current medications taken/and any prior skin reactions or treatments undertaken that have had negative results – plus what they were.
Prior to your first treatment, it is recommended that you refrain from tanning or using sunless tanner in the treatment area for six weeks prior to any potential risks of redness, swelling and hyper-pigmentation occurring in this way. It is also strongly suggested that after each session you use an SPF 30 sunscreen with broad spectrum coverage.
If your darker hair fits the criteria for laser hair removal, and meets all other qualifications for treatment, then results can often be seen after just a few sessions. Results may differ depending on factors like hair color and growth cycle, location of treatment area, laser type used and skin tone.
Laser hair removal pain threshold varies considerably among individuals; most clients describe the sensation as tolerable and similar to tiny pinches. Before your laser treatment begins, topical anesthetics may make your experience more comfortable.
Lighter Skin
Laser hair removal for those with lighter skin tends to be an easy and quick process. After trimming and sterilizing the treatment area, pulses of light are directed at hair follicles in that area to damage or destroy them – often lasting anywhere between minutes and an hour-plus depending on its complexity.
As soon as the numbing gel wears off, you may experience some pain or discomfort, along with heat sensation. Your skin may require several weeks to recover from this treatment process – and to do so safely you should avoid direct sunlight and tanning beds for some time afterwards.
Skin tone plays an integral part in determining the effectiveness of laser hair removal treatments, since differences in melanin levels among ethnicities can have a dramatic impact on results. To measure effectiveness on an individual basis, Fitzpatrick scale, which categorizes skin colors based on melanin depth levels is used.
As noted above, the type of laser device chosen can also play a critical role in determining its efficacy. Older devices typically utilize shorter wavelengths that work best on lighter hair or skin tones while newer technology utilizes longer wavelengths that deliver results for darker tones.
No matter the type of laser device being utilized, it’s essential that you work with an experienced practitioner in order to ensure safe and effective treatments. Being dedicated and consistent in following through with your plan will produce better results than simply hoping that they happen by themselves.
Follow the recommended treatment series and most people find their hair nearly gone after four to six sessions, though touch-up sessions once every year might be necessary for long-term results. But having another backup plan handy could also prove valuable since hormone fluctuations sometimes promote hair regrowth a few years after your final session has taken place.
Hormonal Changes
Unwanted hair growth can be an embarrassing problem, with razor and waxing both temporary solutions that take time and money to maintain. Laser hair removal offers permanent results with immediate and cost-effective solutions.
Laser Hair Removal involves using a laser device to target specific hair-growing stem cells and destroy them without harming surrounding skin, making this treatment safe for nearly all areas where hair growth exists. Treatment usually lasts from minutes to an hour depending on the size and location of the area being addressed. Some areas, like arms and legs, tend to be easier to treat than faces and bikini lines.
Before beginning laser hair removal treatment, the area being treated will be trimmed and sterilized by a technician, who will apply topical anesthetic for minimal pain during the procedure. Most patients find the sensation comparable to that of being pinched or stung – individuals with sensitive skin can receive additional relief with mild oral analgesics prescribed as needed. After treatment has taken place, redness and swelling should subside within hours; some skin discoloration may appear but this usually dissipates quickly too.
Most individuals require six to twelve treatments before experiencing significant hair reduction, due to only a portion of hair follicles being in an active growth phase at any one time. By targeting them all over time, most patients experience a significant reduction in growth that’s considered near permanent.
Some individuals will require follow up treatments, especially those suffering from an endocrine condition such as polycystic ovary syndrome or those planning on becoming pregnant – this may prompt more hair regrowth after laser treatments are complete. Also pregnant women should discuss with their physician before proceeding with laser therapy treatment as pregnancies often trigger additional hair growth.
Laser hair removal can be an effective and safe solution for virtually everyone, though those with dark hair and light skin tend to benefit most from it. But don’t despair just yet: there are other permanent hair removal methods such as electrolysis which might provide more permanent solutions.
Pregnancy
When expecting, it is advisable to wait to undergo laser hair removal treatments until after giving birth, due to lack of studies confirming its safety for fetuses. Furthermore, pregnancy makes reaching certain areas difficult making more temporary solutions like shaving or depilatory creams impossible.
Pregnancy can cause unwanted hair growth in areas like the belly, chin and breasts (particularly around the nipples). This extra hair growth may be due to hormonal fluctuations and will subside once your hormones return to normal – however if left unattended postpartum laser treatments may become permanent features in these areas.
Laser hair removal works by targeting pigment in hair follicles to destroy them, while pigmented skin absorbs energy from the laser, potentially leading to burns or discolorations of its own. Therefore, it is vital that sun exposure be limited prior to and post laser hair removal procedures.
Providing notice to your laser technician of your pregnancy will enable them to tailor the intensity of the laser treatment accordingly, accounting for changes to skin pigment caused by gestation. Furthermore, doing this may reduce any complications such as miscarriage or other health concerns that could arise during treatment.
Pregnant women should avoid other hair removal methods like shaving, waxing and depilatory creams as these could disturb the natural balance of hormones in their bodies and potentially cause adverse side effects.
After giving birth and once your hormones have returned to their regular levels, the best time and place to resume laser hair removal treatments would likely be after breastfeeding has stopped and hormone levels have returned to normal. Most medical experts agree it’s safe to have treatment immediately upon returning; it is wise however to speak to your physician prior to beginning.
