Most patients describe laser hair removal as feeling similar to pinches or rubber band snapping against their skin, making the treatment bearable and often less painful than waxing.
For optimal pain reduction, clients are advised to drink lots of water prior to treatment in order to hydrate the skin and limit caffeine consumption as this increases pain receptor sensitivity.
Feeling the Heat
Laser Hair Removal uses pulses of light energy on your skin to target and destroy hair follicles. The light creates heat in these follicles, as well as pinch nerve endings at their base which may result in discomfort; in general however, most people experience only minimal discomfort at first; but eventually most find that subsequent treatments render this sensation less severe.
Laser hair removal pain can vary depending on both the area of the body being treated and individual skin tone, with darker complexions often feeling the laser pulses more. A clinic offering various methods to alleviate discomfort during laser sessions such as applying numbing cream or air coolers that blow ice cold air onto skin can easily address this.
One factor that can determine the level of discomfort during laser hair removal is whether you are targeting sensitive areas like your back or armpits or delicate parts of the face. Some individuals can handle minor pinches during laser sessions without experiencing increased pain sensation; others might require additional strategies to diminish this sensation of laser hair removal.
Laser hair removal differs significantly from waxing in terms of sensation. Waxing requires pulling all the hair from its root, which can be very uncomfortable; therefore many opt for laser hair removal instead.
Prevent the chances of discomfort by drinking lots of water prior to laser hair removal treatments in order to stay hydrated and reduce risk. Sunless tanning products or bleaching creams may make skin sensitive and heighten chances of discomfort; drinking plenty of fluids before your appointment will also help hydrate you and establish a stable pain threshold.
Feeling the Pulses
Laser hair removal involves administering pulses of light that penetrate the skin to heat hair follicles and cause them to shrink, creating pain as a result of shrinkage; many describe this sensation as feeling similar to rubber bands snapping against their skin.
During treatment, goggles will be worn to shield your eyes from laser beams. Your technician will clean and numb the area to be treated before holding your skin taut for laser treatment which could last anywhere between several minutes to an hour depending on its size. The treatment could last several minutes to an hour.
Laser hair removal treatments vary greatly in their experiences for each individual; some will feel pinches that they consider excruciating, while for others the experience might feel like nothing at all. Everyone has their own tolerance of pain and discomfort; those more sensitive areas such as underarms tend to experience greater discomfort during treatments; arms and stomach are typically covered by thicker skin so are less likely to sense laser pulses of light as intensely.
If you experience any discomfort during treatment, do not hesitate to request that the technician adjusts the power of the laser accordingly. It is always better to err on the side of caution and not push yourself too far beyond your comfort level; an experienced technician always has your safety and comfort in mind when eliminating unwanted hair.
Your skin may appear red and swollen after receiving laser treatments due to how the laser disrupts hair follicle growth cycles. In addition, there may be a slight scent of smoke or burning hair due to heat from laser pulses – this irritation should clear up within several hours.
Feeling the Numbing Cream
If you tend to experience pain during laser hair removal sessions, applying topical anesthetic cream before can be recommended as a preventive measure. Most spas will offer this service; you can purchase BLT cream to do it at home before your session or request that it be applied by one of their technicians. When doing it at home before an appointment you should make sure the area is clean before applying a high quality anesthetic such as BLT which contains lidocaine as well as other anesthetic ingredients with deep penetration enhancers to help reach deep into tissue for maximum analization effect and complete pain reduction.
Numbing cream typically takes effect within 30 minutes after being applied to your skin and lasts up to an hour before technicians wipe it off for your procedure. A great tip when applying the numbing cream is wearing waterproof gloves; this will protect your hands from becoming too numb before laser sessions take place.
Before your laser hair removal session, it may also be wise to take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Tylenol for optimal comfort. Caffeine may increase sensitivity; consider taking an antihistamine instead instead.
How you may feel during laser hair removal sessions will vary for everyone, though most describe its zaps like rubber bands snapping against their skin. Of course, this depends on which machine is being used as well as where on your body it is being targeted for treatment.
Laser hair removal may be uncomfortable for those who are more prone to pain or have low tolerance. But laser hair removal offers an effective alternative without resorting to more invasive processes like electrolysis. If you need additional information or advice during their session, aestheticians are there to offer more insight and give tips that will reduce discomfort during a laser hair removal treatment session.
Feeling the Cooling Device
As part of laser hair removal treatments, we apply a cooling gel or device (depending on your chosen procedure) to the treatment area in order to protect skin and minimize pain. Furthermore, this device helps cool down the tip of the laser’s instrument for additional cooling effects in areas like underarms or bikini lines where heat and discomfort is often an issue.
Laser hair removal sessions vary in their level of discomfort depending on your sensitivity as well as the color and density of hair in the treated area. Most people describe it as feeling like a pinching sensation similar to when a rubber band snaps against your skin – though most find this much milder than waxing or other methods of hair removal. Every individual’s pain tolerance varies.
Before your appointment begins, your technician will first thoroughly cleanse the treatment area and apply eye shields to protect their vision from laser light. They’ll then press a hand-held laser instrument against the skin to treat various parts of the body you wish to address; this may take anywhere from several minutes up to an hour, depending on its size.
If you’re concerned about how much treatment may hurt, try staying calm beforehand. Meditation, listening to soothing music or reading a book are great ways to relax; or talk to your doctor about using numbing cream prior to beginning any procedure.
Typically, legs tend to experience less discomfort due to thicker skin that’s less vulnerable to heat, although some individuals experience greater pain sensation in their inner thighs because the skin there is more delicate. With regular treatments, however, the pain should gradually lessen until hair no longer regrows regularly; then sessions will become easier to tolerate. It is normal for redness or swelling post-treatment which can be soothed using an ice pack or cool compress.
