Laser hair removal works best on darker skin and hair. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work on blonde, red, gray or white locks and shouldn’t be done during pregnancy.
Under the care of an experienced practitioner using appropriate laser type and settings, laser treatment should be considered safe for most patients. There may be mild discomfort similar to when snapping rubber bands.
Precautions
Take certain measures when getting laser hair removal done to avoid complications and ensure optimal results. First and foremost, select a laser technician certified with experience to provide safest and most effective treatment possible. When scheduling an appointment try and arrange it with someone experienced working in this field over time if possible.
An experienced and certified technician can understand your skin better, which reduces risks such as scarring. Furthermore, they will wear protective eyewear during laser treatment to shield their eyes from laser light exposure.
Treatment with laser can cause temporary swelling, redness, bumps and bruising in the treated area. If this happens to you, use a cool compress or wrap an ice pack in a cloth or paper towel for relief; an aloe vera gel cooling cooling may also provide relief from pain and discomfort. Beware rubbing or scratching the area; healing time will need at least 30 days after any procedure before sun exposure becomes necessary again.
Preferably, before entering a session it is best to stop shaving the treatment area and utilize waxing, tweezing, or plucking hair removal methods that remove only top layers of skin without impacting roots of hairs. Also avoid tanning beds whether natural or artificial. If necessary use sunscreen with an SPF 30+ rating that must be reapplied regularly.
Laser hair removal works best on people with dark skin and light hair as the contrast helps the laser target individual hairs more accurately. Unfortunately, it isn’t advised for people with blonde, gray or white locks or those suffering from genital herpes or cold sores.
Laser hair removal should not be attempted while pregnant as the laser could harm both mother and baby. Also not advised are people suffering from conditions that affect blood flow such as uncontrolled diabetes or heart disease.
Post-treatment care
Some individuals experience mild and short-lived side effects after laser hair removal, including skin redness, irritation, tenderness or crusting in the treated area. Most of these side effects should diminish within hours; those experiencing irritation can use cool compresses regularly on the area to soothe it further. Rarely may people notice changes to skin pigmentation; when performed by an experienced dermatologist these changes should occur less frequently.
Before beginning laser hair removal, it’s essential to discuss your health history with your physician in order to help determine if you are an ideal candidate. They will need to assess if there are any underlying medical conditions which might lead to increased hair growth as well as any medications taken such as blood thinners that might hinder its effectiveness.
Your doctor will give you specific instructions prior to scheduling laser hair removal treatment. They might ask that you discontinue use of sunless skin creams for six weeks beforehand and avoid other hair removal methods, like plucking and waxing. In addition, make sure that sunscreen will be worn over areas being treated by laser.
An aesthetician will first shave the desired area before administering laser treatment. Once active, they’ll place a handheld device against your skin and activate it with laser light; its intense heat destroys follicles to stop future hair growth – producing an experience similar to snapping an elastic band across your skin.
After your treatment, your skin may become more sensitive to sunlight than usual and should be protected with SPF 30 or higher sunblock. Furthermore, after each session it would be wise to apply moisturizer directly onto the affected areas for added hydration.
People undergoing laser hair removal typically need multiple sessions before seeing desired results, as most often only the hair above the surface of their skin is targeted. Darker and finer regrowth means repeating this process may be necessary until desired outcomes are reached.
Symptoms
Laser beams can be fired directly at targeted hair follicles to destroy them and stop their ability to produce new hair growth, with relatively minimal discomfort; topical anesthetic may be applied prior to starting treatment if required for maximum comfort. Following treatment, skin may feel slightly irritated for the first few hours following laser treatment; swelling and/or bruiseing might appear briefly but often respond well to cold compresses or bath soaks. Some individuals also experience minor skin crusting issues which typically resolves itself quickly or may cause inconvenience or unattractiveness depending on where the treatment occurs – these issues usually resolve quickly or worsen inconvenience in those affected areas of skin crusting can occur as well.
Laser hair removal is usually safe, but it’s essential to follow some rules both prior to and post treatment in order to achieve maximum effectiveness and minimize side effects. For instance, it is advised that people avoid exposure to sunlight for several weeks prior to treatment as tanning skin can reduce effectiveness while increasing side effects risk. It is also advisable that areas that will be treated are shaved prior to sessions to ensure the laser only targets hair follicles rather than surface hair; waxing, tweezing or plucking treatments in areas which will be treated;
Laser hair removal requires wearing protective eye goggles in order to safeguard their eyes during treatment. A dermatologist or assistant will hold up the target area and fire a laser beam at it; depending on its size, full treatment could take anywhere from several minutes up to an hour.
Before seeking laser hair removal, certain medications and dietary supplements should not be taken, as they could compromise its efficacy or increase risks of adverse reactions. Retin-A can increase risks of skin damage and bleeding during laser hair removal and should therefore be avoided; garlic and ginkgo biloba supplements could also increase risks from laser hair removal treatments.
Treatment options
Laser hair removal works by targeting pigment in the hair follicle, causing permanent damage that prevents or delays new hair growth. You will wear goggles during treatment to protect your eyes from the laser beam and may receive topical anesthetic to reduce any discomfort. Depending on the area being treated, treatments could last just minutes or hours; redness or swelling might occur after laser therapy which can be reduced with the use of ice on the treated area.
Doctors use various kinds of lasers for hair removal. Your physician will select the most appropriate device based on your skin tone, type of hair and treatment area. Pre- and post-treatment guidelines must also be strictly observed – avoiding certain medications or restricting sun exposure might be required to achieve results.
Side effects from laser treatments may include hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin), hypopigmentation (white spots), burns, blisters or changes in texture of the skin. To reduce these side effects and ensure the best outcomes, ensure you use the appropriate type of laser for your skin tone and follow pre and post treatment guidelines properly.
Before beginning laser hair removal treatments, it’s essential that you refrain from shaving, plucking or waxing the area being treated. In addition, any hair removal methods like sunless tanning creams should also be avoided at least six weeks prior to your appointment date. Furthermore, blood-thinning medication or supplements must be discontinued at least two weeks beforehand.
Before your laser hair removal treatment, it is essential that the area be thoroughly cleansed of oils, makeup, lotions or any other products which might interfere with laser light. In addition, clothing which could obstruct its path should also be removed; any physical activities which raise body temperature for at least two hours prior to therapy is discouraged as this could reduce any possible problems during your session.
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid laser hair removal treatments during these time, but if you experience excessive hair growth during the gestation, laser hair removal might be worth pursuing after giving birth. Consult with your healthcare provider first before considering this method of hair removal as hormone replacement therapy could cause complications that affect its effectiveness.
