Laser hair removal provides an effective alternative to shaving, waxing or depilation for body hair removal. Furthermore, it reduces ingrown hairs, bumps and discoloration due to follicular edema.
Redness, mild irritation and some small prickly bumps are normal after laser treatment; however, any blistering redness lasting more than 24 hours or brown skin discoloration could indicate that either an incorrect laser device was chosen for your skin type or its energy settings were too high.
Ingrown Hairs
Hair that becomes trapped beneath the surface of your skin is known as ingrown hairs, and they can cause significant discomfort when they reemerge instead of growing out from under your skin. They may occur anywhere body hair grows; however, ingrowns tend to occur most commonly where body hair is regularly shaved such as legs, armpits, face & bikini area.
Ingrown hairs occur when the hair follicle becomes clogged with dead skin, oil and dirt, preventing its natural path of rising out of the skin and up through its natural channels to be shed as a hair shaft. Instead, when trapped inside its natural path of growing out into its usual place – creating an itchy bump underneath – shaving, tweezing, waxing or using hair removal creams all play their role in contributing to ingrown hairs.
Laser hair removal is one of the safest and most effective ways to avoid ingrown hairs, as its light energy or pulses of heat destroy every hair follicle down to its root, making it impossible for ingrown hairs to return in future treatments.
Exfoliating daily can reduce the risk of ingrown hairs by clearing away dead skin cells that clog your pores, as well as help from an experienced laser technician or using home remedies such as sugar scrubs or products with salicylic or glycolic acids. If you’re unfamiliar with how to exfoliate effectively, seek assistance from either of them or consult your laser technician about ways they may assist.
Ingrown hairs can be an annoying, difficult-to-treat issue that’s difficult to alleviate. If this sounds familiar to you, why not book a consultation for laser hair removal as a permanent solution? Treatment typically has no side effects and will prevent future ingrowns from returning for smooth, clear skin! Reach out now for your consultation appointment & contact us directly – we look forward to assisting you!
Folliculitis
Folliculitis occurs when hair follicles become inflamed due to bacterial infection, appearing as tiny red or white bumps that resemble pimples and can be uncomfortable, painful and embarrassing. Mild cases usually resolve within several days but chronic ones can last months or years before eventually leading to scarring if left untreated.
Acne-prone skin may be more likely to experience this side effect, though anyone could be affected. Clogged pores occur when dead cells or bacteria clog them up; chemicals, heat or sweat may irritate or close off these ducts as well.
Shaving, plucking or waxing can introduce bacteria into the skin that leads to folliculitis; those with compromised immune systems or diabetes may be particularly susceptible to it.
When folliculitis is caused by bacteria, antibiotics or antifungals may be prescribed. Your doctor may advise not shaving the affected area for several weeks to allow the follicles to heal properly.
If folliculitis is caused by a fungal infection, doctors may prescribe oral medications like Doxycycline or Minocycline and advise growing out your hair for up to 3 months in the affected areas.
Laser hair removal can help prevent folliculitis by permanently disabling hair follicles that could otherwise become inflamed. It is important to consult a dermatologist if there is inflammation after laser treatment – pustule swabs should be collected for testing bacteria or fungus growth.
Other approaches for treating folliculitis may include refraining from shaving or waxing, using clean razors or waxing tools and opting for electric shavers instead of manual blades, and consulting a doctor about topical treatments available over-the-counter or by prescription (like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid ointments ). These topicals can reduce inflammation while unclogging pores and eliminating acne-causing bacteria – with great results when used alongside chemical peels or dermabrasion treatments to achieve better results.
Swelling
Laser hair removal uses a handheld device to apply a laser beam directly against your skin’s surface, passing through its top layers to damage hair follicles and stop them from producing more hair. Your device may include cooling devices or gel to protect and lessen irritation; during treatment you may feel an occasional slight prickling sensation similar to being pin-pricked; this is normal and should dissipate within hours after your session; if your skin is particularly sensitive your doctor might apply topical anesthetic before beginning their session.
Swelling of the treatment area is a common side effect of laser hair removal for people with darker skin tones, due to pores opening due to heat from the laser and becoming clogged up with dead cells, dirt, bacteria and other debris. Your body then responds by creating pus-filled blisters in response; to avoid scarring from picking or rubbing at these affected areas it is crucial not to pick or rub at them directly.
If you have sensitive skin, laser hair removal might cause temporary rashes. Your skin will likely become more irritated post-procedure and this should pass within several days; if any red spots or splotches remain longer than two days after laser hair removal treatment has taken place, consult a dermatologist about them.
Laser hair removal treatments typically cause redness, itching and swelling as side effects, so it’s essential to understand the symptoms beforehand in order to prepare yourself for them. You can minimize side effects by shaving a day or night prior to your appointment to remove layers of hair that absorbs laser energy and lower your chances of experiencing thermal burn during treatment.
Any lasting redness or brown discoloration from laser hair removal treatments likely results from improper calibration or settings; this is often seen if patients with dark complexions or inexperienced practitioners undergo treatment.
Redness
Laser hair removal involves pressing a handheld device against your skin, and activating a laser light that targets unwanted hair follicles to inhibit their future hair production. As the laser destroys these follicles, your skin may feel red and swollen – this is normal and should subside within hours; for additional relief apply cooling creams or frozen peas wrapped in tea towels to your skin if necessary and avoid sun exposure until all redness and swelling have subsided.
Follicular edema, or swelling and itchy skin in the treatment area, is one of the more frequently reported side effects of laser hair removal. It typically lasts anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours and can be remedied using cooling cream or 1% hydrocortisone ointment; you should avoid picking or scratching emerging follicles for best results and to minimize scarring risks.
Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS), is a form of acne caused by laser hair removal that causes bumps to form beneath the skin in areas where skin rubs together such as the groin, armpits, breasts and buttocks. Although difficult to treat and typically worsening over time, laser and light treatments such as Follicular Rejuvenation may help ease its appearance while decreasing outbreak frequency and severity.
Other side effects that may follow laser hair removal include ingrown hairs and hyperpigmentation. Ingrowns result from damaged or distorted follicles that grow back into the skin instead of outward, creating itchy bumps that resemble acne. Laser hair removal may also cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation – a darkening of skin caused by inflammation – sometimes misinterpreted as skin infections or scarring, though treatment options exist such as anti-inflammatory creams.
Before opting for laser hair removal, it is wise to ensure your skin is as uncontaminated as possible, since tanning products, retinoids and other medications may interfere with its effectiveness. In addition, plucking and waxing the area could disrupt hair follicles.
