At laser hair removal sessions, a technician presses a handheld device against your skin. You may experience bumps and redness as a reaction.
Laser hair removal treatments often leave behind skin irritations that result in breakouts shortly after treatment, however these should quickly clear once your body adjusts and hair growth rebalances itself.
Black dots
Laser hair removal uses a concentrated light beam to target and destroy hair follicles that produce unwanted or excessive hair growth, with good success for most people; however, it may cause side effects, including black dots. Black dots occur due to the destruction of hair follicles containing pigment and can leave behind tiny black marks on your skin that fade within days – this usually isn’t indicative of any serious problem and usually resolves itself by itself over time.
Some individuals will experience dark areas after laser hair removal treatments, particularly those with darker skin tones. This condition is known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and it may last for weeks or even months post treatment. While post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation may be challenging to treat, following your healthcare professional’s aftercare instructions – including staying out of direct sunlight and choosing gentle skincare products – will likely help.
Dark areas often result from laser treatment that damaged hair follicles that have yet to shed. As they grow and shed, these spots should eventually fade. If they persist permanently, speak to your healthcare professional about possible remedies.
If you are experiencing dark spots after laser hair removal, it is essential that you reach out to the healthcare provider who administered your procedure immediately. They may suggest skincare products and treatments designed to diminish or diminish these dark spots.
As soon as your treatment has taken place, it is also important to refrain from waxing, plucking or electrolysis in the area that was treated, which will encourage thicker and fuller growth of hair in its place.
As with other hair removal treatments, opting for medically-supervised laser hair removal procedures should always be your top choice. Only board-certified dermatologists possess the training and experience required to provide safe and effective procedures – not to mention more cost-effective results than competing methods. Be wary of any clinic offering lower prices or operating out of an “underground office.” Such clinics often use lower quality laser equipment and fail to follow safety protocols properly. Opt instead for an experienced and reputable medically supervised laser hair removal provider like Dr. Michele Green in New York City – she is an internationally acclaimed board-certified cosmetic dermatologist with more than two-and-a-half decades of experience in noninvasive skin rejuvenation techniques, such as laser hair removal.
Redness
Redness, bumps and irritation are normal parts of laser hair removal recovery. This usually only appears at the site that was lasered, and should dissipate within hours or days after applying cool compresses for swelling reduction. Following aftercare instructions provided by your clinic is crucial in helping minimise side effects such as this one.
Dark spots or patches of hyperpigmentation may occur following laser hair removal treatment, particularly among people with darker skin tones. This side effect of laser hair removal, known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, occurs when inflammation causes your body to produce more melanin in an attempt to protect itself, leading to darkened patches which often resemble acne – lasting several weeks to months afterward.
To address this problem, it is advised to avoid sun exposure and apply a high SPF sunscreen on the treated area after each session. Furthermore, it’s beneficial to keep the area clean and avoid harsh skin products that could irritate it further. You might also wish to use an exfoliant to help avoid ingrown hairs and clogged pores, which are known causes of discoloration.
When dots appear, it is best to leave them alone and avoid touching or scratching as this could increase the risk of scarring or infection. Most likely they are dead hairs lingering on the surface of your skin that will eventually fall off; you can hasten this process by gently exfoliating with loofah or exfoliating scrub.
If redness and swelling persist, contact your clinic immediately to address it. They may suggest an assessment visit, with products or treatments designed to ease discomfort being recommended as possible solutions. They might also recommend switching laser clinics as this could reduce further problems from occurring.
Discoloration
Lasers use light energy to destroy hair follicles and prevent new growth, while simultaneously leaving behind discoloration that resembles mild sunburn in appearance. Redness and swelling should dissipate within hours with cooling lotion or an ice pack helping soothe discomfort. Avoid sun exposure until instructed by your physician until its safe to do so and apply broad spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) on affected area to protect it further from further discoloration and sun damage.
Laser treatment can not only prevent future hair growth, but it can also treat existing spots of hyperpigmentation by using its heat to vaporize excess melanin deposits in targeted spots. Although multiple sessions of laser may be necessary to achieve results, once achieved the spots should not return as long as tanning and sunscreen protection is maintained properly.
If you are considering laser hair removal, it’s essential to do your research to find an experienced cosmetic dermatologist like Dr. Michele Green in NYC as soon as possible. MedSpas and other clinics often lack staff with enough training in laser technology for safe treatments; therefore, going with someone like her could potentially result in unwanted side effects like PIH resulting from less trained staff members utilizing laser technology. In order to receive safest possible care during your session, opting for board certified dermatologist such as Michele Green will guarantee best possible care during treatment sessions.
Reduce the risk of unwanted side effects with laser treatment by shaving and forgoing tanning before your laser procedure. Also avoid waxing, plucking and tweezing in areas scheduled for treatment as well as products which darken skin tone such as sunless skin products that darken your complexion.
Scarring is uncommon when performed by qualified practitioners; however, an error in laser treatments could result in scarring. Blistering may also occur as a side effect of laser hair removal; to minimise it use cold compresses and apply triple antibiotic topical ointment as quickly as possible to avoid infection.
Although laser hair removal does have some side effects, it remains one of the most permanent and effective solutions for eliminating unwanted body hair. Not only can lasers eliminate body hair for good but it’s also great at reducing ingrown hairs and the signs of folliculitis. With just a series of affordable sessions you can achieve permanent hair-free skin that will leave you feeling your very best!
Ingrown hairs
Ingrown hairs are an annoying yet common issue among anyone who shaves, waxes, or tweezes their body or face. These small red bumps are unsightly and uncomfortable – caused when an ingrown and irritated follicle curls the hair inward instead of outward, trapping it under the skin and potentially trapping dead skin, dirt, oil or pus. Ingrown hairs tend to occur more often where coarse or curly hair exists than on areas without coarse hair growth.
Laser hair removal can help avoid ingrown hairs by killing their source. When the technician applies a pulse of light to the skin, a pulse destroys not just the bulb but also its source – effectively stopping future regrowth of this unwanted follicle. Furthermore, this treatment may also help eliminate ingrown hairs that have already appeared as well as prevent further ones from growing back in.
Most often, shaving is one of the main contributors to ingrown hairs. Shaving causes broken-off follicles to be exposed at the surface of skin and more susceptible to being pushed inward by either their own weight or surrounding stubble – something which happens either when the razor pierces a follicle directly, or when hair removal tools such as waxing or plucking take place.
Avoid ingrown hairs by exfoliating regularly, using gentle cleanser and moisturiser products, and never shaving or waxing the area directly after laser treatments. If ingrown hairs do occur, warm compresses can help relieve inflammation while over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream may provide temporary relief.
Laser hair removal offers a safe, long-term solution for those looking to rid themselves of unwanted body hair. However, it is important that potential side effects be known so you can make an informed decision as to whether this procedure is the right choice for you. If laser hair removal seems like it might be right for you then contact us for a complimentary consultation and patch test; our treatments cover women and men of all skin tones!
