Laser hair removal works by passing heat through the skin in order to disrupt how follicles work and absorb melanin from them, targeting hairs in their active or anagen phase while leaving dormant follicles unaffected.
Destroying every hair follicle is impossible, and some of it may return; however, when it does it tends to grow back lighter and finer.
1. Increased Blood Circulation
Laser hair removal is an effective treatment for eliminating unwanted facial and body hair. Additionally, it saves time spent depilating or waxing while improving skin health by eliminating issues related to folliculitis and pigmentation caused by hair growth. Some side effects may arise following laser hair removal treatments including itching, redness or swelling at the area being treated; these are normal side effects typically lasting no more than two or three days.
At the start of a laser hair removal procedure, a doctor will press a hand-held laser instrument against your skin with cooling gel on its tip to protect and reduce side effects. As light beam passes through skin it damages hair follicles inhibiting their ability to grow new hair follicles – this procedure could take anywhere between several minutes and an hour, depending on its size and area being treated.
After laser hair removal, skin may become irritated or swollen, which is completely normal and can be managed using cold compresses and/or topical steroids. Some individuals may also notice darker or lighter spots on the treated areas that should be discussed with their physician or hair removal specialist as soon as possible.
Before receiving laser treatment, it’s advisable to shave the area to eliminate excess hair. Also avoid plucking or waxing this area prior to your appointment, and tanning could increase the likelihood of unwanted side effects.
Laser hair removal results are temporary and will require multiple sessions for best results. As hair grows in cycles, multiple sessions should be scheduled at its most active growth stage in order to catch more of its roots at once and make laser treatment more likely to fall out or remove when new growth comes back in.
Laser hair removal works best on people with light skin and dark hair. Blond, gray, white or red locks tend to be less effective candidates for laser treatment; therefore, if considering laser treatment it’s important to speak to your physician first about goals and expectations.
2. Reduced Stress
Laser hair removal is a safe and effective solution to unwanted body hair that will save time, pain, and inconvenience by permanently reducing unwanted body hair. Lasers offer permanent reduction that allows users to say goodbye to razor blades, razor burn, ingrown hairs, skin discolorations and folliculitis – and get back their lives!
Laser procedures are designed to target pigment in hair bulbs and destroy them, thus stopping further hair growth. Furthermore, each pulse cools the skin before and after delivery for added skin protection and to limit any potential damages to tissues. In addition, these devices can treat multiple hair follicles at once making them an efficient treatment option across large areas of the body.
However, some individuals can experience paradoxical hypertrichosis following laser treatment. This condition occurs when hair that regrows post-laser becomes darker and thicker after being treated by laser; its cause remains unknown but some research indicates that laser may actually stimulate hair growth in some individuals. Although relatively uncommon among patients treated by laser, paradoxical hypertrichosis does occur occasionally affecting only a select few patients.
Hair may reappear after laser therapy due to hair follicles not all being destroyed in each session, as each hair follicle follows its own growth cycle that includes resting, shedding and growing periods. Follicles in their resting or shedding stages won’t be affected by laser light; those entering anagen growth phases again could still show growth potential after returning into these states.
To avoid this from occurring, it is recommended that a minimum of four laser treatments be completed before engaging in activities that could potentially increase sweat production like steam rooms, dry saunas and hot showers until after completion of treatments are finished. Furthermore, it is necessary to use broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 50 protection on any treated areas to protect them against skin damage.
Though some hair may regrown after laser hair removal, most will be lighter and thinner than before, while the rate at which it returns will also be much slower than its prior rate of growth.
3. Improved Immunity
Unwanted hair growth can be hard to eradicate with shaving, waxing or chemical depilatories; these methods only temporarily stop hair growth before it returns shortly afterwards. Laser hair removal offers an effective permanent solution for getting rid of unwanted body hair.
Laser treatments target pigmented hair follicles to break them down using light energy delivered through the skin, injuring their pigment and rendering them incapable of growing new hair, while healthy follicles continue producing some hair but in lesser amounts than before. Furthermore, laser therapy treatments may reduce folliculitis – an incurable condition resulting in painful hair follicles – considerably.
Laser hair removal is generally safe and effective treatment option, without long-term side effects. People with specific skin conditions should seek advice from a dermatologist prior to receiving this therapy, as additional sessions may be necessary in order to avoid an adverse reaction.
Some medications can impede laser treatments, so it’s essential that you are completely honest with your healthcare provider regarding all medications that could affect them. They will then be able to determine which ones have negative interactions and offer alternative remedies such as oral contraceptives, antibiotics, anticancer medication or certain psychiatric medicines; it is also wise to avoid products containing glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid prior to receiving laser treatments.
As part of your laser treatment, you will wear protective eyewear. Once ready, your physician will direct quick pulses of light directly at each hair follicle; although this may be slightly uncomfortable at first, it should only last a few seconds. Your doctor may also use cooling devices or apply gel to the area beforehand in order to optimize results.
Laser treatments tend to work best for people with dark hair and light skin because the contrast makes it easier for the follicles to absorb heat. But those with other combinations may still see results; just be sure to inform your laser provider of any medications you’re taking (especially antihistamines as many can interact negatively with laser treatment).
4. Increased Blood Flow
Laser hair removal works by targeting and destroying unwanted hair follicles with laser light. Over time, they become incapable of growing new hair and eventually die out completely – an excellent long-term solution to unwanted hair that requires multiple treatment sessions for best results. Treatment sessions vary according to each person as hair growth and loss naturally take place in cycles; treatments may need to be repeated every four to eight weeks in areas that experience fast hair growth while 10-12 treatments might be needed in slow hair-growth areas like back.
Most people who undergo laser hair removal experience minimal side effects during and after treatment, such as redness, swelling, or temporary changes to skin color (hypo- or hyperpigmentation). Compared to waxing or shaving methods of hair removal, there’s usually no risk of ingrown hairs with laser.
An accredited technician will apply a topical anesthetic before beginning, so some patients may feel some slight discomfort; depending on your location and area of concern, procedures could take as little as minutes to complete.
Laser hair removal takes multiple sessions in order to achieve desired results, due to hair growth’s natural cycle; the laser only targets new-growth stages of hair follicles during treatment sessions, thus producing results over several months with reduced unwanted hair growth and an overall smoother appearance.
Laser hair removal offers a long-term solution to unwanted hair growth. While some finer and lighter-colored regrowth is likely, maintenance treatments every four to six weeks for as long as required will help ensure you retain a hairless complexion.
