Laser hair removal is a proven solution for permanently eliminating unwanted facial and body hair. At Simplicity Laser, our FDA-approved Candela GentleMax Pro and ND:YAG lasers have been specifically tailored to offer safe yet effective hair reduction treatments suitable for all skin tones and colors.
Many individuals experience long-term results after multiple body treatments; however, some individuals may experience hair regrowth due to fluctuating hormone levels.
Hair Growth Cycles
Laser hair removal employs heat to destroy hair follicles responsible for unwanted hair growth, producing visible reduction after only several sessions. While laser hair removal is generally effective for most people and most will notice noticeable hair reduction after just several sessions, it should be understood as not being permanent as hair grows in cycles; any damaged follicles will repopulate over time – be it months or years! To maintain long-term success it’s vital to remain on regular treatment programs to achieve long-term success.
At a laser hair removal session, a doctor will use a handheld instrument with cooling pads or gel on its tip to protect your skin and lessen side effects. Next, they activate their laser light which sends intense heat directly into the follicles where hair grows from, damaging them so they no longer produce hair growth.
Your body’s natural hair growth cycle consists of resting periods, shedding phases and growing phases. When visible hair is visible on your skin (anagen phase), laser treatments are most successful due to targeting pigment and dissolving follicles with heat from laser treatment. Unfortunately, hair in telogen phase cannot be targeted by laser and continues to shed over days or weeks – creating the impression that there may still be growth requiring further laser treatments.
The catagen phase is another part of the hair growth cycle. At this transitional point, hair starts to detach itself from dermal papilla that provides it with nourishment; typically this stage produces finer and lighter-colored locks than its anagen counterparts.
The telogen phase, or resting/dormant phase, refers to when hair stops growing and becomes inconspicuous. At this point, hair might take several days or even years before entering anagen again and until that point other methods such as shaving or waxing must be used for hair removal.
Redness and Bumps
After laser hair removal treatment, you may notice red and bumpy spots on your skin that gradually fade over the course of hours or days depending on your skin type. Don’t panic; this is completely normal and will soon pass.
After each laser hair removal treatment session, skin can become particularly delicate, so applying makeup or beauty products could cause further irritation to this delicate area. Furthermore, hot showers, tubs, or saunas should be avoided to avoid further irritating or blistering of skin. Instead, take a cool shower after each laser hair removal session using gentle cleansers and moisturizers.
After receiving laser hair removal treatment, you may experience discomfort in the form of small pimple-like bumps in the area where hair was removed. This is known as folliculitis and is similar to acne; it occurs when pores become blocked with dead skin cells and bacteria; the inflammation caused by it is an immune response by your body to open them up again. If this side effect persists after therapy has concluded, consult your physician immediately for additional guidance or tips on treating it.
Hormonal imbalance may also play a part in increased hair growth after laser treatments. PCOS causes an imbalance that results in higher levels of androgens causing excess hair growth; you can reduce this issue by avoiding hormonal treatments like tanning and taking an oral contraceptive to regulate hormone levels.
Before beginning laser hair removal treatments, it’s essential to avoid other methods like plucking or waxing in the area, as this may disrupt your natural growth cycle and prevent the laser from effectively targeting follicles. Instead, stick to your scheduled sessions – usually two to six – and allow your skin to recover between sessions; try spacing these recurring sessions no more than six weeks apart so as to synchronize with natural hair growth cycles and minimize number of sessions needed.
Ingrown Hairs
Hair grows in cycles. Laser treatment targets the follicle during its new growth stage of this cycle. Over the days and weeks following your laser treatment, some old hairs will fall out while those that don’t will start growing back as they enter their new growth stage – creating the appearance of continued hair growth until your next treatment session.
Once again, those that do return will likely be shorter and lighter due to entering the telogen cycle where hairs are at their most fragile state – hence why repeated treatments will maximize efficacy.
Laser hair removal has become so popular due to its effectiveness at eliminating or minimizing other hair removal methods like shaving, waxing and plucking – techniques which may cause inflammation and ingrown hairs if used incorrectly.
Ingrown hairs occur when hair gets caught under the skin in an area it shouldn’t, often on the face or other sensitive spots, and becomes lodged there. They typically cause itching, redness and occasionally pus. Additionally, ingrown hairs can often occur as an unfortunate side effect of using blunt methods of hair removal such as shaving, waxing or tweezing to get rid of unwanted body hair.
Though laser hair removal is generally safe and effective, it may increase your risk of ingrown hairs due to disruption of normal hair growth process and is especially prevalent in sensitive areas or with curly or coarse hairs.
Ingrown hairs can often be the result of poor skincare practices such as failing to exfoliate regularly, leading to dead skin cells clogging the hair follicle and preventing it from emerging properly. Therefore, it’s recommended that exfoliation be performed using either a washcloth, scrub or soft-bristled toothbrush twice weekly, especially after shaving and before your laser hair removal appointment. You could also consider using prescription creams that inhibit hair regrowth to help avoid future ingrown hairs from appearing.
Don’t Miss the Next Treatment
Missing treatments is imperative, as missing one may cause your hair to go into catagen and remain hidden beneath the skin, hindering results. Most laser hair removal treatment sessions should occur every eight weeks; should you miss one, the catagen phase could have passed and moved onto telogen phase before your next appointment arrives – potentially leading to unwanted hair regrowth and impacting results negatively.
One to three weeks following your laser hair treatment, you should begin to witness a decrease in hair growth. This is because hairs in their anagen stage at the time of treatment have been damaged by heat from laser and shed as a result – this may seem like new hair growth but actually feels more like stubble! For optimal results during this phase, avoid tweezing or waxing of treated areas and allow time for skin repair and recovery.
After having laser hair removal treatments on your face, do not pick at the area with sharp objects as this could leave lasting scars and depressions in the skin that impede its healing process. Instead, treat it gently using light cleanser and moisturizer.
Once your series of laser hair treatments is completed, you should see an average reduction of 90% in hair growth in the treated areas. However, depending on your hair thickness and density levels, some minor regrowth may occur a year or two later; in this instance, we suggest returning for follow up sessions once or twice annually in order to keep skin hair-free.
If you are considering laser hair removal, be sure to discuss it with a medical provider or dermatologist first. They can give an honest evaluation as to whether this procedure would suit you best. Laser hair removal is an efficient and safe way to reduce unwanted body hair, considered semi-permanent in most instances.
