Laser hair removal can be extremely painful at times, especially on the back due to dense amounts of hair in this region. Numbing cream may help lessen this sensation to an bearable pinprick on your skin.
Laser treatment sensation varies based on your hair’s color and density as well as where you are being treated; most clients report feeling only a mild discomfort during laser sessions.
Pain
Laser hair removal uses small high-heat laser beams to target unwanted hair follicles with precision. Not only is laser hair removal safe and highly effective, it may even leave a shorter recovery period between sessions than with traditional shaving. You will feel the heat differently depending on where and your skin type you are being treated; thicker haired areas might have more intense sensation than finer ones and each person will experience different amounts of pain as they go through treatment.
Compare to traditional hair removal techniques which can be lengthy, costly, painful and labor intensive; laser treatments offer quick, efficient solutions with minimal pain experienced during treatments lasting only fractions of seconds at most.
At laser hair removal is a medical procedure and should only be carried out by qualified practitioners with experience. Do your research and choose one registered on an official register of practitioners as this ensures they meet set standards of training and skill.
Tips to ease pain include scheduling your treatment around your period, taking over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen, applying topical numbing cream before your session begins and using an ice pack post session. A well-hydrated body may also help lessen its intensity during treatment.
How much pain you experience from laser hair removal depends on the density and color of your unwanted hairs. Dark-colored or dense-textured follicles absorb more heat from laser treatment, which may make the treatment slightly more uncomfortable than if they were lighter-colored and finer in texture.
Once your treatment plan has been successfully executed, lasers will have successfully destroyed all unwanted hair follicles and won’t need to worry about them growing back again. However, hair loss and growth occur in cycles, meaning some unwanted hair could return at some point.
When this happens, it’s advisable to schedule touch-up sessions just like regular haircuts – this will prevent your hair from growing too long or becoming thicker than desired.
Discomfort
Laser hair removal is an efficient and safe solution to unwanted body hair removal, eliminating the need for shaving, waxing or plucking. However, discomfort during treatment depends on where on your body it is being done as well as individual pain tolerance – steps may be taken to minimize it such as applying topical numbing cream prior to surgery and waiting a few days after shaving before treatment begins.
The level of discomfort will differ for different body parts and areas, with sensitive areas like the face and bikini area more susceptible due to thin skin; legs generally feel less painful as their skin is thicker. Furthermore, the sensation depends on the color and density of hair in that particular area; for instance dark coarser locks will feel more intense than light fine locks.
Patients typically need several treatments before seeing results they want. Six to eight treatments may be necessary for maximum hair reduction; the duration of each will depend on where and how quickly hair grows in that location.
As part of your treatment, goggles will be worn to shield your eyes from laser beams. Before beginning treatment, your practitioner may shave and then apply a numbing cream before beginning laser treatment – both measures help minimize discomfort during sessions.
Once your treatment is over, allow your skin to heal properly. While redness and small swellings are normal reactions, you can speed up recovery by keeping skin cool, moisturizing frequently, and avoiding strenuous activity or overexposure to sunlight.
Prior to each laser hair removal session, it is wise to refrain from shaving, waxing and tweezing the treated area between sessions as this can cause hair regrowth. Furthermore, sunscreen with at least SPF 30 protection should be worn when going outdoors after receiving laser hair removal treatment.
Temperature
Laser hair removal uses pulses of light energy delivered directly to the skin which produces heat in hair follicles, leading to their destruction and thus stopping further production of new hairs. While the sensation can feel hot at times, it is not nearly as intense as shaving or waxing and many clients report that any discomfort they experienced from their first laser session gets less over time; either because their bodies become used to it or as their hair becomes lighter and thinner with each session.
Your experience during each appointment may depend on several factors, including the thickness and location of your hair, type of laser used and location in which you wish to treat, as well as any nerves present in these areas. Thicker hair tends to absorb more of the heat so you may feel it more than lighter hairs; face/bikini areas tend to feel more sensitive as there are numerous nerve endings here.
At your appointment, the practitioner will apply cooling gel to help minimize discomfort before pressing a handheld device against your skin to activate the laser’s light energy – you will experience what feels like series of stings or rubber band snaps against your skin; depending on the size and scope of the area being treated this may last between minutes and an hour depending on its size and scope. Some individuals find earplugs helpful to block out sound caused by laser light energy.
After laser hair removal treatments, the area may appear slightly red and swollen for some time after treatment, however this should subside relatively quickly. To protect the treated area from UV rays which could cause scarring and burning, sun cream with an SPF rating of at least 30 should be worn while applying soothing aloe vera gel directly on it can also help soothe inflammation and reduce redness.
Aftercare
Laser hair removal discomfort differs between people and body parts, with areas like abdomen or back being more painful than others.
Good news is, your discomfort should gradually decrease with each treatment. Your hair follicles will begin to die off and no longer produce new hair follicles; eventually you won’t even need depilation, waxing or shaving at all – leaving behind beautifully smooth skin that remains undamaged by unwanted hair growth.
For maximum painless laser hair removal, it is crucial that you follow certain pre-treatment advice. Shave the area of skin prior to each session – this will make the hair follicles easier to find and target – while refraining from waxing or plucking products up until 48 hours prior to your appointment date. It is also wise to stay out of direct sunlight for some days prior to treatment, while taking medications that could increase bleeding such as aspirin or ibuprofen could increase bleeding or blood flow significantly.
Soon after your laser hair removal session, you may experience swelling and redness in the treated area. To relieve it, apply cold compresses such as an ice pack or bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel to regularly apply to it. If swelling persists, over-the-counter painkillers like Tylenol (acetaminophen) or anti-inflammatories could help alleviate discomfort as well.
Expect several laser hair removal sessions for maximum effectiveness, depending on the color, location and hormonal influence of unwanted body hair. Up to eight treatments should provide optimal results – although annual touch-up treatments might also be necessary in order to keep unwanted hair under control.
