Laser hair removal uses pulses of intense light to destroy unwanted hair follicles. Some users describe the sensation as rubber bands snapping against their skin.
Some individuals have higher pain thresholds than others. You can take steps to alleviate discomfort during sessions – shaving beforehand can make targeting the laser easier.
Pain Receptors
Laser hair removal utilizes pulses of light to target and destroy unwanted hair follicles, with pain levels depending on your pain tolerance and treatment area. As opposed to other painful methods like waxing, such as having your head waxed, laser treatments are minimally invasive without numbing cream required during treatment.
Your first laser hair removal session may be more painful than subsequent sessions as your body adjusts. Sensation varies based on skin type; those with darker complexions often feel the heat from the laser more, as their darker complexion absorbs more light from its beam.
As part of your efforts to minimize discomfort, purchase over-the-counter pain relievers to take in the hours leading up to your appointment. Shave the area prior to being treated by laser so it is easier for it to remove hair. In addition, avoid scheduling appointments during menstruation cycles since pain receptors will be more active at these times and this could make the treatment more painful than expected.
When considering laser hair removal, be sure to speak with a licensed professional first. They will help explain the treatment as well as ways to minimize pain during it; such as using ice packs or applying numbing cream directly on the area being treated.
Before going in for treatment, it’s essential that you remain well hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Staying hydrated helps your bloodstream remain at a healthy level of water, which in turn will regulate pain tolerance. Caffeine and alcohol should also be avoided since they can lower this threshold further. Moreover, SPF 30 or higher sunscreen must always be worn to shield treatment areas from UV radiation damage, while refraining from scratching afterward can lead to itching and inflammation; so it is best left alone!
Target Areas
Laser energy is delivered via light beam. When passed over the skin, it heats up and targets pigmentation in hair follicles causing deactivation, leading to no further hair growth and less discomfort. Your time spent shaving, tweezing or plucking will decrease, giving you more free time for other pursuits that interest you.
Your discomfort will depend on which area of your body is being treated. Underarms and bikini lines tend to be particularly sensitive due to thin skin; legs, arms and back tend to be less so due to thicker skin layers; while chest and abdomen areas with many individual hair follicles can still cause considerable pain during treatments.
Similar to how the intensity of treatment depends on how dense and dark your hairs are, dark locks may make targeting harder; as a result, more intense laser treatments may be required, making the treatment even more powerful than usual. It is therefore crucial that an experienced practitioner administer your laser therapy treatment.
Laser treatments do carry some risk, with possible side effects including burns and blisters. To minimize this risk, avoid sun exposure and tanning beds in the weeks leading up to your appointment, and remove any fake tan or scrubs two days beforehand from areas being treated.
After receiving laser treatment, it’s not unusual to experience some discomfort immediately following your appointment. An ice pack and over-the-counter pain reliever like acetaminophen may help soothe any inflammation; within a few hours redness and swelling should subside.
At first, laser treatments may cause discomfort; however, over time the sensation should lessen with each session. Furthermore, you should have realistic expectations about how long it will take before permanent results become evident; typically this usually requires 6-8 treatments before hair begins growing back finer and lighter.
Numbing Cream
If you have low tolerance for pain, speaking to your clinician about using numbing cream before your laser hair removal appointment may help ease anxiety and help relax you during the procedure. While applying it prior to beginning can help, depending on individual sensitivity and pain tolerance levels this may not always be necessary.
For maximum efficacy, numbing cream should be applied on clean skin prior to commencing treatment. Oil or dirt could compromise its effectiveness; to maximize results use lidocaine or benzocaine-containing numbing creams which contain skin penetration enhancers (also called “drivers”) which allow anesthetic compounds to quickly penetrate skin layers and reach nerve endings where needed.
Additionally to using cream with numbing agents, a cold compress or ice pack applied directly over the area prior to laser treatments is another effective way of mitigating discomfort associated with laser beam treatment, particularly effective when treating smaller or more delicate areas such as armpits or bikini lines.
Numbing creams can be purchased either online or from local pharmacies, with reviews, artist and dermatologist opinions, and active ingredients being essential components before making a selection.
Numbing cream should be applied 15-25 minutes before receiving laser hair removal treatment. Be sure to follow the directions on the package closely to apply an adequate amount. Too much anesthetic cream could result in unwanted side effects such as burning sensation, hypo- or hyperpigmentation, swelling and scab formation or purpura.
A cream’s numbing effect should last up to an hour. During this period, avoid sweating or engaging in activities that might compromise circulation in the treated area.
Preparation
Laser hair removal works by targeting the base of a hair follicle to interrupt its growth cycle and stop further hair growth, or at least make it lighter and less noticeable over time. It can eliminate unwanted body hair while reducing depilation, waxing or shaving needs and alleviate issues like folliculitis or discoloration, according to American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).
Before beginning laser hair removal, there are a few things you should do prior to treatment. On the day of treatment, shave the area that needs to be treated. On treatment day itself, wear goggles to protect your eyes. A practitioner will press a handheld device against the area that needs treating and activate the laser device; small plumes of smoke will come from its emitters that feel similar to an elastic band snapping against your skin; you might experience redness or swelling after your session; for any discomfort, cool compresses might help.
Before seeking laser hair removal, other methods like waxing or tweezing should not be employed; these interfere with the base of the hair follicle and prevent laser light from dismantling it. While some follicles may be more resistant than others and regrowth may occur after multiple sessions, multiple sessions spread out at four- to six-week intervals can usually produce permanent results.
At some point during your treatment, you will likely be provided with a topical numbing cream to ease pain. Should any adverse side effects arise after this medication wears off, please inform your practitioner as soon as possible.
Laser hair removal is a safe and effective solution for getting rid of unwanted body hair, but results may differ between patients. Some individuals require multiple treatment sessions before reaching their desired goals. Between treatments, it’s also wise to avoid sun exposure by wearing sunscreen with SPF 30 protection or higher.
