Before beginning laser hair removal treatments, it is recommended to shave the area that will be treated. Furthermore, sun exposure and tanning beds should be avoided as tanned skin can make treatments less effective.
During a laser procedure, your doctor will press a handheld device against your skin that emits the laser beam and contains cooling mechanisms or gel for added comfort.
1. You don’t sweat as much.
Lasers have become an indispensable medical tool, used to remove varicose veins, perform delicate eye surgery procedures and treat skin lesions. Furthermore, lasers can also be used to target hair follicles responsible for underarm sweating – or hyperhidrosis – and treat this condition effectively.
When ready to experiment with laser hair removal for underarm sweating, schedule an initial consultation with an experienced and certified practitioner in this procedure. Your practitioner will explain how it will proceed (for instance using safety goggles to protect eyes) as well as answer any of your questions or address temporary side effects such as swelling, bruising or redness of treated areas before giving an estimated time frame for when it’s safe to return to normal activities such as exercising.
As with any laser hair removal procedure, it’s essential that post-treatment instructions for laser hair removal be carefully observed to avoid complications. This means avoiding hot showers or baths since hot water can irritate skin and increase risk of infection. Furthermore, you should wait several weeks after your treatment before engaging in activities that disturb hair follicles – such as plucking, waxing or tweezing of treated areas as these activities could alter results and interfere with results of treatment.
After your laser hair removal appointment, it’s also best to refrain from exercising for several days post-surgery as sweat can trigger sensitive skin. If you do decide to work out, be sure to cool down immediately afterward by showering immediately or cooling off by wearing loose clothing which won’t rub against it.
Laser hair removal works by heating up and killing individual hair follicles without harming surrounding tissues or internal organs. Before having laser treatments on areas like arms, backs, legs, or bikini lines it is wise to consult your physician as these could potentially result in side effects like discoloration and blistering of skin.
Laser hair removal won’t stop sweating entirely, but it does reduce armpit odor by stopping bacteria accumulation and breaking down sweat production. When there’s no hair in your underarms for bacteria to attach itself to, body odor becomes irrelevant.
2. Your hair holds on to the sweat.
Sweat and odor glands that contribute to body odor are found within the hair follicles of your underarms. Although these glands are designed to regulate temperature in your body, if you exercise and sweat excessively they may actually lead to irritation resulting in rash or blemishes on your skin and unpleasant smelly body odor.
Anti-perspirants and deodorants may help mask body odor, but they don’t prevent sweat and bacteria from mixing together to form body odor. Some studies indicate that armpit bacteria may actually cause it, leading to unpleasant odor. By shaving away hair from underarms, bacteria no longer have anywhere to live – meaning they no longer produce the chemicals which create unpleasant scents when combined with sweat.
Laser hair removal uses pulses of light energy to heat and destroy the follicles that produce your underarm hair, with laser heat usually felt as series of stings or like rubber band snapping against skin. Treatment time may range anywhere from minutes to an hour, depending on the size and nature of the area to be addressed; prior to receiving laser treatment you will be advised not to shave, pluck, wax or use sun/tanning creams in that area.
Once the treatment is over, you may shave or wax the underarms as usual once the area has fully recovered. Some redness and swelling is normal; apply a cold compress to reduce inflammation. Also remember to stay out of direct sunlight for six weeks post session as that can harm healing processes.
When it’s time to see if laser hair removal can help improve underarm odor, make an appointment at your chosen clinic. A qualified practitioner will discuss your goals and answer any queries about the process. Remember to wear loose-fitting clothing as the treatment can cause some discomfort in certain areas; additionally, arriving with clean, dry skin is ideal since moisturizers, lotions and oils may interfere with its effectiveness by keeping laser light from reaching its roots.
3. Your skin’s flora changes.
Laser hair removal is a quick and efficient treatment that offers long-term benefits. It quickly and permanently rids unwanted body hair of its presence while eliminating the need for shaving, waxing, and plucking (which often leave behind sharp edges that become ingrown hairs). People experiencing frequent ingrown hair issues may find relief through laser treatments as the hairs grow back softer and thinner – less likely to become trapped beneath the skin and require further removal by hand.
Before the procedure begins, a medical specialist cleans the area and applies any necessary numbing gel. They then press a handheld device against your skin and activate a laser beam; you might experience something resembling rubber band snapping or sunburn-like sting as the energy of the laser damages hair follicles. Treatment time varies according to size; smaller areas usually take only minutes while larger ones could take an hour or more.
As part of your procedure, an unpleasant odor may arise due to released toxins from damaged hair follicles. To help combat this odor, try applying antibacterial soap and washing off with water before applying deodorant designed for sensitive skin – either way use deodorants with long-acting components to combat unpleasantness.
After laser hair removal, your underarms may smell differently. This is due to odor-producing bacteria multiplying on the surface of your skin when sweat is present and coming into contact with them; when this happens, acid from these bacteria creates an unpleasant aroma that causes an offensive scent.
Laser treatments often result in reduced body odor, though this doesn’t stop sweating from the underarms altogether; hair follicles don’t control sweat production after laser treatment anyway; this explains why some individuals notice reduced underarm body odor after receiving laser hair removal while others do not; both reactions should not cause alarm; just be sure to talk to your physician for the best advice!
4. Your skin’s flora doesn’t change.
Hair in your armpits contributes to body odor by sinking into your pores and holding onto sweat that then gets broken down by bacteria on your skin into compounds with foul smells that become an odor source. Without hair to hold onto it, however, sweat evaporates more readily without creating body odor.
Laser hair removal is a quick and relatively pain-free procedure. Before your session begins, your skin is cleaned before numbing gel may be applied to sensitive areas. After which a technician will direct a beam of light onto the area you wish to treat; its energy heats the pigments inside hair follicles which damage them, thus stopping future hair growth.
Laser energy causes an unexpected heat shock in nearby tissue, which may cause your skin to tingle or even burn slightly – this sensation isn’t harmful, but can be slightly uncomfortable.
After your treatment, your doctor will provide instructions on how to care for your skin. For instance, hot showers and baths should be avoided for 24 hours because their hot temperature can irritate skin further. Furthermore, you should refrain from activities which cause excessive sweating such as exercise.
As your recovery advances, you may notice your hair is falling out faster than usual. While this is normal and should not be confused with new growth; what you are witnessing instead are dead follicles shedding off.
Researchers conducting a study of how laser hair removal affects armpit odor found that its effectiveness wasn’t related to changes in the microbiome or decreased bacterial counts; rather it appears due to reduced sweat clinging onto hair follicles which is then broken down by bacteria.
Spring Street Dermatology’s board-certified dermatologists specialize in laser hair removal for SOHO, Tribeca and Uptown Manhattan patients – contact us now to set up your consultation!
