laser hair removal helps stimulate collagen, giving skin an enhanced and more vibrant appearance. At Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, laser hair removal and other nonsurgical cosmetic procedures can keep your complexion at its best.
Your skin may become red, swollen and bumpy after receiving laser treatments; this is a normal side effect and usually subsides quickly. Aloe vera gel may help alleviate these symptoms.
1. Reduces Discomfort
Laser hair removal varies in terms of discomfort depending on your skin sensitivity; generally speaking, however, it should not be as painful as waxing or shaving. If discomfort becomes an issue during treatment, speak to your technician about what they expect during your session and any techniques they might employ to alleviate pain.
Patients experiencing laser treatment sessions can expect to feel something similar to rubber band snapping against their skin and may detect a sulfurous smell as hair follicles are destroyed by heat from the laser’s energy. These sensations typically dissipate once treatment has concluded and numbing cream should be applied beforehand for greater comfort.
Before your treatment, avoid direct sun exposure, tanning beds and spray tans as the laser light energy can absorb into pigment in hair follicles, increasing discomfort levels while diminishing its efficacy. Furthermore, it would be prudent to wait at least two weeks between plucking or waxing hair in areas that will be treated and your laser hair removal appointment.
After your laser hair removal treatment session, it is recommended to refrain from taking hot showers, baths and using heating pads on the areas treated for at least 48 hours post-session to reduce irritation to your skin and risk burning or blistering. Instead, it is advised to opt for cooler showers/baths and pat your skin dry rather than rub.
Maintain a regular laser hair removal schedule as it takes from three to eight treatments for unwanted hair to be permanently eliminated from the body. Only choose an experienced and qualified provider registered with professional organizations who meets set standards in terms of education, skill, and insurance when having their treatments done.
2. Reduces Ingrown Hairs
Ingrown hairs can be extremely uncomfortable. They form when your shaved hair curls back in on itself and becomes trapped underneath your skin, leading to inflamed and irritated skin with bumps as well as infection that leads to permanent scarring. Laser hair removal works to alleviate this issue by disabling hair follicles, thus eliminating ingrown hairs altogether.
Laser hair removal sessions are relatively painless. Before your treatment begins, we apply topical anesthetic to make the experience more bearable. After pressing a handheld device against the surface of your skin and activating the laser beam, which feels similar to snapping an elastic band against it, a technician presses an electronic handheld device against your skin surface with an activator device to activate it – similar to snapping elastic bands against elastic bands! Depending on the size of the treatment area this process typically lasts anywhere from 15 minutes up to an hour depending on its complexity.
After participating in multiple laser hair removal sessions, you should be able to significantly decrease the amount of body hair that grows on you. While you may still experience some visible hair above the surface of the skin, its length should decrease significantly and lighten significantly over time.
Use of a moisturizing product containing Salicylic Acid can reduce the likelihood of ingrown hairs after laser hair removal by gradually dissolving dead skin cells that contribute to their formation. You should also refrain from shaving treated areas for several weeks prior to and following laser hair removal sessions, using only high quality razors that will not irritate or cut into skin; additionally it’s important to not pluck, wax, or use sunless tanning cream as these could interfere with laser treatments.
3. Smoother Skin
Unwanted hair growth can make your skin appear uneven and blotchy, often leading to redness or necessitating heavy makeup applications to cover patches of growth. Laser hair removal may reduce these spots of hair growth and leave your complexion looking smoother and healthier than before.
Laser treatment works by targeting melanin in the hair follicles and converting it to heat energy, damaging and stopping new hair from growing back. While suitable for all skin types, its results tend to be best when performed on those with dark hair against light skin tones (dark against light). Because melanin levels in your body make targeting hair follicles harder, choosing an experienced practitioner and verifying their registration as this will demonstrate they meet established training, skill, and insurance standards is critical.
Prior to laser treatment, your practitioner will clean the area of skin being treated and apply any necessary topical anesthetic. Goggles will then be worn to protect eyes before pressing a handheld device against it and activating the laser, which may feel similar to multiple small stings. Your practitioner might use a cooling gel or air spray on the skin in order to keep you as comfortable as possible during your laser session, which could last from minutes up to an hour depending on its size and where treatment will occur.
Post-treatment, your skin may appear reddened and swollen and might smell of smoke – this is caused by the laser having vaporized hair follicles – so use broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or greater to protect this area and avoid direct sunlight on it. Also avoid plucking, waxing or applying hair-removal creams on this area until after your laser therapy session has concluded.
4. Reduces Acne
Hair removal can help treat acne by eliminating two elements that contribute to it: excess hair and clogged pores. While it won’t treat the underlying cause (hormonal imbalances), it will significantly decrease breakouts by eliminating excess hair that traps dirt and oil, while laser treatment will tend to produce finer and lighter-colored regrowth following laser treatment.
If you’re concerned about acne breakouts after laser hair removal, it’s important to remember that they will likely be temporary. The heat from the laser can open your pores temporarily leading to an increase in breakouts if your coarse and thick hairs were coarse and thick; however, taking steps such as using rough scrubs, applying harsh products or spending time in direct sunlight may reduce any temporary increase. Over time your breakouts should go away on their own.
After laser treatment, it’s advisable to apply a cooling cream or ointment and avoid over-washing the area – this will prevent pores from becoming blocked up quickly and restore them back to their regular state quickly.
One final point: if you have very dark skin, it may be beneficial to visit a dermatologist who can prescribe skin bleaching cream prior to beginning laser treatments. This will lighten your complexion so the heat of the laser won’t cause an itchy rash and trigger an outbreak. Furthermore, avoid products such as tanning lotions and skin-lighteners that come into contact with laser light as these could potentially damage it, and don’t shave around treatment areas prior to your appointment – all these steps can help ensure smooth sailing for laser sessions!
5. Increases Self-Esteem
Laser hair removal offers many people more than just temporary relief from unwanted body hair. The same laser energy used to remove it also revitalizes and refreshes their skin; regular laser sessions may help address strawberry legs, discoloration and clogged pores for smoother, younger-looking skin that glows with health.
Laser treatments offer an alternative method for hair removal that’s far less painful, uncomfortable and potentially hazardous compared to traditional methods like plucking or waxing: laser beams target the root of hair growth to stop its return. As such, they also decrease ingrown hairs which are common issues caused by shaving, waxing, chemical depilatories or electrolysis treatments.
Laser hair removal has also been proven to help decrease the buildup of bacteria responsible for body odor, leaving skin feeling fresher and cleaner after each session. Therefore, laser treatment has become a popular solution among those struggling with body odor due to excessive sweating or genetic predisposition.
Although laser hair removal offers long-term results, regular sessions will be necessary to maximize optimal outcomes tailored to your skin type and hair texture. Your specialist will explain which treatment plan will be required in order to reach optimal outcomes for you.
Considering laser hair removal? Finding an experienced practitioner registered with an accredited register that guarantees they meet specific training and skill standards is of utmost importance. Cheap or generic machines may not be as beneficial to your skin and could result in complications; make sure your laser technician uses an FDA-approved machine with high quality products, especially when treating darker pigmented areas of the body.
