At-home laser hair removal devices can effectively damage hair follicles to slowly reduce growth over time, saving money on razors. Unfortunately, no large studies have yet been completed to compare their efficacy with laser hair removal at a doctor’s office.
Some at-home machines use laser light while others utilize IPL (intense pulsed light). Most can be safely used on dark skin tones but many may not be appropriate for Fitzpatrick types four through six skin tones.
What are the Benefits?
Laser hair removal is one of the best long-term solutions to unwanted hair. It eliminates waxing and shaving, which often lead to painful ingrown hairs, while leaving skin smooth and beautiful. Laser light destroys hair follicles to stop their ability from producing new hair growth – most people see permanent results after three to seven sessions!
Certified technicians use laser machines to treat unwanted hair. Pulses of light are delivered directly into the treatment area, where pulses of light target each individual hair follicle, heating it and damaging it irreparably. Because hair grows in stages, light energy only targets hairs active growth phase – meaning your treatment won’t harm any hidden under skin hairs which would be difficult for the laser machine to reach.
Laser treatment of areas the size of a quarter can be accomplished within fractions of seconds with each pulse from a laser, making small areas treatable in under a minute while larger areas like back and legs may take up to an hour. Plus, its accuracy enables certified technicians to precisely target affected spots without damaging surrounding skin.
Modern laser and IPL machines have vastly outshone those found on the market in the nineties, as their cooling headpieces help reduce discomfort while lasers emit only wavelengths that are safe for human skin. Still, it is wise to always have a patch test performed prior to starting any laser treatment regimen.
Before your treatment begins, it is also crucial that you refrain from tanning or using sunless skin creams as these can make it harder for the device to distinguish between your skin tone and hair pigment causing discoloration – hence why most at-home laser hair removal devices work only on individuals with light skin tone and dark hair.
How Does It Work?
At-home laser hair removal devices include diode laser and intense pulsed light (IPL). Diode lasers utilize specific wavelengths of light that target pigment in hair follicles, damaging and stopping future hair growth; IPL uses a wider spectrum of light that treats an entire surface area of your skin. While these devices are less powerful than medical clinic machines, they still significantly reduce body hair. They’re FDA-approved and safe if followed carefully according to instructions provided.
Before beginning laser/IPL treatments, make sure to shave and clean the area beforehand to reduce hair from breaking off and getting caught in the device. Furthermore, avoid plucking, waxing, or bleaching during active growth stages as these could damage follicles more severely by light.
Most at-home laser devices feature multiple intensity settings to meet different skin sensitivities, as well as multiple modes. For instance, RoseSkinCo IPL Hair Removal Handset features both stamp mode and glide mode; stamp focuses lights directly onto one spot at a time while glide disperses light over larger areas. In addition to tracking pulses over time in any given location, this device also tracks them so you know how many you have done in that location.
Once you’ve determined your comfort level, the next step should be finding an appropriate setting and duration of treatment for your body type. Small areas like upper lip can usually be treated in minutes while large ones such as legs may take up to an hour for complete healing.
After selecting an appropriate setting to suit your skin type and needs, completing several treatment cycles before seeing permanent results is often required to get to permanent hair reduction. Most people experience permanent reduction after three to seven sessions with occasional touch up sessions required each year after your initial cycle is completed.
What Are the Side Effects?
A doctor or technician will use a handheld laser instrument to press against your skin, with its tip equipped with either a cooling device or gel that helps soothe skin discomfort and lower risk of side effects. After activating it, a beam of light passes through your skin towards hair follicles to destroy them and stop further hair growth – though depending on which laser type and your individual skin and hair characteristics this may result in some degree of discomfort for some individuals.
Early laser hair removal machines could produce an unpleasant snapping-type sensation; this has since decreased due to technological advancements. Some individuals may still find the process unpleasant; however, threading or waxing should not be nearly as painful.
Redness, irritation and folliculitis perifollicularis (swelling) are often side effects associated with laser hair removal treatments like waxing or plucking; these side effects should clear up within an hour after each session is over. You might even find that over time your hairs become finer and thinner after subsequent sessions.
Moisturizer and avoid sunless tanning cream to help alleviate symptoms, and shave, tweeze or pluck prior to and post each session if possible. You could also try an ice pack to hasten recovery.
Laser and IPL treatments may cause more serious side effects, though these should be rare when performed by an experienced board-certified dermatologist. These could include pigment changes to your skin, cold sore outbreaks or blistering; before proceeding with any sort of laser or IPL procedure it’s wise to conduct a patch test in order to see how your body will respond.
Home laser hair removal devices are available, but it is important to keep in mind that these aren’t powerful enough to produce results comparable to professional treatments and lack FDA approval. Furthermore, you should read your user manual thoroughly in order to reduce risk of skin injury or damage.
How Long Will It Take?
Laser hair removal is a non-invasive cosmetic procedure performed in-office by either a doctor or trained aesthetician, wherein laser light is beamed onto each individual hair follicle to damage it using heat from the laser beam and eventually stop hair growth altogether. Hair grows in cycles, thus necessitating multiple sessions for maximum hair reduction.
Duration of treatment depends on the size and scope of the area being addressed; treating underarms might take as little as ten minutes while full body sessions could last two hours or more. While laser treatments themselves aren’t painful, people have different tolerance levels – some people experience slight discomfort or pinching sensation during laser sessions. Post treatment there may be redness and swelling as well as burning or itching sensations lasting a few hours post session.
Although many at-home laser hair removal devices claim to be permanent, they don’t receive the same level of scrutiny and testing as professional machines do. Furthermore, FDA doesn’t regulate these devices, nor are large studies done to demonstrate their efficacy.
When selecting an at-home device, look for one with a high pulse rating that can treat various hair colors and skin tones. Avoid devices designed solely to treat one type of hair or skin tone as these may cause burns and hyperpigmentation.
The Tria laser hair removal device is an excellent option due to its diode laser technology that is widely utilized by clinics. It features an LED screen which guides treatment while also showing battery life status, as well as being lightweight and compact enough for storage in drawers or cabinets when not being used.
MiSMON IPL is another top choice, as its smart technology scans skin and hair tone before unlocking if it is safe to use. This reduces risk of burning or discoloration, with its cooling system helping soothe sensitive areas. Plus, this device comes complete with a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty and 60-day risk-free trial period!
