Laser hair removal is an effective and long-term way of permanently eliminating unwanted hair. For optimal results, multiple sessions should be scheduled approximately 4-8 weeks apart for optimal results.
Life may get in the way of scheduling regular laser treatments, but leaving too much time between treatments could negatively impact your outcomes.
The Hair Growth Cycle
Hair growth cycles play an integral part in how long it takes for laser hair removal results to appear. Laser treatments work by targeting germ cells in hair follicles, stopping them from producing new hairs; however, this doesn’t destroy all follicles – only those in their anagen phase are affected. Therefore, most individuals require multiple cycles of treatments in order to see optimal results.
Most people begin to see their hair shed three to five days post-laser treatment as damaged follicles release the hair they were housing. After this occurs, areas may appear completely hairless for an extended period, even patchy – however this is only temporary as more anagen phase follicles will eventually grow back in.
Once the anagen phase ends, hair follicles enter the catagen phase – an interim stage during which hair grows slowly before resting (telogen). Telogen follicles cannot be destroyed through laser treatment but damage from laser therapy may prompt them to enter catagen earlier than anticipated.
Laser treatments yield the most successful results when performed on hair in its anagen phase, as this allows for deep penetration into skin where hair follicles reside. To maximize effectiveness between laser treatments, it is wise to avoid plucking or waxing of individual strands between treatments as this removes melanin from each follicle, rendering it vulnerable.
Most men and women require six to eight laser hair removal treatments for optimal results, depending on each person’s hair growth cycle. Once these are complete, results can either be long-term or permanent; when new growth appears it tends to be finer and lighter in color; many opt for annual maintenance laser hair removal sessions for ongoing hair reduction.
Hormonal Changes
hormonal shifts may alter the timing of laser hair removal treatments. This could occur if someone begins or discontinues taking birth control pills, is going through puberty or menopause, or moving into different stages of puberty/menopause. As these hormonal changes cause hair follicles to shift through different phases that impact how many of them will be damaged by laser treatment, or could cause more hair growth in certain parts of their bodies due to hormonal imbalances resulting in conditions like hirsutism or hypertrichosis which arise due to excess androgens/testosterone levels being produced through imbalanced levels within our systems.
Due to these reasons, it is imperative that one abides by the instructions of a dermatologist when it comes to scheduling laser hair removal treatments. Doing so will ensure the most permanent results from laser hair removal treatments are achieved.
Hormonal effects on hair growth cycles can alter how many of your unwanted follicles will be in anagen phase and thus more susceptible to laser hair removal treatment than expected. Follicles in catagen or telogen phases will still produce hair but its thickness and darkness won’t be as pronounced after treatment has taken place.
Hormones play an integral part in laser treatments targeting hair follicles. This is particularly true among those living with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which leads to excessive hair growth on the face, neck and chest as well as arms and back; women living with PCOS may require additional treatments due to more resistant hair follicles being targeted by laser.
Hormonal changes during pregnancy or trying to become pregnant may also pose challenges, since pregnancy hormones tend to encourage increased hair growth. If this becomes an issue for a woman, she should speak with their physician regarding other possible solutions like waxing or shaving for dealing with unwanted hair growth.
Excessive Hair Growth
Laser hair removal may help permanently eliminate unwanted facial and body hair, although ongoing treatments may be necessary as the hormones responsible can fluctuate, leading to excess hair growth once again. Therefore, it’s essential that patients adhere to their dermatologist’s recommendations and schedule regular sessions as an ongoing maintenance strategy.
Prior to receiving laser hair removal treatments, it’s advisable to avoid waxing, plucking and shaving your target area for several days prior to treatment. As these hair removal methods remove entire follicles along with their hair from the skin surface, leaving no melanin for laser light to target.
Shaving can delay how quickly results will show. Because melanin levels dictate hair growth cycle, new growth may take several months after your current hair has been cut off – leading many people to prefer alternative solutions over shaving altogether.
Laser therapy is fast, safe and generally painless for most people. Most individuals will only experience minor reddening or swelling similar to mild sunburn – however for those with sensitive skin a topical anesthetic may help ensure a more comfortable process.
Once your treatment is over, it is advisable to wear sunscreen and protect the area from sunlight as sun exposure may prevent follicles from responding to laser heating, leading to unwanted hair growth.
Most individuals need several sessions of laser hair removal for optimal results. Usually, this means scheduling regular treatments every 4 or 6 weeks.
Each session may last anywhere between one to four hours depending on the size and number of areas being treated. Larger areas like arms and legs often need multiple treatments while more delicate tissues like the face or neck require less treatments.
Some may experience permanent results from just one course of treatments while others will need several sessions to reach their optimal hair reduction level. People with darker hair often find more success using laser hair removal because melanin in dark locks is easier to detect with laser beams.
Dry Skin
Long gaps between your laser hair removal sessions can have a serious negative impact on results, especially if your skin dries out significantly between treatments. Dry skin creates an obstacle for laser energy, so it’s crucial that between laser sessions you take extra steps to keep the area hydrated, such as using gentle cleansers with hydrating properties or applying moisturizer throughout the day and reapplying as needed.
Your skin may also be darkened from excessive sun exposure or tanning treatments; both factors can alter results when it comes to laser hair removal. To maximize results and avoid side effects from tanning before laser hair removal treatments begin, it’s advisable to wait at least several weeks after tanning before getting treated for laser hair removal with laser technology. Using high SPF sunscreens will also protect your skin and minimize side effects from occurring.
One of the primary factors causing people to be disappointed with laser hair removal is not seeing immediate results. While results should become apparent over time, it usually takes several laser sessions before hair growth starts slowing and remaining hairs become thinner or lighter – at which point, once completed you should see a permanent decrease in growth rates.
Once your initial laser treatments have concluded, it is wise to schedule maintenance appointments every three to 12 months in order to catch any stray hairs that might not have been completely eliminated, as this allows for preventative maintenance against their rapid regrowth.
At times it may seem daunting to make appointments for hair removal, but the rewards far outweigh any inconveniences involved. Less hair means better looks and feelings. Are you ready to stop shaving, plucking, waxing and tweezing? Call us now to book your laser consultation so that we can assess your unique needs and create an individualized treatment plan tailored specifically for you that will achieve results you seek!
