Laser hair removal uses high-heat beams to target unwanted hair follicles and eliminate them, creating the sensation of rubber band snapping or sunburn-like pain.
Rather than shaving or waxing to reduce hair growth, this treatment is designed to be performed over a series of sessions that provide maximum effectiveness while at the same time protecting against pigmentation issues linked to hair regrowth. Safe for most skin types and tones alike, people with dark hair should take extra precaution and find an expert trained in treating their specific tone of skin.
The Bikini Line
Bikini line laser hair removal is both common and painful due to thin skin and darker, coarser hairs being targets for laser treatments. Many have described the sensation as being like being flicked with a rubber band; yet ultimately worth it in terms of long-term results.
Shaving the bikini line can leave unsightly red bumps that don’t look very appealing when walking along the beach in your swimsuit, and hair often grows back quicker than anticipated. Laser hair removal for bikini lines may help avoid these problems without hurting as badly – plus laser doesn’t hurt nearly as badly!
To achieve optimal results, it’s recommended that you wait six weeks between plucking or waxing hairs and getting treated. In addition, wearing sunscreen on treated areas may take several days to settle after treatment, yet will help ensure you maintain beautiful and flawless skin throughout the summer season.
If you want to go the extra mile, consider opting for extended bikini line laser hair removal. This process covers not only areas outside the panty line (but not including crotch), but also a strip of upper thighs where extra hair might remain, creating a seamless appearance when worn under swimsuit bottoms.
Before your laser treatments begin, it is advisable to forgo tanning altogether in the week leading up to them. Sun exposure makes your skin more sensitive, increasing the chances of burn. Plus, once treatment sessions have concluded you can look forward to enjoying your smooth, hairless body even more!
The Face
At Laser Hair Removal Services of St. Charles in St Louis, Dr. Pierre notes that different parts of the body respond differently to pain during laser hair removal treatments; however, facial areas usually feel the most intense pain from laser treatments due to thin skin or greater hair removal efforts.
Before using the high-heat laser beam, your practitioner will apply a cooling device to protect your skin. This should reduce burning and sensitivity. Occasionally you may experience redness similar to that associated with sunburn, though this should subside over time.
As it can vary depending on your skin type and tone, it’s vital to follow any recommendations provided by a qualified practitioner when getting laser hair removal treatment done. A qualified practitioner can help ensure any discomfort experienced is minimalized during this treatment process.
At times, two to six laser treatments on various areas of your body may be necessary in order to see optimal results. Sessions should take place four to eight weeks apart and could potentially help reduce hair growth completely in areas such as your arms or legs.
One way to reduce pain during laser hair removal sessions is to schedule it around your period, stay hydrated, take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen or Tylenol, apply topical numbing creams or gels prior to appointments and avoid scratching treated areas between sessions. Also important: avoid using sunless tanners and bleaching before laser hair removal because these may inhibit its efficacy, wear sunscreen (at least SPF 30) when going outside after treatment as this might prevent treatments from working correctly.
The Neck
Laser hair removal in the neck area may be particularly sensitive, due to numerous nerve endings in this region of skin that trigger pain receptors more directly. Although pain levels vary from person to person.
Some patients describe their laser treatment discomfort as feeling like a warm pinprick or like rubber band snapping against their skin, while for others it might feel more like rubber band snapping against skin. Either way, however, discomfort typically lasts no longer than minutes to an hour depending on where treatment area occurs. Following surgery, some are given lotion or anti-inflammatory cream and ice packs to ease discomfort; the latter also help relieve itching related to laser procedures as well as reduce redness associated with laser procedures.
Laser treatments involve activating beams of high-energy light into the skin in order to destroy hair follicles, with laser beams emitting beams of high energy light that penetrate deep beneath it and aim at their pigmented hair roots. Most individuals with dark hair and light skin benefit most from using the laser; as their contrast allows more pigments within their hair strands to absorb its heat and absorb heat more readily from laser sessions; however, it may not work for all combinations or require multiple sessions before seeing results.
To reduce discomfort during laser treatments, people should refrain from sunless tanning and other hair removal methods in the weeks prior to their appointment. They should shave their treatment area so there will be enough hair for the laser to target. For optimal results, dermatologists typically suggest having laser treatments every four to six weeks; however, their exact schedule varies according to each person’s growth cycle of hair growth.
The Abdomen
The stomach can be more sensitive than other areas for laser hair removal; patients have described its sensation as similar to an elastic band snapping against their skin. Numbing cream may help make this procedure more comfortable.
Dermatologists will often apply numbing cream directly onto the stomach prior to beginning laser hair removal treatments if an individual has very delicate skin in this area. However, it should be remembered that overdoing its application or applying too heavily could have adverse side effects if overextended for too long a duration; please check with your physician regarding using such numbing cream for laser hair removal procedures involving multiple sessions.
Skin type can greatly impact how painful a laser hair removal procedure feels, which is why it is essential to speak with your provider regarding this matter. Some individuals may have lower pain thresholds than others so doing your research and selecting an experienced practitioner are key steps towards minimizing discomfort during the procedure.
As a rule, legs tend to be the least painful areas for laser hair removal. Patients have reported feeling something similar to a slight sting during treatment and some even describe it more like tickling rather than pain. Numbing cream may further reduce discomfort.
No matter which area is being treated, after having laser hair removal treatment it’s essential to avoid sun exposure immediately afterwards. Removing hair from the skin causes more sensitive skin that could result in burning if exposed too soon to sunlight.
The Legs
Laser hair removal is an increasingly popular cosmetic procedure to permanently reduce unwanted hair. It offers a safe and effective solution for eliminating hair on legs, arms, back, chest shoulders neck and abdomen. Treatment may cause minor discomfort depending on skin type and pain tolerance – although laser removal is less painful than shaving or waxing methods of hair removal.
One key thing to keep in mind when approaching laser therapy sessions is that taking steps prior to and during will minimize discomfort. Shaving may seem counterintuitive, but shaving makes the laser treatment more effective while decreasing irritation afterward. Waxing, tweezing or plucking should also be avoided prior to and following each appointment.
Before your treatments, it is also wise to avoid direct sunlight for at least six weeks prior to laser hair removal treatments. Natural and artificial tanning reduces its efficacy; for optimal results it is best to stay out of the sun completely for this duration. For safety precaution, when outdoors after each session be sure to wear sunscreen with broad spectrum protection for maximum effectiveness.
Laser hair removal may be uncomfortable, but most people believe it’s worth the hassle. It eliminates shaving and waxing – both time-consuming processes – while providing longer lasting results than other hair removal techniques like tweezing and threading. Furthermore, it’s far less costly than frequent trips to the salon for waxing sessions! So if ingrown hairs and razor burn have you stumped, contact your dermatologist about laser hair removal to determine whether this solution might be best suited to you.
