Laser hair removal offers an effective alternative to razors, waxing and shaving if you’re fed up with razor blades, wax strips or shaving. The procedure targets individual follicles without damaging nearby skin cells; making this procedure suitable for anyone wanting a permanent solution to unwanted hair growth.
But is laser hair removal painful? Dermatologists offer their advice. Numbing cream and staying hydrated prior to your session are helpful strategies.
Discomfort
Laser hair removal may cause discomfort; however, it’s worth bearing as long as it results in no more shaving or waxing for years! Certain areas of your body can be more sensitive than others – such as the face or armpits – so be prepared for some discomfort in these areas. You can help lessen it by drinking plenty of water and avoiding caffeine before your appointment; topical numbing cream may help make treatment less painful, but be sure to consult your physician first as overusing this may lead to side effects like skin lightening or darkening, blistering, scarring or other serious reactions.
As part of the laser hair removal procedure, beams of highly concentrated light are activated and absorbed by pigments present in your hair follicles, damaging and stopping their production of new hair strands. You may feel various tingling sensations to let you know the laser is working; these should last no more than a few seconds and are far less painful than waxing or visiting a dentist.
Discomfort levels will depend on several factors: personal pain tolerance, treatment area and type of laser used. Diode and alexandrite lasers tend to cause more discomfort; diodes boast greater power and intensity compared to alexandrites, thus damaging more of your skin surface while more likely resulting in either mild or severe discomfort.
Bikini lines can be among the most uncomfortable areas of the body for laser hair removal, often being described by patients as feeling similar to having their eyebrows plucked by a barber and worse than getting their legs waxed. Still, most patients report it is worth their while for its permanent results and convenience of not needing to shave or wax regularly anymore.
Areas of the Body That Are More Sensitive
Experienced laser hair removal varies for every individual; some describe it as gentle pinches tolerable to some, and for others like having rubber bands snap against their skin quickly; most agree though that laser removal is much less painful than shaving or waxing.
Facial regions tend to be particularly sensitive, including lips and cheeks. With thinner skin in these areas, laser treatment will feel like snapping rubber bands against it during treatment – an insignificant price to pay when getting rid of unwanted facial hair that could lead to acne or folliculitis.
Laser hair removal in the stomach area is particularly sensitive. Due to thin skin on this area, treatment with laser can feel similar to rubber band snapping against it during laser hair removal treatment, so Dr. Nicholas advises using numbing cream as part of his therapy to make the experience more bearable and safe. To ensure best results during laser treatments on abdominal areas.
As opposed to facial skin, arm skin can withstand laser hair removal with much greater ease, according to Dr. Tanzi. Most patients report experiencing discomfort comparable to having a rubber band snap against them – something many women willingly endure for smooth, hair-free arms.
Laser treatments may cause a burning sensation that lasts several days in the treated area. To minimize side effects and maximize results it’s also essential to avoid excessive sweating and sunlight exposure after laser treatments have taken place.
Though laser hair removal may cause mild discomfort, most patients choose it over other forms of hair removal to enjoy smooth skin free from shaving and waxing on a regular basis. Plus, laser hair removal is more permanent than other methods and reduces risks such as ingrown hairs or razor burn. Plus it’s quick – depending on which area is being treated a session can often be completed within an hour!
Does Laser Hair Removal Hurt Less Each Time?
Numerous factors can impact laser hair removal pain levels. Chief among them is an individual’s pain tolerance: while some may find waxing uncomfortable, others can tolerate laser treatment with ease. Skin type also plays a part; certain areas have thinner and more sensitive layers – for instance, the upper lip and bikini line tend to be particularly sensitive areas of your body.
Hair type also plays an important role. Thick, dark strands may be harder to treat with laser because they absorb more heat from it and make for an uncomfortable laser treatment session; as such, if discomfort is an issue for you it would be wise to delay receiving laser treatments in these areas.
Timing of laser hair removal appointments is also crucial. Laser treatments that take place during menstruation could cause more pain due to active pain receptors; to avoid discomfort it’s wiser to schedule appointments after this time.
Laser hair removal requires multiple sessions for optimal results, as the treatment works by targeting and destroying individual follicles to achieve hairlessness. Furthermore, new follicles may grow back between sessions requiring further laser sessions in order to fully get rid of your unwanted locks.
Pregnant mothers should avoid laser hair removal as it’s not safe for their unborn babies. If they’re trying to become pregnant, however, other ways should be explored for hair removal such as visiting their physician and speaking about alternative options for removing unwanted hair.
Laser hair removal does hurt less each time because more of the hair is being taken out at once, leading to lighter and thinner results after each session. Furthermore, unlike waxing procedures that cut hair directly off follicles (i.e. pulling or cutting out), laser only destroys hair follicles – many people compare its sensation with being snapped by a rubber band; though less intense than waxing but still uncomfortable for some individuals.
Safety
Laser hair removal can be performed safely when administered by an experienced practitioner who adheres to stringent safety standards. A practitioner will apply a cooling device during your laser hair removal session in order to shield your skin from heat caused by laser wavelengths, while also applying gel or topical anesthetic as necessary to soothe discomfort and relieve pain.
Like any cosmetic treatment, laser hair removal carries with it an inherent risk that could negatively impact your health and wellbeing. Therefore, only have laser hair removal done by experienced practitioners listed on a register to demonstrate their skill and expertise. Should anything go amiss during or after your laser hair removal treatment session, contact the practitioner as soon as possible – if they cannot resolve your issue then seek medical advice either from a GP or hospital’s accident and emergency department immediately.
One way to ease discomfort during laser hair removal sessions is scheduling sessions when you aren’t on your menstrual cycle, when facial pain receptors become particularly sensitive and discomfort is likely. Furthermore, caffeine before laser treatments should be avoided as this could amplify sensations further.
If you’re anxious about how painful laser hair removal will be, ask the practitioner to apply a cooling device or numbing cream before beginning treatment on areas such as your upper lip, bikini area or underarms. If your pain threshold is low, take an over-the-counter pain reliever beforehand for added peace of mind.
After receiving laser treatments, it is wise to avoid exposing newly treated areas to direct sunlight for at least several weeks after. UV rays from sunlight can cause burns or hyperpigmentation so it is wise to wait until your treatment area has fully healed before venturing out into it again. When outdoors, apply sunscreen with SPF 30+ protection over the area where treatment was applied – otherwise using SPF30 or higher sunscreen would suffice – while sauna or jacuzzi environments should be avoided altogether as hot temperatures could damage skin further.
