Laser hair removal is an effective solution to rid yourself of unsightly body hair, with minimal risks and discomfort compared to shaving or waxing.
Laser hair removal usually results in mild and temporary side effects that are manageable for most people. Furthermore, treatment often addresses skin conditions like folliculitis and discoloration as well.
After receiving treatments, however, you should avoid exposure to direct sunlight for at least 24 hours following treatments and check that your practitioner is certified and on a registered list.
Pain
Laser hair removal practitioners will press a handheld device against your skin to activate a laser beam, creating the sensation of rubber bands snapping against it but should not cause pain. Once activated, the laser quickly vaporizes unwanted hair while emitting a sulfurous smell – sessions could last anywhere between several minutes and an hour depending on the size of the area being treated.
As soon as your laser hair removal session ends, redness and swelling may occur; this should diminish within hours. To help alleviate its effects, try applying ice to the treated area as often as possible (try applying frozen peas or packs of frozen berries wrapped in a tea towel).
Laser hair removal works best on those with light hair and dark skin because the laser can more easily detect contrast between skin and hair. Therefore, if you have darker skin or hair colors or are taking acne medication or suffering from genital herpes treatments it’s wise to discuss whether laser treatments would be effective in your case.
Your hair removal sessions may need to occur over multiple sessions in order to achieve the results that you desire. We advise booking one every four to six weeks until all sessions have been completed, then scheduling maintenance appointments once or twice annually thereafter.
Redness
Laser hair removal utilizes pulses of light to destroy hair follicles without harming surrounding skin. Although laser treatments feel similar to stings, their intensity and location vary from person to person. Darker hair with lighter skin tends to better absorb laser light energy than lighter-colored locks because their pigment absorbs it instead.
After treatments, some individuals may experience redness, small bumps and irritation in the treated area. While this usually goes away on its own, cool compresses should be applied when necessary and a doctor may prescribe cooling creams or ointments to minimize these side effects.
Some individuals may experience more severe side effects from laser treatments, including discoloration and blistering of their skin. These effects may occur if an ineffective type of laser is chosen or tanned skin is exposed; to reduce risks it is important to use only clinics supervised by certified healthcare practitioners for these procedures; should complications arise it’s best to contact the provider immediately for medical help. If any adverse side effects arise please inform your provider.
Discomfort
Discomfort is an unfortunate side effect of laser hair removal. Your skin may become tender, redness may develop (folliculitis perifollicularis) and swelling could even occur; these side effects usually subside quickly – you can speed recovery by using an ice pack!
Your dermatologist will give you specific instructions before and after laser treatment in order to minimize discomfort. For instance, shaving close to the skin’s surface before your session will help the laser target pigment in hair follicles better and ensure maximum efficacy of laser treatment. In addition, using broad spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreens should also be taken.
If you have darker skin, it is particularly important to select a board-certified dermatologist with experience treating that type of complexion. Patients with darker skin tend to be more vulnerable to burns when treated by providers without enough experience treating their complexion. In order to avoid potential burns during your laser session, avoid Nair, waxing, plucking and other chemical hair removal methods as well as any products containing retinol at least two weeks before booking an appointment.
Itching
Laser hair removal uses light to selectively target pigment in your hair follicles and convert it to heat without harming surrounding tissues, effectively permanently decreasing hair growth without waxing, shaving, plucking or using removal creams. This technique offers permanent reduction of hair growth without resorting to waxing, shaving or any other hair removal methods such as waxing.
Your skin may feel itchy after having laser hair removal done, so the best thing you can do to combat this itchiness is avoid excessive scratching – this only serves to make matters worse! Instead, apply a cooling cream directly on affected areas to soothe them.
After laser hair removal treatments, your skin may exhibit slight discoloration due to damage from laser light hitting its surface and stimulating sebum production to protect it. This could result in temporary skin discoloration that should fade on its own within a week or two.
Reduce itching after laser hair removal at LH Spa & Rejuvenation by applying a topical numbing cream before your appointment. Furthermore, avoid sun exposure and wear broad spectrum sunscreen daily afterward to help avoid sunburn and further itching caused by sun exposure.
Swelling
Heat from laser treatments not only destroys hair follicles and prevents future growth, but can also damage surrounding skin. Your doctor may use a cooling device on the tip of their laser instrument or apply a cooling gel to safeguard your skin during treatment.
Your skin may experience razor burn-like sensations for some time after receiving treatment, along with redness and swelling – these are normal side effects which you can reduce by limiting sun exposure and using an SPF sunscreen of adequate strength.
After each treatment session, some doctors might apply an ice pack to the treated area for 20 minutes – more frequently on sensitive areas, like bikini lines or underarms.
After laser treatments, your skin may swell because the hairs have been extracted from their follicles. Therefore, it’s essential that sun exposure be limited before and after laser sessions for maximum success.
Some individuals may experience small blisters as a result of laser therapy, which should be left to heal naturally. This occurs because heat from the laser can open your pores and allow dead skin cells and bacteria to build up, leading to potential infections similar to acne.
Discoloration
Laser hair removal employs selective photothermolysis to target dark melanin in hair follicles without harming surrounding skin. Laser energy heats the follicle up, disabling it faster in those with darker pigmentation than with lighter coloring hairs.
Find a board-certified doctor experienced with treating your particular skin type. Avoid spas or salons where treatments are performed by nonmedical personnel; if treated by a physician assistant or licensed nurse, ensure they are under direct supervision by a doctor throughout their treatments.
If you are concerned about pain, topical anesthetic may be applied before treatment begins; however, most patients find that light pulses feel similar to small rubber bands flicking across their skin; in comparison with some other cosmetic procedures like electrolysis which often induce itching sensations.
Once your series of laser treatments have concluded, new unwanted hair should not reappear in the treated area; if any does return, it should be finer and lighter in color than before. To maximize results and preserve them long term, schedule maintenance laser sessions every four to six weeks.
Infection
Laser hair removal eliminates the need for painful depilation, shaving, waxing and plucking techniques that cause skin irritation. Furthermore, it may help alleviate skin conditions caused by unwanted hair such as folliculitis, ingrown hairs, razor bumps (pseudofolliculitis barbae) and pigmentation changes caused by unwanted growth.
Infection from laser treatment is uncommon, but it could happen if your skin does not remain cool enough during treatments. Your skin may become red and swollen before eventually crusting over; usually these reactions do not last more than several days and they’re most likely to occur when using an at-home laser kit or visiting an unlicensed provider for services.
Your doctor will use cooling devices and topical anesthetic to keep your skin cool during laser therapy treatments, to avoid burning it from the tip of the laser beam.
Pain levels vary depending on the area being treated; as Dr. Pierre states, upper lips tend to experience the greatest level of discomfort due to numerous nerve endings in that spot. Other areas that could hurt include stomach, underarms and bikini area; this discomfort could last up to an hour before applying cold compresses on these spots for comfort afterwards.
