Laser or IPL hair reduction treatments are safe for young patients of any age; however, those in their puberty should be closely monitored as their hormones change rapidly, potentially triggering unwanted hair growth due to puberty.
Teenagers
Parents need to remember that there is no age restriction on adolescents receiving laser or IPL hair reduction treatments as long as they receive parental approval and their initial consultation takes place with an experienced laser professional. Parents must understand that such procedures do involve some risk; therefore their teen must be mature enough to handle any discomfort that might be experienced during treatment as well as adhering to an effective treatment schedule as it could take multiple sessions for full results to appear.
While some young teens naturally exhibit body hair reduction tendencies, others struggle with excessive growth of body and facial hair due to stress or pressure from society to conform to certain beauty standards. When this is the case for them, laser or IPL hair removal can be a powerful way of helping them feel more secure about themselves and in themselves.
Puberty hormone changes often result in rapid and excessive hair growth, making it hard for individuals to maintain their desired appearance using temporary methods like shaving, waxing and cream depilatories. Laser hair removal offers a permanent solution which will reduce or even stop most unwanted hair growth.
Hair removal treatments for teens may be available at many salons; however, those under 18 must have their parent or guardian present during the initial consultation and sign a consent form prior to starting any treatments. It’s recommended that for both safety and efficacy reasons that teens wait until after puberty has finished balancing out hormone levels before beginning hair removal treatments.
Individual circumstances dictate when this should begin, with some starting as early as 14. Results in teens tend to be temporary as hormones fluctuate regularly; until more stable hormone levels have established themselves, shaving or waxing may be better options until hormone levels stabilize further. It’s important that they can follow pre- and post-treatment instructions properly as lying still during treatments will require patience from them as well.
Young Adults
Teen years are often marked by physical changes for both girls and boys alike, including an increase in hair growth that may be unwanted. Uncomfortable teens may start plucking or waxing to remove this extra hair – leading to ingrown hairs, irritation, or worse yet ingrowns! Laser hair removal offers permanent solutions by permanently decreasing how much grows on the body; beginning early can prevent further issues like unwanted back or shoulder hair growth later on.
Females typically begin laser hair reduction treatments around age 18, when hormone levels have balanced out and permanent results can be achieved. Teenagers can receive treatment if both parents agree, as long as they understand what the procedure entails and its function; she must also adhere to pre-treatment instructions such as wearing effective sun block or not over exercising after the procedure.
As a young adult, it’s essential for them to be able to withstand multiple laser treatments which may take as many as six sessions before showing results. While discomfort levels vary among patients with more sensitive skin than others – some even describe it like snapping an elastic band against their skin! Some individuals may receive topical anesthetic or chilling gel treatments in order to alleviate discomfort during these procedures.
IPL (intense pulsed light) laser treatment is another popular option among young adults. While not as effective at reducing wrinkles or fine lines, IPL treatments can still help fade freckles and other dark spots while simultaneously eliminating unwanted hair growth. Individuals typically need three to six treatments before seeing noticeable results with IPL laser treatments.
When using IPL laser treatments for hair removal, it’s crucial that the skin be clean and free of pigment cells. IPL treatments release intense flashes of light which damage pigment cells; once broken down by your body’s natural defense system they will eventually be eliminated by way of metabolism. Patients should avoid tanning beds and direct sunlight for several weeks after IPL treatments to preserve results and protect the results.
Middle Aged Adults
Middle-age individuals often discover that unwanted hair starts growing back in unexpected places. With early laser or IPL treatment, however, it is possible to permanently eliminate this excess growth and save both time and effort on shaving, waxing and plucking; additionally it may prevent ingrown hairs or razor burn arising from improper or frequent shaving of this type.
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light therapy) is a type of light therapy designed to target melanin pigment in hair follicles and shafts of your hair. A medical professional can adjust its pulses of light depending on your skin tone; additionally, IPL devices include built-in cooling systems which may reduce pain associated with treatment. Furthermore, in addition to treating unwanted hair growth, IPL devices may also treat some forms of hyperpigmentation, such as freckles and birthmarks.
Laser and IPL treatments are suitable for most areas of the body, including the face & neck, arms, legs, underarms, bikini line and buttocks. Shaving before treatment helps ensure hair follicles absorb laser or IPL light efficiently and avoid sun exposure or tanning prior to an IPL session.
Laser and IPL treatments are generally safe for most individuals; however, there may be certain exceptions. People with very dark hair and skin should avoid IPL, as its light may discoloration their skin. Furthermore, this kind of light may interfere with certain medications or medical devices – if this applies to you or an existing medical condition requires further evaluation, please check with your healthcare provider first before seeking an IPL treatment.
IPL treatments are generally considered safer than laser treatments as it doesn’t penetrate deeper layers of skin and won’t lead to mutations of DNA cells, something which may occur with laser treatments. However, lasers have proven more successful at permanently hair reduction; typically this takes between 6-8 treatments for optimal results to be seen although results will depend on each person.
Older Adults
Laser and IPL hair reduction treatments use light to target cells that produce and store melanin, the pigment responsible for giving skin its color. When melanin-producing cells are targeted, their production of new hair becomes inhibited and growth stops at an alarmingly fast rate – potentially leading to permanent hair loss if enough sessions are completed. Laser/IPL devices typically come equipped with cooling systems designed to minimize risks and decrease pain levels during treatment sessions.
Hair growth cycles vary throughout your lifetime, making laser treatments an option to help control unwanted hair. Before considering these treatments it’s essential that a physician examines you to ensure they are appropriate for you; your physician will likely ask about your medical history as well as medications (both over-the-counter drugs and supplements) you take regularly and any supplements taken or plans taken that might interfere with them.
Prior to your initial laser or IPL session, a patch test will be carried out to ensure your skin is safe for laser or IPL treatment and no allergic reactions occur that could alter results. Tanning or taking self-tanner products must also be avoided before going in as sun rays interfere with its effectiveness and can compromise results.
Most people need at least six treatment sessions for optimal laser or IPL hair removal results. Because these devices only target hair follicles that are currently active, some fine hair may resurface after finishing this treatment series; however, most find that 80-90% of their hair has been permanently eliminated following this therapy.
Laser and IPL treatment can be performed on most parts of the body, but is particularly useful on neck & jaw areas, arms, hands & feet, underarms and bikini areas. Unfortunately, however, certain areas such as face lips & eyebrows do not lend themselves well to laser and IPL treatments – for these areas Fraxel may provide more suitable results; similar to laser but less intense can make this choice the right one for some individuals.
