If the red, sore bumps and pus-filled spots caused by folliculitis have worn you down, it might be time to consider more permanent solutions – laser hair removal could provide relief.
Shaving 24 hours prior to treatment can help the laser absorb its energy more effectively, so that treatment can be more successful.
How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?
Laser hair removal uses a concentrated beam of light energy to destroy hair follicles, where hair growth begins. Melanin absorbs this light energy, disabling or significantly damaging the follicle and preventing further hair production. After treatment, hair will typically return as finer, darker and less frequent than before – making laser treatments popular among those seeking to reduce or eradicate unwanted hair in certain areas.
Due to similarities in skin pigment and hair pigment, laser treatments work best on dark hair on light skin. Unfortunately, as blonde, gray or white hair (including vellus hair which doesn’t contain melanin) does not contain enough melanin for laser treatment to work effectively.
Before your procedure begins, your doctor will wash and apply a topical pain-relieving gel, while those with sensitive skin might also require protective eyewear. After this has taken place, he or she will press a hand-held laser instrument against your skin – depending on what kind of laser device it is used, cooling devices or gel may be included to protect and reduce discomfort for maximum effect.
Once your laser is turned on, it may cause a sensation similar to being pinprick by passing light through your skin and reaching hair follicles. Once there, it will convert to heat by melanin in your follicles and destroy or damage them; when they stop growing again they become dormant; once they reemerge again they’ll produce lighter-colored, finer texture hair that grow back more slowly and in less numbers than before.
Laser hair removal typically requires three to eight sessions for optimal hair reduction results; results will depend on each individual. Once or twice annually maintenance treatments may also be necessary to keep density low. While laser isn’t technically permanent, its effects have been proven to significantly slow hair growth over time compared with electrolysis or needle epilation, making laser one of the best long-term hair reduction and maintenance solutions without risk of scarring like other long-term options such as electrolysis or needle epilation.
How Long Does It Take?
Laser hair removal can be completed quickly; an area as small as your thumb could take just minutes, while larger regions like your back or legs could require up to an hour for treatment. An experienced practitioner may apply numbing gel first before using the laser; you’ll also wear protective goggles during treatment.
Laser treatments use pulses from a laser that emit a series of pulses that target and damage hair follicles, stopping their production of new hair growth – helping reduce ingrown hairs or razor bumps from returning. Although treatments will likely require multiple sessions spaced four weeks apart, typically five sessions should suffice.
After your session, your skin may appear red and swollen after treatment; this should subside within hours. You may detect the smell of smoke and burning hair; this is normal and a cold compress applied directly over the affected area may help relieve irritation. In order to ensure optimal results from treatment sessions, avoid sunlight exposure and tanning before or between treatments as prolonged sun exposure can cause skin discoloration and disfigurement.
As opposed to shaving, waxing, or plucking – which require ongoing upkeep – laser hair removal eliminates the need to regularly remove unwanted hair. This results in more comfortable and less embarrassing appearance without risk of cuts, nicks, or itching.
Lasers can also help combat hyperpigmentation, an unfortunate side effect of ingrown hairs, by permanently decreasing melanin in certain areas and lightening any spots caused by acne or sunburn. This will even out skin tone and lighten blotches caused by acne or sunburn.
Are you fed up with uncomfortable ingrown hairs and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation? Nao Medical in NYC offers laser hair removal consultations to provide relief. Our experts will assess your skin to find out the optimal course of treatment to achieve results and will suggest the most suitable solutions to achieve them.
What Are the Side Effects?
Laser hair removal side effects typically include redness and bumps that may be uncomfortable but should subside within hours, itching, tenderness and use of topical anesthetic may help alleviate discomfort; using an ice pack may relieve swelling as well. People taking certain medications could impair effectiveness while those living with Genital Herpes (HSV-2) should refrain from receiving laser treatments as this increases the risk of cold sore outbreaks and scarring.
Laser hair removal can cause skin discoloration, either temporary or permanent depending on the type of laser used and patient skin color. Therefore, it’s crucial that patients choose a dermatologist with experience treating all skin types before and post-treatment instructions to minimize risks for side effects of treatment.
Laser treatment not only reduces the appearance of inflamed and itchy bumps, but it can also kill off bacteria that causes infection – helping prevent future breakouts as well as stopping inflammation from spreading to other parts of your body.
Laser hair removal offers an effective and safe alternative for those who have not found success with at-home remedies, offering precise removal without irritation to surrounding skin. While threading, waxing, or shaving may cause pain to surrounding tissue when used alone. Laser treatments target unwanted hair directly without irritating surrounding tissues – which makes this treatment method an ideal option.
Additionally, laser treatment for folliculitis can treat all stages of this condition; patients with mild to severe cases might see improvement after just a few sessions while those suffering chronic cases might require ongoing treatments over a longer period.
Winnie Moses, a board-certified medical aesthetics doctor, emphasizes the fact that laser hair removal only targets active growing phase hair follicles (anagen). Catagen or telogen hair will not be affected by the procedure and most clients require five or six laser treatments spaced a month apart; those continuing treatments after their initial series will find thinner and less noticeable hair grows back over time.
Can Laser Hair Removal Cure Folliculitis?
Folliculitis is an itchy and painful condition resulting from hair follicles inflamed by bacteria infections, usually manifesting itself as red bumps that resemble white-head pimples around them. If left untreated, infected follicles may form cysts or boils requiring medical drainage in order to avoid long term deep scarring.
Laser hair removal is an increasingly popular treatment option for folliculitis as it effectively kills bacteria that cause inflammation without harming skin tissue underneath. It’s the ideal solution for anyone who tends to develop this uncomfortable and unsightly condition; furthermore, shaver and waxers could find this therapy especially useful as these methods often irritate follicles leading to breakouts.
Prior to receiving laser treatment, patients will need to follow all aftercare instructions and ensure the area is clean. They should avoid taking over-the-counter acne medication in large doses that could interfere with results of the procedure, and use a cooling device in order to protect their skin from excessive heat produced by laser light.
Once treated, patients should refrain from shaving or waxing products in the area being treated. They should also refrain from using sunless tanners and any skin creams that darken skin tone; those prone to folliculitis should forgo shaving until all inflammation has subsided completely.
Milan Laser offers laser hair removal treatments for those suffering from folliculitis. Their team can advise patients about which laser type and settings will work best with their individual skin types, as well as provide help finding providers experienced with treating this skin condition. In addition to removing unwanted hair, laser treatments may prevent future outbreaks by killing hair follicles at their roots so bacteria don’t latch onto them and cause inflammation.
