Laser hair removal can help eliminate unwanted body hair, eliminating the need for razor shaving, waxing or plucking. Furthermore, it may help ease associated skin problems like folliculitis and discoloration that often accompany excessive hair growth.
Ideal candidates are those with light skin and dark hair as this helps the hair follicle absorb heat without harming surrounding tissues. Unfortunately, treatment doesn’t work as effectively for people with darker complexions or those who have blonde, gray, or white locks.
Permanent
Laser hair removal is an efficient and safe solution to unwanted body hair. The heat from a laser damages hair follicles to prevent further growth; however, destroyed follicles may still produce hair in future; therefore multiple sessions are usually required in order to achieve permanent hair removal results. It takes anywhere between three and eight treatments sessions before permanent results are seen.
Laser hair removal treatments are noninvasive procedures that do not cause pain or discomfort during their execution. Before treatment begins, a specialist applies topical numbing cream to minimize any pain experienced from the process. Once this step has been taken, a laser machine performs the actual laser experience – typically lasting 15-20 minutes but potentially lasting longer depending on size of area treated.
Before the procedure begins, a skin specialist will conduct an in-depth analysis of both your hair and skin type to ascertain if laser hair removal would be suitable for you. They will also review your medical history for possible hormonal imbalances that could be responsible for excessive body hair. They may suggest oral treatments like birth control pills or Spironolactone that will help regulate hormones as necessary.
At your laser hair removal treatment, you will be asked to wear protective glasses or goggles and shave two to three days prior to beginning treatment. In addition, waxing, tweezing and plucking should not be done prior to the session as laser hair removal only works on hair – not naturally blonde or gray ones!
Laser machine light will be directed onto your skin in order to locate pigment in hair follicles. The color of hair follicles determines how effectively laser hair removal will work, so dark-haired candidates are ideal as melanin absorbs light more readily than lighter locks do. Lighter locks will not respond as strongly due to not possessing melanin which absorbs light efficiently.
At the beginning of a laser hair removal procedure, you will lie down on a table as the laser is applied to your skin by an experienced specialist. After treatment, your skin may turn red and may even itch; to reduce inflammation and avoid side effects post-treatment side packs can help.
Short-term
Hair may regrow after laser treatment due to heat from the laser’s heat beam destroying hair follicles without harming surrounding skin, thus leaving damaged follicles still producing hair that grows lighter and finer than before. In most cases, several treatments over four to eight weeks should suffice in eliminating all unwanted follicles; most people will require six or eight treatments spaced four-eight weeks apart in order to noticeably reduce unwanted hair growth.
Laser treatments offer a superior alternative to shaving and other traditional depilation options that require daily upkeep, leaving skin itchy, flaky, itchier or discolored afterwards. Laser hair removal also eliminates waxing and plucking which may lead to ingrown hairs or other problems in your complexion.
Choose a qualified practitioner when conducting laser removal procedures. Searching a register should provide assurances they meet required training and skill levels, while home laser removal kits may produce minimal results compared to hiring an experienced practitioner for optimal outcomes.
Before commencing a laser hair removal treatment, it is crucial that any products which darken skin color be avoided as this could interfere with laser light reaching hair roots. Plucking or waxing should also be limited as this could reduce its efficacy.
Dependent upon the area of their body being treated, laser treatment could take two or three months in order to produce desired results. Hair growth follows a cycle that includes resting, shedding and growing phases; when destroyed by lasers they’re likely in their shedding stage so regrowth takes time.
Additionally, the individual must commit to attending regular appointments and pay for them. Should hairs reappear after treatment has taken place, it’s essential that any issues be reported immediately so the practitioner can identify and rectify them quickly to reduce permanent damage to skin as well as side effects.
Long-term
Many people opt for laser hair removal for cosmetic reasons. Not only can it remove body hair effectively, but laser treatment also has numerous other benefits besides. Notably, lasers prevent folliculitis while aiding discoloration; cost-wise it also outshines shaving or waxing methods.
Heat from the laser destroys hair follicles, stopping any further growth of new strands from that source. As such, regrow hair will likely be finer and lighter in color, and new growth should appear finer and thinner over time. Note that not every hair follicle will be destroyed, meaning some may still sprout back out later on.
Laser treatment sessions feel similar to a series of tiny stings and may last for an hour in larger areas. After treatment, your treated area will likely appear red and swollen; for any irritation that arises use cold compress or moisturizer. It is also wise to wear sunscreen with an SPF protection of at least 30.
Most individuals seeking laser hair removal require multiple sessions before their unwanted hair has been completely eradicated. On average, four to six sessions should do it – with follow up maintenance sessions later. It’s wise to select a clinic run by a trusted physician with certified staff performing treatments – it should also be registered on an appropriate board so you know they comply with minimum training and experience standards.
Laser treatment works best on those who have light skin and dark hair, while electrolysis may provide safe solutions for other hair colors. For those looking to permanently get rid of unwanted hair, electrolysis offers another safe solution.
After their laser treatment series is complete, some people may require shaving or waxing sessions to address any stray hairs that remain after shaving with low blade settings and plucking any shorter-than-reachable ones by waxing. By doing so, these methods can help them extend the time spent maintaining baby-bare skin for as long as possible.
Side effects
Laser hair removal performed by an untrained, non-certified practitioner can lead to burns and scarring on your skin, although this is less likely in medically run clinics using modern equipment and laser devices. If this does occur, contact your provider immediately so they can treat your scars as soon as possible; additionally it’s wise to avoid sun exposure as much as possible with high SPF broad spectrum sunscreen daily in order to safeguard your skin from further damage.
Like shaving and waxing, laser hair removal destroys the actual hair follicle to stop further hair growth, meaning when hair does eventually come back it will be much thinner and lighter than before. Treatment may be uncomfortable at first but numbing cream and cooling gels may help minimize discomfort during sessions that typically last anywhere from minutes to an hour depending on which part of the body needs treatment.
One of the major advantages of laser hair removal is that it takes significantly less time and precision than shaving or waxing, leaving behind less ingrown or prickly strands of hair than these methods can leave behind. Furthermore, multiple sessions may help decrease hair growth while slowing its rate down considerably.
Laser hair removal can be extremely effective and may even permanently reduce hair in certain instances, though it must be noted that laser does not completely eradicate all the hair follicles; multiple sessions will need to be repeated over time to ensure no new growth emerges. It is therefore highly advised to only get laser treatment from certified dermatologists.
Some patients might require six treatments while others could need up to eight. To best assess how many treatments you need, schedule a meeting with a dermatologist; they’ll evaluate your individual needs and suggest the ideal course of treatment.
