Laser hair removal can substantially decrease or eliminate the need for depilatory treatments such as shaving, waxing and tweezing; however it cannot guarantee permanent removal as some follicles will regrow albeit finer and lighter in color.
Here’s what experts Michele Green, MD, Hadley King and Corey Hartman from MD recommend before considering treatment:
How Does It Work?
Laser hair removal is an easy, safe, and effective solution to unwanted body hair growth. It works by targeting the pigment within hair follicles to destroy them – thus stopping further hair follicles from producing new growth follicles – thereby stopping new hair regrowth from taking place over time. While people usually find the procedure painless it does not guarantee permanent results as hair follicles are resilient enough for regrowth to take place over time even after numerous follicles have been destroyed regrowth may take place over time even after massive destruction has taken place.
Before performing laser hair removal treatments, medical specialists first clean the area to be treated and may apply numbing gel if necessary for more sensitive areas. Protective eyewear will also be worn to shield eyes from laser light beams. After using numbing gel, medical specialists use hand-held laser instruments containing cooling devices or cooling gel on their tips that press against skin. Once this device has taken effect, medical specialists press them against skin while simultaneously focusing the laser light beam directly over desired treatment area(s).
Heat from laser’s light disabuses melanin from within hair follicles, preventing them from producing new hair; however, this process takes several months before hair growth has stopped altogether. Therefore, multiple treatments must be completed in order to achieve permanent hair loss.
As with any cosmetic procedure, selecting an experienced doctor or technician to perform laser hair removal is key to its success. In some states, licensure for such practitioners is required – any person acting without prior training could lead to serious and lasting side effects.
Laser hair removal treatments typically target darker melanin in hair that contrasts with light skin beneath it, making it easier for the light to penetrate the follicle and destroy it. Blonde, gray and red hairs may prove more challenging; technicians may need to adjust settings on their laser or use different types of laser to address these types of hair growth.
How Long Does It Take?
Laser hair removal treatments typically last 30 minutes per treatment session. Each session may require multiple visits over time depending on your personal goals and body.
For optimal results, it’s recommended that prior to laser hair removal sessions you refrain from waxing, plucking, and electrolysis for six weeks – these treatments interfere with its ability to target and destroy hair follicles. Furthermore, tanning beds should also be avoided as naturally or artificially tanned skin absorbs laser energy more readily, potentially leading to damage or discoloration caused by damage or discoloration caused by natural laser energy absorption.
Laser hair removal works best on dark hair and light skin, as the contrast allows laser energy to more efficiently pass through and destroy hair follicles. Success also depends on several other factors, including skin type and the duration of growth cycle;
Due to how hair grows in four phases, it’s important to recognize that laser treatments may not completely eliminate all unwanted hair. But after your course of treatments are finished, chances are slim that any new growth will appear, and if any does come back it likely be sparse and finer than what was there originally.
As the hair follicles you destroyed during treatment will eventually regenerate, you must commit to an ongoing maintenance program of laser hair removal. As more time passes between treatments as you maintain your desired level of hair reduction.
Before choosing a laser hair removal method, it’s essential to consult with a skilled cosmetic dermatologist. In addition to assessing your skin type and aesthetic goals, Dr. Green in Upper East Side Manhattan can arrange for you to visit their office to discuss options for permanent laser hair removal as well as cosmetic procedures that might suit you better.
What Are the Side Effects?
Though laser hair removal isn’t a permanent solution, it can significantly reduce unwanted hair. Plus, when performed by a licensed professional, laser treatment can be very safe; however, some individuals have experienced side effects unrelated to laser treatments, including red itchy skin that resembles sunburn; this usually resolves itself within a few days.
Dermatologists use lasers of specific wavelengths to target melanin in your hair, heating and destroying its follicles thereby preventing further hair production while leaving surrounding skin undamaged by this procedure. Therefore, it’s vitally important that individuals seeking laser hair removal visit a licensed and trained practitioner as many individuals have been burned by unlicensed practitioners offering “cheap deals”. Furthermore, make sure you discuss this treatment option with your dermatologist beforehand and request they test it on a small patch of skin first before going under its effects – which would help ensure best possible results.
Results from laser hair removal treatments typically appear after only one session; however, multiple sessions may be necessary depending on your hair color and thickness. Individual results will depend on this factor as well as any existing medications you may take; it’s best suited for dark hair against light skin as this allows the laser to more readily heat up the individual follicles than otherwise would happen naturally.
Laser hair removal doesn’t work on all follicles; rather, the process targets only those in their growth phase (anagen). Therefore, consistent treatments may be required and it may take time before results appear.
After multiple laser treatments, hairs that do reappear may be finer and lighter in terms of color and density than before. Some people can go years without experiencing any noticeable regrowth – and when it does surface again it often less noticeable than it was previously. For optimal results, avoid plucking or shaving between sessions; and always wear high SPF sunscreen.
Will It Work on Dark Hair?
At one time, laser hair removal only worked on individuals with light-hair. Today, thanks to salon technology, darker-skinned people can also benefit from laser treatment with no downtime necessary.
Lasers work by targeting pigment in your skin and hair, which allows the laser to target unwanted hair follicles and damage them permanently, thus stopping future hair growth and leading to permanent reduction of unwanted hairs in an area. When treating with laser hair removal it’s essential not to wax, shave, pluck or pluck in between sessions – although for facial areas like upper lips this step may not be necessary if the hairs are finer.
Your choice of laser is of critical importance; not all types are suitable for treating dark hair on light skin. Older machines struggled to distinguish between melanin found in hair and melanin present on skin – leading to complications for those with darker-skinned individuals such as blistering and scarring. While newer lasers can detect differences between hair color and skin tone and deliver safe yet effective treatment across various skin tones.
Depending on which laser you select, it may be beneficial to abstain from tanning prior to your appointment or be prepared for some discomfort in the interim. This is because lasers work by heating up pigment in your skin in order to target hair follicles; if you have recently sunned a certain area, however, finding it may become harder for it to locate these targets.
If you qualify as a candidate for laser hair removal, your dermatologist will discuss your goals and any medications or health conditions that could impede its efficacy. Furthermore, pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid this treatment, as its laser may penetrate deep enough into their fetuses to cause irreparable harm.
Finally, it’s crucial that you consult a board-certified dermatologist with extensive experience treating all skin colors. Furthermore, follow pre and post treatment instructions carefully so you have an optimal experience and achieve desired results.
