Laser hair removal is a safe and effective treatment to eliminate unwanted body hair, serving as an effective alternative to painful methods like plucking, shaving, waxing, electrolysis or chemical depilatories.
Patients with darker skin and hair must undergo multiple sessions for lasers to work, since lasers only target pigment in the hair follicle.
1. Your hair is not in the right stage of growth
Unwanted hair growth on the face and body is an all too familiar problem, making removal by waxing, plucking and tweezing an extremely challenging task. Laser hair removal offers an alternative that is safe, quick and provides long-term results; multiple laser treatment sessions should be scheduled in order to achieve lasting effects.
Multiple sessions may be required in order to effectively use laser treatment on all hair follicles in an area, as its wavelength only works during its anagen phase of growth. Since hair follicles exist at all different stages, not all anagen growth phases will take place simultaneously and therefore, multiple sessions must be scheduled in order to eradicate all existing anagen growth phases and make an area permanently hair-free.
Hair grows in cycles, with some staying in anagen phase for as much as six years before transitioning into catagen. Therefore, regular laser hair removal sessions must take place at least every eight weeks so that all anagen-stage hair has time to shift into catagen before another treatment session takes place.
Catagen stage of hair follicle development involves splitting and shedding. If this stage occurs during a laser treatment session, its energy cannot reach its source and destroy it effectively; so to maximize success it’s essential that no shaving or waxing take place for two weeks prior to any session of treatment.
For optimal results, laser treatment must also be performed on clean skin. In the weeks prior to an appointment, avoid getting sunburnt as this will increase the amount of melanin the laser absorbs – leading to severe burns on treated areas.
If you are suffering from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), more laser treatments than usual may be required in order to keep unwanted hair at bay. Individuals living with PCOS tend to have thicker, darker unwanted hair which requires more frequent visits in order to remain in anagen phase growth phase and continue producing new hair follicles.
As you wait, birth control pills or Spironolactone may help regulate hormones and help stop unwanted hair growth until your follicles enter anagen phase.
2. Your hair is too thick
Laser hair removal has quickly become one of the hottest innovations for those seeking to keep their body hairless. By eliminating the need to shave or wax regularly, laser removal eliminates time and money spent shaving or waxing as well as ingrown hairs which can be both painful and unsightly.
Laser hair removal is not a quick fix – results typically take multiple sessions before being noticeable; between six and eight treatments should yield significant and permanent improvements for all areas treated.
Laser treatments employ an energy beam to destroy hair follicles, thus preventing new hair growth in their place. The process works best on dark and thick hair as its melanin absorbs easily; lighter or blonde locks may require additional treatment efforts since their lack of melanin reduces its effectiveness for effective absorption by the laser beam.
Timing of all treatments is of utmost importance for optimal results with darker hair; otherwise, your follicles could transition into different growth stages and be less susceptible to treatment. Furthermore, getting optimal results often takes more sessions with darker locks compared to lighter locks.
Before your laser hair removal treatment session, it is advisable to avoid tanning beds and use sun protection on areas being treated. This will help ensure that skin does not become tanned, which could impede its effectiveness. It is also advised to shave two-three days prior to each session in the area being targeted as waxing and tweezing may impede its success.
Avoid over-treating an area between laser treatment sessions to avoid paradoxical hypertrichosis; this condition doesn’t occur to everyone but could compromise the efficacy of laser hair removal.
3. Your skin is too dry
Laser hair removal uses heat to damage stem cells in your hair follicles and eventually cause them to stop producing hair. When your skin is dry, its ability to absorb heat from laser can diminish significantly and make treatment feel uncomfortable or even painful; fortunately, however, this issue can be addressed with regular moisturization regimens.
Dry skin can lead to temporary discomfort as well as redness and splotchy areas that should clear up soon after your session. To make sure you use an effective moisturizer that suits your skin type and apply it regularly; if you’re having difficulty, seek advice from a dermatologist – they will know of products suitable for you!
Reducing hair growth faster by having longer gaps between laser hair removal treatments can affect the results you achieve. When treatments are put off for too long, your hair grows back more rapidly, as the hair follicles were not damaged enough during this period to stop growth. As soon as your regular treatment schedule resumes, hair should begin thinning out again.
One way to keep laser hair removal treatments consistent and uninterrupted is to visit an experienced, board certified professional. This ensures they use an appropriate laser type for both your skin and hair color and have been trained properly on how to perform procedures. You should avoid cheaper clinics without this level of expertise such as “back door” clinics.
After your laser hair removal sessions, it is wise to stay out of direct sunlight as this can lead to sunburn and other skin-related problems. As an alternative, be sure to wear sunscreen with high SPF every day for added protection.
4. Your skin is too oily
If you have oily skin, finding an effective hair removal regimen may be difficult. No matter what products or techniques you try, nothing seems to help achieve that smooth, matte complexion you desire. Although laser treatment might not always provide permanent solutions, it can certainly reduce how much sebum your body produces and provide relief from this problem.
When seeking laser treatment for oily skin, be sure to choose an experienced cosmetic dermatologist such as Dr. Green in NYC as your provider. There may be cheaper deals or back door offices offering laser services promising great results; however, without an actual doctor present or training enough to treat you properly this could prove dangerous – for instance if they use the wrong type of laser on you or have insufficient training on using it properly.
Follow your doctor’s directions regarding pre- and post-treatment care to maximize effectiveness of laser hair removal treatment. It is advised to refrain from shaving or plucking before beginning laser therapy; waxing removes hair at its roots, making laser targeting less effective; while shaving stimulates hair follicles into their active growth phase and makes laser targeting simpler during therapy sessions.
As part of your laser treatment, it is also crucial that you keep your skin cool and hydrated to minimize side effects like scabbing, crusting and hyperpigmentation. In order to do this effectively, avoid applying makeup, deodorant or any scented cosmetics which could clog the pores or prevent laser beams from reaching hair follicles.
By following these tips, you will make the most out of your laser treatment. You’ll quickly realize that saving five-to-ten minutes in morning shave time makes up for any small discomfort or occasional scabbing that comes along with laser therapy treatments.
