Laser hair removal treatments tend to be relatively painless, with clients only occasionally reporting a mild pinching sensation during treatment. Any discomfort should be considered an investment toward permanent hair reduction.
The most frequently reported side effect is mild redness known as follicular edema which typically lasts 30 to 24 hours post treatment and can be avoided by applying aloe vera gel or 1% hydrocortisone cream afterward. This is a normal response which can be avoided using these techniques.
Redness
Follicular Edema is a normal reaction to the thermal energy transferred during your laser hair removal treatment, when thermal energy has been delivered directly to the hair follicles. When exposed to heat, hair follicles will naturally expand with red spots lasting several hours as a sign that your body has responded positively to treatment. This redness should serve as evidence that it was successful.
Your skin may become flaky as an expected side effect of laser hair removal, though this should not be considered an issue as your follicles continue to swell over time. Picking or scratching may further irritate itchy areas – instead apply aloe vera lotion or 1% hydrocortisone lotion directly on affected areas for relief from itching and reduce discomfort.
Preventing discomfort before your appointment begins means prepping the area being treated. Your physician will want to make sure that any cosmetics or products that could increase photosensitivity have been eliminated, so now is an opportune time for giving up any makeup or skincare items for this procedure. Furthermore, avoid using any sunless tanning products, as these could interfere with laser targeting melanin pigments.
If you have either a natural or artificial tan, it’s essential that it fades completely before attending your laser hair removal appointment. Laser can target pigment-rich areas on your skin, leading to discolouration; so making sure you arrive for treatment with light skin tone is key for successful outcomes. Furthermore, for the duration of treatment stop plucking or waxing as this could interfere with results of the procedure.
Your technician should advise if it is okay for the treated area to remain exposed in direct sunlight, or whether a hat or scarf would provide adequate coverage.
Swelling
Laser hair removal uses intense heat to target the root of unwanted hairs and damage their follicles, so that new growth cannot develop. It’s a semi-permanent treatment, eliminating the need to shave or wax. Before starting laser hair removal it’s important to know what you should and shouldn’t do before treatment begins; avoid darkening skin creams such as sunless skin creams that darken skin tone; trim or shave any area you plan to treat as preparation; also, no plucking or waxing as this will disrupt their destruction and leave more hairs growing from different follicles in place than expected.
Laser hair removal causes swelling due to damage done to hair follicles, which should gradually improve within days or weeks post treatment. If you’re concerned about it, reach out to your physician who can advise how best to manage it.
Some individuals are at greater risk than others for this condition, most often those with Fitzpatrick skin types I-III and those who use tanning beds or sunless spray tans regularly. Hormonal imbalances that lead to hirsutism as well as taking testosterone supplements for muscle building may also increase their vulnerability.
Swollen hair follicles make it more difficult for laser treatments to effectively destroy them, leading to less effective results and even burns. To combat this issue, make an appointment before shaving or trimming and applying numbing cream, which will ease any discomfort during treatment.
Numbing creams with benzocaine or lidocaine as active ingredients may help to reduce swelling; however, if your skin is particularly sensitive then another numbing option might be more suitable. If you plan on having laser hair removal done soon then speaking with a specialist beforehand is recommended as they can provide advice about what you can expect before and during treatment as well as any possible side effects such as follicular edema that could occur during this process.
Itching
Experiences after laser hair removal treatments often result in itching as a natural side-effect, and is actually indicative of how well they’re working; this means your follicles have responded to the heat from the laser. This is exactly what should happen!
After your treatment, any residual itchiness will likely fade on its own within one to two days. An anti-itch cream containing aloe vera or 1% hydrocortisone could provide temporary relief; for more serious itching episodes it would be wise to consult a healthcare provider as there may be something amiss that is contributing to it, or hormonal shifts may be at work.
Swollen follicles make laser treatment more difficult, potentially leading to less effective results and even burns. You can reduce this risk by shaving before your appointment, wearing loose clothing and applying an anesthetic cream prior to treatment.
Laser hair removal uses heat energy to target individual hair follicles for destruction without harming surrounding tissues or the surrounding skin. We test each treatment on a small section of your skin first to ensure its safety and effectiveness.
While most people do not experience pain from laser hair removal, some may experience temporary itching. Our clients generally report that laser hair removal is far less painful than waxing or epilation; furthermore we use advanced cooling technologies such as cryogen spray cooling or cold air through a chilled sapphire tip to further minimize discomfort.
After your laser hair removal Toronto treatment, redness and swelling are an indicator that it was successful – meaning the right settings were used to suit both your skin type and hair color.
Discomfort
Follicular Edema (hair follicle swelling) typically causes discomfort that will usually subside within 30 minutes, however if symptoms continue, treatment with Aloe Vera or 1% hydrocortisone lotion is advised for additional relief.
Laser hair removal involves pressing a hand-held instrument against the skin and activating it, often featuring a cooling device or cool gel on its tip to protect skin and reduce risk. A doctor might additionally apply a numbing cream prior to beginning treatments on any given area.
Before beginning laser hair removal, it is essential that the area being treated be cleansed of makeup, lotions, oils, deodorant products and any other items which might obstruct or hinder laser’s ability to treat hair follicles effectively. Too little moisture in an area could also impede effective results of treatment.
Once treatment begins, it’s important to follow your doctor’s instructions carefully in order to maximize its efficacy and avoid complications. While using the laser it is common to experience some slight discomfort and heat from its beam. As part of its effectiveness it may cause red and bumpy patches on skin resembling goose bumps after each session which will typically subside within hours or two days post treatment.
Laser treatment of hair removal is generally safe and effective for people of all races; however, some individuals are more prone to long-term side effects that make the procedure unadvisable than others. These may include pigmentation changes (hyper- and hypopigmentation), scarring, discoloration of skin tissue or cyst formation due to fibrosis fibrosis which results in cyst formation – depending on who’s being treated they can vary in intensity but with proper patient counseling and careful supervision from experienced dermatologists this side effects can often be avoided and minimized through careful supervision by experienced dermatologists – for instance by avoiding sun exposure during and between laser sessions.
