Do you find it challenging to remove those pesky hairs between your brows? Or are you tired of shaving or waxing them away every week?
Laser hair removal can be a quick, relatively painless way to remove unwanted forehead hair. It is particularly suitable for people with light skin who also have dark hair – though multiple sessions will likely be necessary.
How It Works
Laser hair removal could be the solution to long unibrows or sideburns that don’t seem to shorten on their own, reducing ingrown hairs while saving time spent shaving or waxing. This noninvasive procedure involves sending a laser beam directly into hair follicles in order to destroy them and stop future growth, in addition to reducing ingrown hairs and saving you from time-consuming shaving or waxing sessions.
Before beginning treatment, your skin will be meticulously cleansed and you may receive topical numbing gel to ease any potential discomfort. Following that, goggles or protective glasses will be placed over your eyes; at first you may feel small stinging sensations but the procedure could last anywhere between a few minutes to an hour depending on its scope.
Laser beams penetrate skin, targeting pigmented hair follicles. As energy from lasers passes through them, energy emitted by each hair follicle converts into heat energy that destroys it – this may take multiple sessions before you see results; but once damaged hair follicles have been destroyed they won’t grow back!
One important thing to keep in mind about laser treatment for hair removal is that it only affects anagen phase hairs; other stages (catagen and telogen) won’t be affected. Therefore, prior to beginning your session it is wise to shave or trim any unwanted hair that might fall within this cycle.
Avoid tanning in the weeks prior to laser treatments for optimal results. Both natural and artificial tanning can make skin less responsive to laser’s energy. Plucking or waxing the area should also be avoided since this can remove hairs from their roots, rendering laser treatment ineffective.
Additionally, it is wise to avoid taking medications that might impede how your skin responds to laser treatment. Your physician may suggest you stop using sunblock or switch to broad spectrum SPF30 sunscreen instead.
When contemplating forehead laser hair removal, it’s advisable to meet with an experienced dermatologist first. They will help determine whether this treatment option is the appropriate choice and can offer advice as to the likelihood of success and preparation advice so you have the best chance at reaching desired results.
Preparation
Laser hair removal might seem like a straightforward procedure similar to shaving; however, there’s more involved before your first session begins. Preparation for treatment will make the experience smoother while yielding optimal results.
First and foremost, it is best to thoroughly shower and cleanse the area that will be treated prior to undergoing laser hair removal. This helps eliminate oils that could interfere with laser’s ability to penetrate skin layers and eliminate hair follicles. You should also refrain from using products containing photosensitive ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or retinol; if using such items stop 2-3 days before your appointment.
Once the area has been prepared for treatment, you must shave it to ensure there will be no hair in its path when the laser hits it. Furthermore, plucking, tweezing or waxing must not occur prior to the laser’s arrival as these methods alter hair growth cycles and could prevent it from being captured at its opportune moment by laser therapy.
During treatment, you’ll sit comfortably while the doctor presses a hand-held laser instrument against your skin. Depending on which laser type is being used, there may be an additional cooling device or gel applied at its tip to reduce any sensation as the beam passes through tissues.
Heat from a laser damages the hair follicles, leading them to shrink and ultimately stop producing hair growth. How many treatments a person needs depends on factors like color and thickness of their hair as well as type of laser used and color of their skin.
After laser treatment, the treated area may appear red and swollen for up to several hours; however, this should not be painful and will pass naturally over time. You can apply over-the-counter hydrocortisone or aloe vera products if necessary to relieve discomfort; once this redness and swelling have subsided, normal activities can resume without interruption.
Side Effects
Expect some discomfort during your procedure, though it should not exceed being snapped by the world’s tiniest rubber band. A numbing gel may be applied prior to commencing; for larger or sensitive areas we also provide topical anesthetic.
Your doctor will place a hand-held laser instrument against your skin, which may feel prickly or warm. To minimize discomfort during treatment, this laser might feature a cooling device or cool gel tip for added protection of your skin and reduced sensations of pain during this treatment process. Pulses of light from this laser will then penetrate hair follicles where they convert to heat energy that destroys them permanently.
Right after undergoing laser hair removal, your treated area may appear red and swollen and feel similar to having a mild sunburn. To minimise irritation and further swelling, avoid any products which might irritate or further inflame it by applying anything such as lotions. A cold compress or soothing cream can help alleviate these symptoms within hours or days and they should dissipate over time.
Laser hair removal may lead to permanent side effects, including scarring and changes in pigmentation. This usually happens when too aggressive use or improper targeting occurs with laser use; thus it’s essential that clinics prioritize patient safety by employing certified and experienced laser technicians.
Once your initial treatments have been completed, you’ll enjoy several months of hair-free skin. Maintenance sessions may need to be scheduled from time to time depending on your hair growth cycle; typically though, hair grows back thinner and lighter making it less noticeable than before.
Alternatively, laser hair removal sessions every four to eight weeks could help reduce maintenance sessions and make for less frequent maintenance sessions overall. We advise selecting a sunscreen containing zinc oxide to protect your skin from UV rays while it recovers post treatment, and to also refrain from tanning as this will make more of the pigment in your hair absorb laser energy than otherwise possible.
Results
Unwanted hair can be an embarrassing issue for women and men alike. Traditional methods for its removal such as shaving, waxing and threading can be time consuming, painful and often yield patchy or uneven results. Laser hair removal offers an efficient yet safe method of hair reduction across both face and body; particularly helpful at getting rid of those annoying strands between eyebrows or at your hairline that keep popping back up!
Laser treatments use pulses of heat delivered directly to your forehead skin to destroy pigment and damage hair follicle tissue, leading to decreased hair growth and ultimately lessening its impact. Most people report seeing reduced hair growth after several sessions; many can enjoy smooth and silky skin!
Once you have completed all treatments, most likely your body will be virtually hair-free. While some hair may still grow back, it should usually be finer, thinner and lighter in texture than before. If regrowth continues, treatments may help slow or prevent it altogether.
Before beginning laser hair removal, it is necessary to meet with an experienced practitioner for an initial consultation. They will assess your medical history and skin type to make sure you qualify as an ideal candidate, before walking you through each step and helping determine how many sessions of treatment will be necessary.
At least four treatments sessions will need to be scheduled about four weeks apart in order for your skin to recover and adjust to the effects of laser treatment. After each of your sessions, it would also be prudent to switch over to sunscreen with zinc oxide content such as Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense SPF 30 ($34), for optimal protection from sunlight damage.
Laser hair removal is not covered by most health insurance plans; however, flexible spending accounts or personal loans could help cover its cost. If you are tired of waxing, tweezing, and shaving regularly and would like smooth and hairless skin for life – laser hair removal could be your answer – contact a local dermatologist now to find out more!
