Laser hair removal works best on individuals with light skin and dark hair because the contrast makes it easier for the laser to target only hair follicles without damaging nearby skin follicles or surrounding tissue. Unfortunately, some hair will always come back, even after being targeted and destroyed by laser light.
Most patients can go months or years without experiencing hair growth; when theirs does eventually regrow it tends to be lighter in color than prior.
Cost
If you’re a woman struggling with excessive hair growth, permanent laser hair removal may be the ideal way to significantly decrease unwanted body hair in a relatively short amount of time. Furthermore, it eliminates the need to maintain its growth through shaving, tweezing or waxing sessions; often making its initial costs worth your while when considering all the money saved over time in razors, shaving cream and waxing appointments.
Permanent hair reduction typically requires between six to 10 treatments, depending on your skin type and target area of body. Unlike traditional shaving, laser treatment is quick and painless: your dermatologist will apply topical numbing agents prior to administering laser therapy; though you may feel some mild heat from its application, but it should not cause pain.
Your laser treatment session should last approximately an hour, depending on the size and location of your treatment area. Showering or bathing must wait until after your appointment; in some cases yearly touch ups may be needed in order to maintain results.
Although numbing cream may be applied during laser treatments, some individuals still report burning or stinging sensations in the area being treated. Laser therapy may also cause discoloration to skin; if you experience pain during your laser procedure, speak to your physician about using another approach, such as pulsed dye light therapy.
Laser hair removal may be considered cosmetic surgery; however, private insurers may cover part or all of its costs if eligible. Therefore, before scheduling an initial appointment it is a good idea to speak to both your insurer and doctor to ascertain your eligibility requirements.
Check with local hair removal specialists to see if they offer package deals or flexible payment plans, in addition to factoring in inflation when estimating potential expenses. There are various financing options available such as credit cards or personal loans which can help cover these medical procedures.
Convenience
As opposed to shaving, plucking or waxing which can often result in irritation, laser hair removal is an incredibly convenient alternative. Lasers use pinpoint beams of light that target pigment in hair follicles and heat them up, thus damaging them and stopping new hair growth from starting again. A full course of laser hair removal treatments often results in total hair elimination; typically lasting one year or longer!
As opposed to other hair removal methods that require you to allow your unwanted hair to grow to an embarrassing length before treatment can begin, lasers do not impose this restriction; thus making laser treatments ideal for areas such as chest or back hair removal without incurring embarrassment over growing unwanted strands out before receiving their first session.
Laser sessions typically last less than one minute for smaller areas like the upper lip, while larger areas such as back or chest may take up to an hour. Prior to laser use, topical pain-relief gel will usually be applied first to ease any discomfort during treatment. Your dermatologist will likely schedule you for multiple laser sessions every four weeks in order to see results.
Be mindful that laser therapy effectiveness may be altered by medications you are taking or other external factors, such as hormonal shifts. If you find that laser treatments aren’t producing results after several rounds, speak with your physician immediately about it.
One thing to keep in mind when considering laser hair removal treatment is that you will require maintenance sessions. Hair grows in cycles and lasers can only target and destroy actively growing follicles; missing sessions could result in new hair growing back in, so if any are missed it’s likely they will recur requiring you to start all over again in terms of treatment cycle.
Prior to receiving laser treatments, it’s wise to refrain from epilating, plucking or waxing any area you wish to be treated. This will enable the laser to more effectively target hair follicles. Furthermore, try not using any skincare products which could damage your skin barrier during this period.
Pain
Painful laser hair removal can be an immense source of worry for many. Finding a qualified provider who understands different skin types and can offer safe treatments with few side effects is of utmost importance. Your provider may use topical anesthetic before treating the area; procedures typically last from several minutes up to an hour; some areas such as chest and back are particularly sensitive, however. While you might experience burning during treatment this is normal and will restore healthy skin post-procedure.
Laser treatments offer an alternative to waxing that won’t leave your skin as red as soon after removing all surface hairs; laser treatments target only hair follicles and pigment. You might still have some hairs after treatment but they should be finer and lighter in color than ever. Ingrown hairs are common when shaving and waxing hair but laser treatments help prevent ingrowns by targeting their source – the root.
Before beginning laser hair removal treatments, it is advisable to limit plucking, waxing and dissolving cream use as these can disrupt hair follicles and affect results. Furthermore, sun exposure may speed up darkening of your hair faster.
Comparatively speaking, laser hair removal is less painful than electrolysis; however, some have described it as being similar to rubber band snapping against their skin or having several small pinpricks of pain during each session. Some doctors will even use cooling systems during laser treatments in order to minimize discomfort during treatments.
Laser hair removal treatments are fast and convenient, allowing you to skip your morning shaving or waxing routine and save those extra hours every year for something more productive.
Laser hair removal can be an ideal way to cut back on grooming time while permanently getting rid of unwanted hairs. But for people with darker skin tones, it is especially important to conduct extensive research in order to select an option that meets their individual needs and is compatible with their chosen laser technology.
Side Effects
Laser hair removal offers an effective and lasting solution to unwanted body hair. The process is fast, efficient, and relatively pain-free compared to waxing or plucking; many individuals find the long-term effects worth paying more for.
At the heart of laser hair removal is an intense beam of light emitted by a laser that’s absorbed by melanin in hair follicles, turning into heat that damages them and prevents new hair growth, according to dermatologist Hadley King. She notes that while it’s not considered permanent, laser hair removal significantly decreases unwanted hair growth over time; which is a huge benefit for women living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) who experience excess growth due to hormonal imbalances.
Before scheduling laser hair removal appointments, it’s essential to shave the area and refrain from any mechanical techniques such as waxing, plucking or electrolysis, in order to allow light energy to reach hair follicles effectively. Furthermore, sun exposure could compromise results or cause complications post treatment.
After laser hair removal treatments, some unwanted hair might grow back but usually finer and thinner than before. Multiple treatment sessions may also be necessary to achieve your desired results; darker skin tones should avoid laser use due to possible discoloration or scarring that could occur from using at-home laser devices that don’t fall under medical professional oversight.
Laser hair removal is generally safe for most adults who do not suffer from any medical or skin-related issues, though pregnancy women should avoid this treatment as it could increase stretch mark formation and cause discomfort or unsightliness. Furthermore, people who are sun allergic or sensitive to other laser devices such as light-based acne treatments are not suitable candidates.
