Laser hair removal provides a long-term solution to unwanted body hair by permanently reducing it through laser therapy, helping improve skin tone and texture while decreasing pores sizes.
But you may require patience to see the desired effects; depending on your skin color and hair texture, multiple sessions may be needed before any noticeable effects emerge.
How It Works
Contrary to shaving or waxing, which only remove hair above the surface of the skin, laser treatments target and destroy hair follicle roots for permanent hair removal. Laser systems have proven themselves successful enough that many users have even been able to abandon razors altogether!
At your treatment session, a technician uses a hand-held device to move a laser over your skin and treat multiple hair follicles simultaneously. Light from the laser penetrates your skin and targets pigment found within each root, producing heat that causes it to be destroyed and thus stop hair growth in that area. Contrary to other hair removal treatments, laser treatment is safe for almost all skin types; even dark-skinned individuals have experienced great results with proper equipment and technicians.
Before beginning laser therapy, it’s advisable to shave or trim the area being treated, which will allow the laser light to target only hair follicles without expending energy on surrounding tissue. You may be given topical anesthetic as a preventative measure. Furthermore, eye protection and/or protective garments may be provided depending on where exactly it’s being administered.
As laser treatments target pigment in your hair follicle, they tend to work best on lighter-colored locks than darker locks and on those with light complexions. Although laser treatment offers advantages for lighter hues of locks and complexions, if using an at-home device it should always be discussed with a trained dermatologist first as no at-home devices currently cover all Fitzpatrick skin tones (levels one through six).
At-home laser hair removal systems designed for darker complexions such as black and brown hair tend to produce the best results, however you will likely require at least six sessions for significant results based on hair growth cycles requiring certain amounts of time between sessions to allow targeted follicles to retarget again. Your individual needs may require more or fewer than this number of treatments depending on individual circumstances.
Safety
Though any treatment with laser in its name may sound daunting, when performed by an authorized practitioner there should be little risk of permanent side effects. Scarring could occur if used incorrectly or skin treatment was improper afterward; thus people considering laser hair removal for dark skin must ensure they select an experienced provider to perform this procedure.
Laser hair removal is a straightforward process. A laser emits light which attracts melanin in your follicles. Once this occurs, they’re heated until they die off permanently, leading to permanent hair removal.
An experienced practitioner will apply a cooling device before using laser treatment on your skin to avoid burns or blisters, so be sure to select a medical spa that uses high-quality equipment that’s safe for all types of skin types.
Before attending your laser session, it is necessary to refrain from shaving, waxing, tweezing and using hair removal creams as these activities affect the roots of your hair and must remain present in order for laser to work effectively. Furthermore, tanning or sunbathing should be avoided six weeks beforehand because sun rays could interfere with its effectiveness.
Laser treatments may cause some mild discomfort; most patients report it feels similar to rubber band snaps on the skin. After your procedure, redness and swelling are likely; to ensure optimal outcomes it’s important to keep skin moisturized and protected from direct sunlight after this treatment.
Laser hair removal for dark skin can be an excellent way to get rid of unwanted hair permanently, providing long-term satisfaction that cannot be found through shaving, tweezing and waxing alone. However, it’s important to remember that multiple sessions at six-week intervals will likely be required in order to achieve long-lasting results; depending on the skin type involved you could require 6-8 laser sessions in total in order to reach desired goals.
Side Effects
Though laser hair removal is FDA-approved and performed by experienced professionals, there can still be risks involved with laser treatments. According to Medical News Today, burns or discoloration could occur from laser treatments conducted in clinics; blistering and scarring could occur with home devices without sufficient safety instructions; thus making it essential to find a physician with extensive experience performing this procedure.
Risks associated with laser treatments depend on many variables, including where you live and the equipment being used. To reduce potential complications from treatments, it’s wise to select a licensed professional who uses high-grade equipment and adheres to stringent safety standards. Tanning can also make skin sensitive, increasing chances of burns from laser therapy.
After your appointment, it is recommended to avoid other heat treatments for at least 48 hours – such as hot baths or sauna sessions – since exposure to such high heat levels can open pores and lead to irritation. After treatment, use sunscreen with at least 15 SPF protection in order to safeguard the area against sun damage.
For people with darker skin tones, an SPF of at least 30 should also be worn to mitigate against hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation from laser treatments, and any medications which make you more sensitive to light like antibiotics and retinoids should be stopped immediately.
Be mindful that laser hair removal only works on hair in its anagen phase, so it won’t work on blond, white, or reddish locks – these strands are too close to your skin tone for IPL to penetrate through and absorb melanin in order for this treatment to work effectively.
Laser hair removal does not promise permanent results, and therefore you will likely require multiple sessions for optimum results. Moses recommends six to eight treatments as the minimum number needed to reduce unwanted hair growth but may need occasional follow up appointments to maintain results.
Cost
Many use shaving, waxing and tweezing as methods for removing unwanted body hair. Unwanted body hair can be embarrassing and make dressing in clothing that flatters one’s figure difficult.
Laser hair removal offers an effective and safe solution to those looking for relief from manual hair removal. In just over an hour’s time, laser hair removal can reduce or eradicate unwanted body hair for good.
Prior to seeking laser treatment, it is vitally important to visit a dermatologist. Dermatologists specialize in skin care and understand how best to treat every individual patient’s unique skin type and tone. Dermatologists also have access to advanced equipment including advanced laser technology which is capable of distinguishing pigment in your skin to minimize redness or blistering side effects; even for patients with darker complexions.
Laser hair removal offers more long-term solutions than manual methods for hair removal. While other devices only target the surface of hair follicles, laser treatments directly destroy their roots – stopping any future growth from ever taking hold. Depending on your skin type and desired results, several rounds of treatments may be required before permanent results can be seen.
One of the primary motivations for opting for laser hair removal is to avoid painful and time-consuming treatments like razor burn and waxing, but it’s essential that any OPT treatment be conducted by a board-certified dermatologist as these procedures carry serious risks. When interviewing prospective providers, make sure you ask for before/after photos from previous clients as well as details regarding qualifications and experience.
OPT prices depend on the area being treated; typically small areas like those on the face and neck typically range between $250-$650 per session, while larger areas such as legs or arms will cost more due to longer treatments sessions. It’s important to remember that these are per treatment, with most clients needing six or more for optimal results.
