Laser hair removal uses laser light to destroy hair follicles and stop them from producing new hair growth. Since hair has various stages of development, laser treatment will only affect those in their Anagen or growth phase for maximum effectiveness.
As with any treatment, after receiving chemotherapy you may notice redness and swelling that resembles sunburn as well as smell of smoke.
1. Hormones
Laser treatments alone won’t always do the trick when hair growth is hormonally driven; your hormones determine how much and where hair grows in response to environmental stimuli such as PCOS-related hormone imbalance, leading to excessive facial and body hair growth that often exceeds expectations from laser hair removal treatments; electrolysis would often provide superior results in these instances.
Hormonal fluctuations may also influence how effective laser treatments are. People with naturally blond or white hair may not see great results from laser treatment due to its pigment in their locks making light more difficult for reaching its intended target in their follicle. People with curly or tightly coiled locks may also not enjoy great success since their locks could get caught up in the laser beam and cause side effects like hyperpigmentation or scarring.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), for instance, has been known to stimulate hair regrowth in some women and affect how effectively laser treatment works for others. Other drugs or supplements could have an impactful on laser treatments; make sure your dermatologist knows about any medication or supplementation prior to beginning this procedure.
Laser hair removal results depend heavily on how you treat your skin between treatments. For optimal results, avoid tweezing, waxing or plucking hair from the area that’s being treated as this can interfere with its ability to damage hair follicles and prevent them from growing back; doing so also delays treatment time and makes achieving desired results more challenging. Instead, gently rub the area with a loofah or washcloth in order to accelerate its natural cycle and increase hair fall.
2. Skin Tone
Laser hair removal works by targeting melanin in both your skin and hair, which explains why light-skinned people typically see better results from laser treatments; their laser can easily detect any contrast between their skin tone and that of their hair, and easily target both. But that does not mean darker skin tones cannot benefit; there are various factors which may help ensure you achieve maximum effectiveness from treatment.
If you are considering laser hair removal, first consult with a dermatologist. He or she will assess both your skin and hair to ensure the treatment will be safe for both of you and suggest the most suitable therapy options for you.
Fitzpatrick skin-color classification system can provide a useful baseline, taking your genetic make-up and sun exposure into account to give an accurate representation of where you fit on the scale.
Once you’ve spoken to a dermatologist, the next step in your treatment should be decided upon. Be mindful of tan lines before your laser appointment – the laser won’t perform as efficiently on skin that has already been exposed to intense sun.
At last, make sure that you adhere to all of the instructions from your practitioner. For example, if they instruct against using topicals with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide in them as these may increase sensitivity in the treated area and potentially lead to discomfort or even scarring.
Ask about the technician’s experience using your specific laser. Make sure they are certified on it, and have used it successfully on various patients to prevent hyperpigmentation and ineffective treatments. This will allow them to determine the appropriate settings for you skin tone and hair type to ensure effective hair removal treatments.
3. Hair Growth Cycle
Hair growth occurs in three stages: Anagen, Catagen and Telogen. Laser, IPL or LHE permanent hair removal treatments can only effectively eradicate roots when hairs are in their Anagen stage – which corresponds with growth – however multiple sessions may be needed to catch all the hairs at this phase; otherwise they won’t be destroyed and will continue growing back once their follicles heal.
Hormonal conditions and medications may also play a part in hair growth. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) has been known to lead to excessive hair growth among both women and men, as well as diabetes, difficulty losing weight, irregular periods and acne – with women more prone to experiencing this issue if their family history includes hirsutism in particular.
Tweezing, waxing, plucking, threading or squeezing hair out can also diminish results from laser treatments. Pulling hair can upset hormone balance that controls hair growth. Furthermore, this could result in ingrown hairs or skin irritation as a result of pulling.
Furthermore, failing to shave before laser hair removal sessions could hinder their efficacy; you want the laser light to heat up and destroy hair at its source, so shaving 1-2 days before appointments is recommended for optimal results.
Laser settings that don’t match up can also contribute to ineffective hair removal treatments. A dermatologist knows how to adjust laser settings according to your skin type and hair color for maximum efficiency, but technicians not using these settings could damage skin tissue while leading to less effective results.
4. Hair Thickness
Hair thickness refers to the width of a single strand of hair, and impacts how easily strands snap when pulled through ponytails, and thus how noticeable your locks are to others. While genetics is usually the primary determining factor for thickness, hormonal fluctuations and age may also play a part in shaping its width.
Your hair thickness can be tested by holding one strand between your fingers and feeling it – if it feels thin, that indicates fine hair; medium means moderate; if thick means thick.
Thicker strands may be more challenging to treat with laser hair removal due to the laser’s energy needing to penetrate and target melanin pigment in hair follicles for it to work effectively; darker-shaded strands have more melanin, making them easier to target by the laser energy. Therefore, it’s wise not to tweeze, wax, pick, or pluck the area where you want laser treatments before scheduling appointments for treatment sessions.
At your dermatologist visit for laser hair removal, they will adjust the settings to best match your skin type and hair color to ensure the laser energy is being focused correctly and without causing damage to any tissues. If you have very light complexion with darker hair, some dermatologists may advise using sunless skin creams prior to treatments to lighten your complexion and help target hairs more effectively – this may not be necessary in all cases, but can make treatments more successful overall.
5. Skin Type
Laser hair removal uses a concentrated light beam to destroy hair follicles and stop their future regrowth, typically quickly and painlessly – though a topical gel or anesthetic may be applied before treatment begins. While laser hair removal has proven highly successful for many individuals, it may not work perfectly every time; therefore, working with a dermatologist who can assess your individual needs to help achieve lasting results can be important.
Unwanted body hair is an all too familiar problem for women, men, and non-binary individuals alike. While shaving and waxing may be time consuming and costly, laser hair removal has emerged as an increasingly popular solution. A light-based laser system targets melanin pigment found in skin and hair follicles to permanently eliminate them.
Laser treatments were once risky when it came to treating darker skin and hair because some devices weren’t sophisticated enough to distinguish between hair follicle pigmentation and skin tone, leading to scarring, blisters and other adverse side effects. But technology has come a long way and smarter lasers exist now that can treat multiple skin tones without creating damage or side effects.
To achieve optimal results from laser treatments, it’s advisable to shave the area to be treated at least a few days prior to each laser session. Also important in preparation for these sessions is avoiding tanning (natural or with sunless tanning solutions) or other forms of sun exposure in the weeks leading up to your treatments as pigmentation can impede how effectively laser works on skin.
