As Fresno temperatures heat up, many are considering laser hair removal as an effective way to eliminate their shaving or waxing needs. Laser treatment offers many advantages for those seeking alternatives such as waxing.
Laser hair removal can be an efficient and minimally painful procedure; however, some areas do not qualify.
1. Dark skin
Experienced dermatologists or laser technicians are essential when selecting a provider for dark skin, since improper treatment could result in lawsuits being filed due to misuse. Furthermore, practitioners with only basic knowledge about laser devices may give poor advice – making it essential to do a background check and inquire as to their experience before booking an appointment with anyone.
As part of your laser treatment, a cooling attachment will be applied to your skin surface to protect it from the heat of laser pulses. Furthermore, prior to your session it’s essential that any natural or artificial tanning be avoided, as this increases risk for hyperpigmentation. Furthermore, use of sunless tanning creams, waxing or plucking in that area must cease at least one month beforehand.
Modern laser hair removal devices are generally safe for all skin tones. “Laser wavelength of 1064nm is particularly helpful as it bypasses the epidermis to target melanin directly at hair follicles,” according to Karavolas, thus decreasing discoloration risks since light is no longer being absorbed at a higher level in your skin.
Downie and Henry both suggest avoiding laser hair removal on areas where you have recently experienced sunburn or taken Accutane, pregnant or lactating women should not receive laser treatments as there have been no studies conducted regarding their safety during this timeframe. Also, any use of retinoids or topical acidic solutions like Lactic acid must be discontinued at least a week prior to getting their first laser zap treatment session.
2. Light hair
Laser removal might not work if you have very light hair; the pigment must be darker than your skin tone in order for this treatment to work, enabling the laser to differentiate between them and target just hair follicles without harming other areas of the body. If too little pigment remains, however, then the laser cannot do its work and hair will grow back as expected.
Laser hair removal is an efficient, safe, and time-efficient solution to unwanted hair growth. Requiring only four to six sessions to see results, laser is far safer than waxing or plucking which may cause ingrown hairs, rashes and red bumps as a result of waxing or plucking techniques used by some providers.
If your excess hair growth is due to hormonal issues, laser treatments may not have much of an effect. In such a case, consult with a doctor about alternative means of controlling it.
Avoid tanning before and during laser hair removal sessions in order to maximize safety – both from UV lasers as well as from self-tanners – because any form of laser can result in sunburns; tanning compounds this risk further.
Laser hair removal sessions involve applying a protective gel over your skin in order to minimize heat from the laser and its accompanying heat-generating wavelengths. They’ll use a handheld device with which they press against it and trigger it – this may feel like an ongoing series of zaps lasting several minutes up to over an hour, which may cause slight pain that can be reduced by applying an ice pack afterward.
3. Hair that is too thick
Laser hair removal works by emitting pulsed light that absorbs pigment in both your skin and hair, specifically targeting melanin to damage hair follicles and reduce their capacity for producing more hair over time. It works best on dark, thick and coarse hair due to higher melanin concentration than other hues; also works better when the anagen phase (i.e. growing and actively producing new hair growth) hasn’t reached completion yet.
If your hair is very fine and blonde or red in hue, a laser may not be effective enough to treat it as there won’t be enough melanin present for effective laser therapy. Waxing or threading may still work but is less efficient and takes more time.
Laser hair removal treatments won’t produce the results you want if they are not prepared properly for each session. Shave the area to be treated at least a day in advance to ensure that energy of laser targets the root of your follicle instead of any hair above it; doing this will prevent faster hair regrowth after each treatment session.
Avoid tweezing and waxing the areas to be treated. Doing so will interfere with the progress made by your laser therapist; clients often become restless between sessions and begin moonlighting with their tweezers – this is a big mistake that could undo all of their hard work! Additionally, always apply sunscreen of at least SPF 30 after every treatment to protect your skin from UV ray damage.
4. Hair that is too fine
If your hair is too fine to be treated by laser treatments, waxing and shaving are great alternatives to laser. But for areas such as armpits, legs and bikini areas where laser is particularly effective – such as armpits, legs and bikini areas. When seeking laser treatments elsewhere – such as armpits, legs and bikini areas – make sure the clinic or med spa offers adequate treatment times; otherwise the experience could become uncomfortable with missed spots and incomplete hair removal.
Medication, genetic predisposition and hormonal imbalances may prevent laser hair removal from being successful for fine hairs. Women suffering from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) who exhibit excessive hair growth may not achieve the best results due to symptoms like weight gain, acne or irregular menstruation that impede its effectiveness.
Electrolysis might be an alternative to laser treatments for some individuals; however, it will likely be more costly and time consuming as each strand of hair must be targeted by needle.
Before and after any laser hair removal treatment, it is crucial that you avoid direct sunlight exposure of the area being treated. Furthermore, it is also essential that a medical professional conduct an in-depth evaluation to make sure you’re eligible and appropriate candidate for laser hair removal; otherwise it could potentially fail and be dangerous for your health. Speak to a dermatologist about all available options to find one best suited to you and discuss potential alternatives together.
5. Hair that is too light
Laser hair removal involves using a device that emits light energy that absorbs pigment found on skin and hair, and damages hair follicles to stop them from producing new hair growth. While anagen, or active growth phase hair should work best for this treatment method, multiple sessions typically are required in order for laser treatments to take effect – four or 10 may even be needed!
Before beginning any procedure, a doctor will clean and numbing gel may be applied if you’re concerned about discomfort. Furthermore, it’s best to avoid tanning or self-tanning products in the months leading up to your appointment, as this can interfere with how effectively laser treatments work.
At Laser Hair Removal, doctors will use a hand-held laser instrument to press against your skin, either giving a series of small stings or more pain if the area covered by thick hair is larger or denser than expected. Depending on the type of laser used, cooling devices or gel may also be applied in order to minimize side effects and protect your skin as much as possible during treatment.
Laser hair removal can eliminate the need for shaving, waxing and plucking in numerous areas – legs, arms, neck, back, chest, feet, hands, face and bikini area are just some of them. But its effectiveness doesn’t work on every body part – as an example it may not work on upper lips with fine, fluffy hair that grows on them and may make people self-conscious; thankfully laser hair removal can target individual follicles to destroy them and eliminate this hair.
