Many individuals worry that their hair will grow back after receiving laser treatments, but it should be put at ease: while regrowth will occur eventually, when it does it will likely be lighter in color and thinner texture than previously.
Laser therapy treatments can effectively stop hair regrowth. In order to maximize effectiveness, it’s best not to pluck or wax in the treatment area before receiving laser, as this may disturb hair follicles and disrupt their ability to work effectively.
During the Growth Phase
Laser hair removal is an efficient and safe way to safely eliminate unwanted hair. The procedure works by targeting melanin or pigment in hair shafts to travel down into hair follicles to destroy it, with multiple treatment sessions needed depending on skin tone and hair density – although hair may grow back after having undergone laser hair removal treatments.
Hair may regrowth after laser treatment for several reasons. One reason could be that your locks have entered their anagen phase – when actively growing hair can be targeted more easily with laser light without causing harm to surrounding tissue. At this time, laser therapy is best used, since it targets only hair follicles without harming nearby cells or tissues.
Angegen hair contains more melanin, making it easier for laser treatments to target and detect it during its Angegen cycle or active phase. As hair moves into its Catagen cycle or dormant phase, however, laser targeting and destruction becomes more challenging; hence why it is imperative to maintain a regular treatment schedule and not skip sessions.
Why did my hair grow back after laser? One reason may be that your follicles were damaged but not destroyed during the laser procedure, leading to them to regenerate at some point after healing; these damaged follicles will eventually sprout new growth albeit it less noticeable due to lighter or thinner strands reappearing after healing has taken place. Furthermore, any additional hair removal methods should wait until your follicles recover from initial treatment before using any more methods in that area.
Laser treatments could cause your hair to grow longer as a result of hormonal disruptions. Women genetically predisposed to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) often produce excess levels of testosterone and androgens which promote hair growth; it’s therefore wise to consult a doctor prior to engaging in any cosmetic treatments that may disrupt these hormones and lead to excess hair growth.
During the Telogen Phase
The catagen phase is the short transition period before entering the resting or telogen stage of hair growth, when existing hair begins to shed as its follicle shrinks, leading to noticeable hair shedding on your pillow, shower floor or clothes. Since it’s an entirely natural process that lasts only for several days at most and won’t cause irritation from hair removal treatments like laser, but laser treatment may not be as effective than when your body was in the anagen phase.
Once your follicles have entered the telogen phase, they stop growing or developing under the skin; instead they enter a resting or dormant state; as much as 15% of your hair may be dormant at any given time. Unfortunately, no further growth occurs while in telogen; which typically lasts one year.
Laser treatment during this phase won’t be as successful, due to hair follicles not having visible hair on their surfaces and therefore not being targeted by laser light rays. Thus, 6-8 sessions may be needed before your growth has completely stopped in that area.
Repetition can cause more permanent forms of TE, including chronic stress, restrictive diets or health conditions that disrupt the natural biochemistry of hair follicles. You could also develop more permanent forms if an underlying genetic condition alters hormone levels causing disruptions.
Laser hair removal can provide an alternative solution to waxing, shaving and plucking when it comes to unwanted hair growth. The process uses powerful light beams that target pigmented dark hair follicles with heat pulses that penetrate skin, killing them off while leaving new ones growing back in. While not permanent in its effects, new hair follicles will eventually replace any previously affected ones over time.
Hormonal Imbalance
Many expect their unwanted hair to disappear almost instantly after laser treatment, but this may not always be the case. This is due to laser targeting hair follicles in their active growth stage of anagen while those that are dormant in catagen do not suffer the same consequences and may sprout back later.
Multiple laser treatments are required to achieve long-term results; waxing and tweezing reduce their efficacy as no pigment remains in the hair follicle, making it harder for laser beams to target it effectively.
While laser hair removal may cause thicker or faster-growing hair to grow back after treatment, most people report significant reduction in unwanted body hair due to laser treatments, with some even experiencing permanent or near-permanent results. As such, laser treatments have become an increasingly popular solution for both men and women looking to reduce unwanted body hair without using traditional methods like shaving, waxing or plucking.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a condition which affects women, often results in excess facial and body hair due to higher-than-normal levels of testosterone and androgens, leading to excess facial and body hair. PCOS should be treated as a medical condition through medication such as Metformin or Spironolactone as well as diet changes.
Although laser treatments have the potential for paradoxical hypertrichosis, such effects are very unlikely and can be avoided by screening potential patients carefully for skin pigment changes, cold sore outbreaks, scarring or blistering and any infections present in the area where the laser will be used.
Overall, laser treatments are one of the best available solutions for reducing or eliminating unwanted hair and eliminating the need for traditional waxing or tweezing. Unlike other hair removal methods, lasers treat the root cause by targeting hair follicles directly and are considered one of the most effective and long-term methods available; touch-up sessions only need be scheduled as necessary.
Genetics
Laser hair removal uses an intense beam of light energy to target and destroy hair follicles on the skin that produce hair, known as “hair follicles.” When the laser’s heat absorbed by pigment absorbs into these follicles, it damages and disables them, rendering them incapable of growing unwanted hair again. When this process takes place, unwanted hair naturally falls out or enters dormancy state called the telogen phase where it eventually falls off on its own.
This process usually requires three to six treatment sessions, depending on your hair color and skin type. After several treatment sessions, some hair may shed and appear lighter or thinner – this is normal and indicates that the laser has done its work!
Hairs that remain in the anagen phase tend to lighten in color and thin out significantly over time, making them difficult to see or feel. This indicates that your body is reacting positively to laser heat damage in damaging hair follicles.
Note, though, that if your skin is particularly sensitive this process could require multiple sessions to achieve full effectiveness due to its higher tendency for hair follicles in such types of skin to enter a telogen phase before being destroyed by laser’s heat.
Paradoxical hypertrichosis is a condition whereby hair grows back thicker and darker than it was previously, most commonly in dark-skinned women with hormone imbalances, such as those who suffer from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Although its exact cause remains unknown, speculation suggests that excess testosterone produced by these women stimulates new hair growth after laser treatments.
Hair growth may only be temporary and treated by subsequent laser treatments; as long as you complete all required sessions, permanent results are achievable. So if you want to stop shaving, waxing, and plucking in order to attain beautiful locks – contact us now or schedule a consultation session with one of our senior laser specialists!
