When the skin becomes irritated from anything from sunburn to an allergic reaction, blood rushes to its surface in an effort to fight off and heal against whatever has caused irritation – including laser hair removal treatments. This happens with every single procedure used on our patients!
Laser treatment involves applying a laser instrument against the skin. Cooling devices or gel may be applied as needed to avoid burning of the tissue by the laser light.
Itching
Laser hair removal involves using a high-powered light source to heat and damage pigment found in hair follicles, thus stopping hair growth and diminishing appearance of blemishes. Typical areas for laser hair removal are face, arms, chest, legs and bikini line; it may also prove helpful for women experiencing excessive hair growth (hirsutism).
Laser damage to hair follicles causes surrounding skin reddening, often resulting in itching that is short-lived; relief may be provided by applying a cool compress to the affected area.
Before and after laser hair removal treatments, it’s essential to follow your dermatologist’s pre and post treatment instructions closely. This may include avoiding sun exposure, tanning beds or lamps as well as indoor light emitting devices; shaving or waxing the treated area within several days post treatment is also advised – for extra sensitive skin types it may help to use an aloe vera product or non-comedogenic moisturizer that contains fragrance-free aloe vera products and non-comedogenic moisturizer after each treatment session to soothe.
Within weeks after laser hair removal treatment, some areas of discolored skin may resemble mild sunburn – this is normal and will eventually fade on its own within several weeks. Over time however, most people don’t experience lasting side effects from laser treatment.
After receiving laser treatments, many patients notice that their skin tone has returned to its original hue a few months after. This is another telltale sign of healing; therefore it’s vital that regular visits to your dermatologist occur, so they can treat any new spots or discolorations as soon as they arise.
Experienced laser hair removal practitioners should seek advice from their dermatologist if they experience persistent itching post-treatment, who will provide solutions such as prescription creams or even surgical interventions to manage it.
Swelling
Laser light heats hair follicles in a targeted area and causes them to be temporarily damaged, inhibiting hair growth. After your laser procedure, your skin may feel sore or swollen in the treatment area for several hours to days; this usually subsides after applying a cooling cream to soothe it.
Your laser treatment may cause inflammation that causes small bumps to appear on the treated area, similar to pimples. They should resolve within hours to days – speed up this process by regularly applying cold compresses on the area being treated.
After your laser treatment, the hairs that were removed will return but should be thinner and lighter in color than prior. A single session should last between 6 months to 1 year before unwanted hair returns; regular touch-up sessions may be needed in order to maintain this result.
Afterward, should any discomfort or adverse side effects arise, contact the practitioner who performed your laser hair removal treatment to discuss what action will best help. In some instances, they may recommend visiting their physician or an emergency room for further help.
People have reported more severe side effects from laser hair removal, although there have been no long-term health concerns reported when performed correctly. Before having larger areas treated with laser treatments, individuals should see how their skin reacts in an individual test patch of skin before proceeding with larger areas.
Before receiving laser hair removal treatment, it is advisable to avoid tanning products and sun exposure. Furthermore, shaving the treatment area should be discontinued and alternative methods like plucking or waxing should be employed in its place; consult your physician regarding any medications you take as some could impair the efficacy of laser treatment for unwanted hair removal.
Dryness
Laser light energy destroys pigmented hair follicles to stop their production of more hair, while skin pigment can absorb this light energy and cause skin burns or changes to coloration; typically these side effects are temporary and can be managed by following your doctor’s advice both before and after treatments.
Prior to laser hair removal, it is important to avoid tanning and apply sunscreen with a high SPF level to protect the skin. Tanning increases light absorption into hair follicles instead of shafts which may produce unintended results. Furthermore, shaving the area being treated prior to appointments makes targeting with lasers much simpler as shaving removes their protective layers, making the laser easier to focus on specific locations on hair follicles.
Laser hair removal involves placing the tip of a laser light beam against the skin in order to target individual follicles, with spot size and fluence (energy density) determining depth of each laser pulse and temperature reached by each follicle. An optimal laser for hair removal would have small spot size with high fluence for maximum efficiency.
Once your treatment has been completed, it is important to use moisturizer on your treated skin in order to prevent long-term dryness from becoming an issue. If it begins to crack or flake off prematurely and crust over, consult with a healthcare provider as this could be a telltale sign of infection.
After laser hair removal, some people notice their skin to appear lighter or darker; this usually subsides over time and your skin will return to its usual look.
As time passes between treatments, your hair becomes increasingly noticeable when it does grow back. Most patients require two to six sessions to permanently eliminate all visible hair in an area; when hair does return it usually has finer and lighter hues than previously seen; these differences allow you to maintain your desired look without as much visible growth.
Redness
Laser hair removal uses light energy to destroy the pigment of hair roots and prevent their further growth, leaving your treatment area feeling sensitive or irritated shortly after treatment. You may find relief using cooling creams or ointments; clients may also notice their skin appears slightly discolored right after laser therapy; these changes usually fade over time.
Rarely, laser treatments can result in blisters and crusting of the skin, typically seen among individuals with darker complexions that absorb higher levels of laser energy or when an incorrect laser type was chosen for someone’s skin type. Such side effects indicate that something was done improperly during treatment and should be reviewed by a licensed healthcare practitioner to see whether any adjustments need to be made in terms of laser type, settings or frequency settings for improved results.
Laser hair removal involves heating up individual follicles using light energy, in order to damage them and cause them to swell – known as follicular edema – which may seem worrisome but should actually be seen as a positive indicator that your laser is targeting just follicles rather than surrounding tissues.
After laser treatment, it is crucial to protect the skin from sun exposure until redness subsides. We suggest applying broad spectrum SPF 50+ sunscreen regularly over the treated area in order to shield it from UVA and UVB rays; additionally avoiding harsh cleansers and exfoliants will help reduce irritation and redness.
Clients should also be aware that while itching and dryness are common side effects of laser hair removal, any blistering should be seen as a red flag and reported immediately to their practitioner. Scabbing or blistering could be caused by using the wrong laser type/settings combination; poor tanning; or overly aggressive treatment techniques. Finally, clients must always investigate credentials and training of any potential laser hair removal provider prior to booking a treatment session.
