Laser Hair Removal: How does it provide long-lasting hair reduction?

Laser hair removal is a medical procedure that uses a concentrated beam of light (laser) to remove unwanted hair.

During laser hair removal, a laser emits a light that is absorbed by the pigment (melanin) in the hair. The light energy is converted to heat, which damages the tube-shaped sacs within the skin (hair follicles) that produce hairs. This damage inhibits or delays future hair growth.

Although laser hair removal effectively delays hair growth for long periods, it usually doesn’t result in permanent hair removal. Multiple laser hair removal treatments are needed for initial hair removal, and maintenance treatments might be needed as well. Laser hair removal is most effective for people who have light skin and dark hair, but it can be successfully used on all skin types.

In this guide, we review the aspects of:

• Laser Hair Removal: How does it provide long-lasting hair reduction?
• How long does laser hair reduction last?
• How does laser reduce hair growth?
• Does laser permanently reduce hair growth?

Laser Hair Removal: How does it provide long-lasting hair reduction?

Laser hair removalunwanted hair

During laser hair removal, a laser emits a light that is absorbed by the pigment (melanin) in the hair. The light energy is converted to heat, which damages the tube-shaped sacs within the skin (hair follicles) that produce hairs. This damage inhibits or delays future hair growth.

Although laser hair removal effectively delays hair growth for long periods, it usually doesn’t result in permanent hair removal. Multiple laser hair removal treatments are needed for initial hair removal, and maintenance treatments might be needed as well. Laser hair removal is most effective for people who have light skin and dark hair, but it can be successfully used on all skin types.

Risks

Risks of side effects vary with skin type, hair color, treatment plan and adherence to pre-treatment and post-treatment care. The most common side effects of laser hair removal include:

• Skin irritation. Temporary discomfort, redness and swelling are possible after laser hair removal. Any signs and symptoms typically disappear within several hours.
• Pigment changes. Laser hair removal might darken or lighten the affected skin. These changes might be temporary or permanent. Skin lightening primarily affects those who don’t avoid sun exposure before or after treatment and those who have darker skin.

Rarely, laser hair removal can cause blistering, crusting, scarring or other changes in skin texture. Other rare side effects include graying of treated hair or excessive hair growth around treated areas, particularly on darker skin.

Laser hair removal isn’t recommended for eyelids, eyebrows or surrounding areas, due to the possibility of severe eye injury.

How you prepare

If you’re interested in laser hair removal, choose a doctor who’s board certified in a specialty such as dermatology or cosmetic surgery and has experience with laser hair removal on your skin type. If a physician assistant or licensed nurse will do the procedure, make sure a doctor supervises and is available on-site during the treatments. Be cautious about spas, salons or other facilities that allow nonmedical personnel to do laser hair removal.

Before laser hair removal, schedule a consultation with the doctor to determine if this is an appropriate treatment option for you. Your doctor will likely do the following:

• Review your medical history, including medication use, history of skin disorders or scarring, and past hair removal procedures
• Discuss risks, benefits and expectations, including what laser hair removal can and can’t do for you
• Take photos to be used for before-and-after assessments and long-term reviews

At the consultation, discuss a treatment plan and related costs. Laser hair removal is usually an out-of-pocket expense.

The doctor will also offer specific instructions to prepare for laser hair removal. These might include:

• Staying out of the sun. Follow your doctor’s advice for avoiding sun exposure before and after treatment. Whenever you go out, apply a broad-spectrum, SPF30 sunscreen.
• Lightening your skin. Avoid any sunless skin creams that darken your skin. Your doctor might also prescribe a skin bleaching cream if you have a recent tan or darker skin.
• Avoiding other hair removal methods. Plucking, waxing and electrolysis can disturb the hair follicle and should be avoided at least four weeks before treatment.
• Avoiding blood-thinning medications. Ask your doctor about what medications, such as aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs, to avoid before the procedure.
• Shaving treatment area. Trimming and shaving is recommended the day before laser treatment. It removes hair above the skin that can result in surface skin damage from burnt hairs, but it leaves the hair shaft intact below the surface.

What you can expect

Laser hair removal usually requires two to six treatments. The interval between treatments will vary depending on the location. On areas where hair grows quickly, such as the upper lip, the treatment might be repeated in four to eight weeks. On areas of slow hair growth, such as the back, the treatment might be every 12 to 16 weeks.

For each treatment you’ll wear special goggles to protect your eyes from the laser beam. An assistant might shave the site again if necessary. The doctor might apply a topical anesthetic to your skin to reduce any discomfort during treatment.

During the procedure

The doctor will press a hand-held laser instrument to your skin. Depending on the type of laser, a cooling device on the tip of the instrument or a cool gel might be used to protect your skin and lessen the risk of side effects.

When the doctor activates the laser, the laser beam will pass through your skin to the hair follicles. The intense heat from the laser beam damages the hair follicles, which inhibits hair growth. You might feel discomfort, such as a warm pinprick, and you’ll likely feel a sensation of cold from the cooling device or gel.

Treating a small area, such as the upper lip, might take only a few minutes. Treating a larger area, such as the back, might take more than an hour.

After the procedure

You might notice redness and swelling for the first few hours after laser hair removal.

To reduce any discomfort, apply ice to the treated area. If you have a skin reaction immediately after laser hair removal, the doctor might apply a steroid cream to the affected area.

After laser hair removal and between scheduled treatments, avoid sunlight and don’t use a tanning bed for six weeks or as directed by your doctor. Use a broad-spectrum SPF30 sunscreen daily.

Results

Hairs do not fall out immediately, but you will shed them over a period of days to weeks. This may look like continued hair growth. The repeated treatments are usually necessary because hair growth and loss naturally occur in a cycle, and laser treatment works best with hair follicles in the new-growth stage.

Results vary significantly and are difficult to predict. Most people experience hair removal that lasts several months, and it might last for years. But laser hair removal doesn’t guarantee permanent hair removal. When hair regrows, it’s usually finer and lighter in color.

You might need maintenance laser treatments for long-term hair reduction.

How long does laser hair reduction last?

What happens during laser hair removal?

Before the treatment, the area to be treated will be cleansed. Some patients receive a numbing gel. Numbing the area to be treated helps when a small area will be treated and the skin is very sensitive. It takes about 30 to 60 minutes for a numbing gel to work.

The laser treatment will take place in a room set up specifically for laser treatments. Everyone in the room must wear protective eyewear during the procedure. To perform the procedure, the skin is held taut and the skin is treated with the laser. Many patients say that the laser pulses feel like warm pinpricks or a rubber band being snapped against the skin.

A laser removes hair by vaporizing it. This causes small plumes of smoke that have a sulfur-like smell.

How long your treatment lasts depends on the size of the area being treated. Treating the upper lip takes minutes. If you are having a large area like the back or legs treated, your treatment may last more than an hour.

What must I do after getting laser hair removal?

To avoid possible side effects, all patients need to protect their skin from the sun. After laser hair removal, you should:

• Avoid direct sunlight from hitting your treated skin.
• Not use a tanning bed, sun lamp, or any other indoor tanning equipment.
• Follow your dermatologist’s after-care instructions.

You will see some redness and swelling after treatment. This often looks like a mild sunburn. Applying a cool compress can help reduce your discomfort.

Is there downtime?

No, laser hair removal generally does not require any real downtime. Immediately after having laser hair removal, your treated skin will be red and swollen. Despite this, most people return to their everyday activities.

When will I see the results after having laser hair removal?

You will likely see the results immediately after treatment. The results vary from patient to patient. The color and thickness of your hair, area treated, type of laser used, and color of your skin all affect the results. You can expect a 10% to 25% reduction in hair after the first treatment.

To remove the hair, most patients need 2 to 6 laser treatments. After finishing the treatments, most patients do not see any hair on the treated skin for several months or even years. When the hair regrows, there tends to be less of it. The hairs also tend to be finer and lighter in color.

How long will the results of laser hair removal last?

Most patientshair

What are the possible side effects?

The most common side effectsThese side effects

• Discomfort
• Swelling
• Redness

Other possible side effects are rare when laser hair removal is performed by a dermatologist or under the dermatologist’s direct supervision. Other possible side effects include:

• Blistering
• Herpes simplex (cold sores) outbreaks
• Infections
• Scarring
• Skin lightening or darkening

In time, skin color tends to return to normal. Some changes to skin color, however, are permanent. This is why seeing a medical doctor who is skilled in laser treatments and has in-depth knowledge of the skin is so important.

It is also important to follow your dermatologist’s instructions. Following both the before-treatment instructions and after-treatment instructions will greatly reduce your risk of side effects.

When is it safe to have another laser treatment for hair removal?

This varies from patient to patient. Removing hair often requires a series of laser treatments. Most patients can have laser hair removal once every 4 to 6 weeks. Your dermatologist will tell you when it is safe to have another treatment.

Most patients see some hair regrowth. Your dermatologist can tell you when you can safely have laser treatments to maintain the results.

What is the safety record for laser hair removal?

Lasers play an important role in treating many conditions that affect the skin, hair, and nails. In recent years, many advances have been made in laser medicine. Dermatologists have led the way in making these advances.

One such advance is that more people can safely have laser hair removal. In the past, only people with dark hair and light skin could safely have laser hair removal. Today, laser hair removal is a treatment option for patients who have light-colored hair and light skin and patients who have dark skin. Laser hair removal must be performed very carefully in these patients. Dermatologists know what precautions to take to provide laser hair removal safely and effectively.

How does laser reduce hair growth?

Lecture5 min.par Harmonie Bodyexpert.online

More and more people are turning to laser hair therapy to combat hair loss. Affecting both men and women, hair loss can be complex and lead to the need for a hair transplant in Turkey. The low-level laser therapy system can be performed in addition to the transplantation to reduce the recovery time and promote hair growth. Find out everything you need to know about this treatment, its indications, contraindications and results

What is the principle of a laser hair growth treatment?

Laser hair growth treatmenthair follicles

The lasers used to promote hair growth are low-level lasers. Applying a low-level laser treatment to the scalp helps create an environment that is conducive to hair growth. The energy emitted by the laser light helps to reduce hair loss and strengthen the hair shaft. Laser hair therapy stimulates the hair follicles by increasing blood flow to the scalp.

After an FUE hair transplant or a DHI hair transplant, laser hair treatment is performed to reduce recovery time. The low-intensity laser also reduces the side effects of manual hair transplantation and female hair transplantation.

What are the steps of a laser treatment for pattern hair loss ?

Laser hair treatmentPlasma Rich Platelets

During a hair laser session, the patient is placed under a helmet that will propel low-intensity energy onto the scalp. The session lasts an average of 20 minutes, the time necessary for the energies emitted to be properly absorbed by the cells of the capillary dermis. the low-level laser treatments invigorate circulation and stimulation that encourages hair follicles to grow hair.

The laser hair treatment session is not painful. The energies emitted are low level laser light and do not give off any heat.

What are the expected results of this hair loss treatment?

This treatment has many benefits. Painless, safe and non-invasive, this technology has minimal side effects. Used for patients suffering from loss of hair volume, male pattern baldness, thinning hair, hair loss and androgenetic alopecia, laser hair treatment can stimulate hair growth and improve the results of a hair transplant.

What is the price of a laser hair growth treatment?

With Body Expert, the price of laser hair treatment in Turkey is 200 € per session. To take advantage of the very advantageous prices of the treatments carried out in Turkey, we recommend to cumulate several treatments during the same trip. You will then benefit from the very interesting rates charged by Body Expert and you will largely make your stay profitable. As a bonus, you will have the opportunity to discover the treasures of Istanbul and enjoy the warm welcome and cultural heritage of Turkey.

Are there any contraindications ?

Although laser hair treatment is safe, there are some contraindications to using this technique. Laser treatment is not recommended for pregnant women or women who are breastfeeding. It is also not recommended for people with epilepsy, diabetes, or hemophilia, as well as for people who suffer from skin diseases or inflammation. Taking chemotherapy drugs and photosensitizing drugs or products is also a contraindication to laser hair treatment.

What are the likely side effects?

The laser technology used in the hair loss treatments is safe and without danger. The devices (brush or laser helmet type LLLT device) developed for this type of use are designed to emit laser low-level light to present no risk to the skin and hair.

Side effects from laser hair treatment are extremely rare, if not non-existent. Laser technology is a non-invasive technology that does not disturb the endocrine balance. It does not burn or damage the skin.

Can laser treatment be combined with hair transplant?

Laser hair growth therapynew hair growth

However, although it is effective, this solution does not provide the same results as hair transplantation. On the other hand, in addition to a hair transplant, laser treatment has an anti-inflammatory action and stimulates the regrowth of transplanted hair.

Does laser permanently reduce hair growth?

Laser hair removalunwanted hair

For some people, laser hair removal on the body provides permanent or near-permanent results. Others may see a big reduction in the amount and thickness of hair that regrows over time.

While permanent results aren’t usually achieved on the face, regrowth may not occur for years.

Results vary and depend on several factors. These include the areas being treated and fluctuating hormonal levels.

How long before hair begins to grow back?

In order to determine how long it’ll take before your hair grows back, it may help to understand the growth pattern of hair.

Stages of hair growth

Hairgrowth

• anagen, the growing phase
• catagen, the transitional phase
• telogen, the resting phase
• exogen, the shedding phase

At any given time, you have hairs going through all four phases.

Laser hair removal works by vaporizing existing hairs below the skin and at the root.

For that reason, it can only target hairs during the anagen, or growing phase. That’s why it takes multiple treatments, spaced apart, to get to all of the hair that grows in a particular spot.

Regrowth on the body

You’ll continue to see hair during the course of laser treatments. Some of this will be regrowth, but much of it will be hair that hasn’t yet been treated.

Once your course of treatment is complete, you may not see regrowth for many years.

On the body, laser hair removal may provide permanent or very long-lasting results. Over time, any hair that does grow back should be very sparse and fine.

Regrowth on the face

On the face, laser hair removal isn’t typically permanent but may be long-lasting.

Some people report seeing no hair return after 10 years or more. Others experience regrowth sooner and rely on annual touchup treatments to keep unwanted hair at bay.

Does hair on certain areas of the body or face grow back faster?

After laser hair removal, hair is most likely to grow back on the chin, neck, and other areas of the face.

This may be due in part to hormonal fluctuations and the reactivation of hair follicles by androgens, such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and testosterone.

In some women, regrowth of hair on the chin, neck, upper lip, and sideburns may coincide with menopause, when estrogen levels drop.

Hair regrowth on the body is also possible. In some people, it may be more likely to occur on the arms, legs, or chest rather than on the bikini line, stomach, or underarms.

When hair does grow back on the body, it’s typically sparse and very fine.

In rare instances, laser hair removal may cause thicker, darker hair to grow or regrow in an adjacent area to the one being treated. This condition is known as paradoxical hypertrichosis. Paradoxical hypertrichosis can occur anywhere on the face or body.

Does hair or skin color make a difference?

Your hair or skin color may determine how effective laser treatments are for you initially, but they won’t affect how quickly your hair grows back once treatments are complete.

Currently, laser hair removal isn’t considered effective for blond, white, or gray hair.

Is there anything you can do to prevent hair from growing back?

Hair regrowthlaser treatment touchups

If hair growth is sparse, another option is electrolysis. Electrolysis works on hairs one at a time rather than on whole areas.

If you have a condition such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), keeping your hormones balanced can help reduce the chance of hair regrowth. You can help balance these hormones with medications like Metformin or with dietary modifications, such as a low carbohydrate intake.

Will repeated sessions of laser therapy eventually discourage hair growth?

Laser treatmentshair growth

After that, the need for touchups should be minimal. Some people may require semiannual treatments at first. Others may find that they don’t need a touchup for 5 years or longer.

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Key takeaways

Laser hair removalunwanted hair

Hormonal fluctuations can also play a role in hair regrowth for some people.