Laser hair removal has become very popular over the last decade. The procedure involves using a laser beam to remove unwanted body hairs. While it sounds simple enough, there are several things you should know before undergoing this treatment.
Laser hair removal is a safe, effective way to get rid of unwanted hair. This non-invasive method uses a high-intensity light source to target the follicle and destroy the hair root.
Before going under the laser, it’s essential to know what to expect during the procedure and what side effects to look out for. Here are ten facts about laser hair removal you should know.
Table of Contents
- 1. It Won’t Work on All Skin Types
- 2. Some People May Notice Redness After Treatment
- 3. If Your Hairs Reappear in New Places, Go Back to the Doctor Immediately
- 4. Keep Away from Sunlight and Tanning Beds Following Treatments
- 5. Be Prepared for Soreness During Treatments
- 6. Laser Hair Removal Is Not Permanent
- 7. Follow Post-Treatment Care Tips
- 8. Don’t Get Lye on Your Face
- 9. Seek Professional Help When Things Aren’t Going Well
- 10. Know-How Many Sessions It Takes to Remove All Hair
- Benefits of Laser Hair Removal
- 1. No Scars and Minimal Post-Treatment Redness
- 2. Can Treat More Areas Simultaneously Than Other Methods
- 3. Can Be Done on The Same Day
- 4. Fast Results
- 5. Minimizes Pores
- Conclusion
1. It Won’t Work on All Skin Types
While most people who undergo laser hair removal have fair skin types, some individuals may experience greater or lesser results based on their skin tone. Some specialists say that darker skin tones respond better than lighter ones. They also note that specific colors in your skin—like yellow or red—can make your skin more sensitive to the laser.
2. Some People May Notice Redness After Treatment
The color change following laser hair removal could be subtle at first or noticeable soon after the session. Patients who notice an increase in redness within one day following their treatment are probably experiencing post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).
This temporary condition occurs when the laser heats skin cells and causes them to darken and turn red. We recommend seeking specialist advice once you consider reshaping your hairline with laser hair removal. They will help you know if you are a suitable candidate and ensure that you attain your desired outcome.
3. If Your Hairs Reappear in New Places, Go Back to the Doctor Immediately
Once the hair regrows, it can grow back thicker as well. This can pose problems if the patient thinks they no longer have any reactions from the laser. If you think you might be developing new areas of hair growth, tell your Doctor.
4. Keep Away from Sunlight and Tanning Beds Following Treatments
When you tan, your melanocytes—the skin cell responsible for producing pigment—are more active, which makes you more vulnerable to future damage from sun exposure. However, there is little evidence that laser treatments cause patients to burn more quickly because of the increased activity.
5. Be Prepared for Soreness During Treatments
You will likely develop small bumps on your skin during your laser sessions called “heat spots” while your body adjusts. These may be painful to the touch and should only itch lightly. They can linger for around 30 minutes after your treatment ends. Once the heat spots go away, you should find you feel less sore overall.
6. Laser Hair Removal Is Not Permanent
If you want permanent hair reduction, ask your dermatologist whether laser treatments offer the right solution for your needs. Laser hair removal aims to reduce and eventually eliminate unwanted hair permanently via light energy.
7. Follow Post-Treatment Care Tips
After every treatment, you should apply a moisturizer to help keep your skin hydrated and protected against dryness. Also, avoid rubbing your treated area vigorously and refrain from using harsh cleansers until you’ve healed.
8. Don’t Get Lye on Your Face
If you accidentally get lye on your face, wash it off immediately. Because lye reacts chemically with water, it can make your skin extremely dry and irritable. Do not use soap; instead, use plain old tap water over your entire face and wait 20 minutes before moving on to the next step. Then thoroughly rinse your face with tepid water and pat dry with a clean towel.
9. Seek Professional Help When Things Aren’t Going Well
Are you doing everything yourself? That’s fine if this is your first-time undergoing laser hair removal. But if you’re having trouble reducing your hair, seeing changes you don’t like, or dealing with breakouts that aren’t clearing up, then it might be time to contact your dermatologist.
10. Know-How Many Sessions It Takes to Remove All Hair
Laser hair removalfewer sessions
Benefits of Laser Hair Removal
Following are some benefits of reshaping hairline with laser hair removal.
1. No Scars and Minimal Post-Treatment Redness
Typically, you will experience very few side effects with laser hair removal. There will be a slight scabbing of the treated area, but it won’t last long. And when you look in the mirror, you won’t see much of a difference since your hair isn’t going to have gone away entirely.
2. Can Treat More Areas Simultaneously Than Other Methods
Typically, when people choose laser hair removal, they have large amounts of hair with larger skin areas to target. With electrosurgery, you only target one area at a time. That means you’ll have to do each area separately. With laser hair removal, you can treat several areas in one session.
3. Can Be Done on The Same Day
While laser hair removal requires regular office visits, these appointments are relatively quick and straightforward. You don’t need to bring anything special along to any appointment, nor do you need to stay overnight. If you consider a physician trained in performing laser hair removal with IPL devices, they will prescribe you pain medication and tell you to come back in two weeks.
4. Fast Results
With electrosurgery, if you try to shave an area too close to your skin surface, you could cause scarring on your skin because electricity passes through your skin. However, with laser hair removal for the arms and legs, you can safely approach the epidermis as close as 1 millimeter.
This means that within just a week, you’ll see your hair begin to fade faster. Once again, because we’re talking about lasers here, you’ll never want to go a day without laser hair removal. At least not until you’ve finished your treatment plan!
5. Minimizes Pores
Electrosurgery is known to open minor wounds near your skin and cause irritation. It also forces you to apply other makeup due to the increased visibility of your pores.
However, you may notice that your skin looks smoother after each treatment with laser hair removal. Even better yet are the results you’ll see long-term. Over time, your body will stop producing new hair follicles, meaning that years from now, you can get rid of hair even in harder-to-reach places.
Conclusion
Laser hair removallaser hair removal
However, laser hair removal does produce mild to moderate discomfort during the procedure. Some clients complain of reddening, itching, swelling, peeling, and bruising. The severity of the side effects varies based on the individual patient and the specific technique used.
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