Laser hair removal utilizes heat from a laser instrument to destroy hair follicles so they no longer produce hair growth, with treatments typically spaced four or six weeks apart.
Your practitioner may apply numbing cream to help alleviate discomfort or pain; however, some practitioners may fail to apply it correctly and cause skin irritation and burns.
Excessive Hair Growth
Most patients experiencing laser treatments will notice hair growth within weeks after laser sessions; this is completely normal and not due to new hair growth; rather it’s simply existing hairs being shed out naturally over time. As this process can take several days, patients are encouraged to shave prior to each laser appointment and use anesthetic creams if the area being treated falls on an intimate part of the body.
Most laser treatment providers advise clients to shave at least 24 hours before their appointment so that the laser can target only hair follicles without hitting any pigmented cells or any shorter than desired hairs; additionally, this makes targeting and eliminating longer or darker locks much simpler for the laser to do.
Before beginning laser hair removal treatments on large areas such as the back or legs, it is imperative that a comprehensive assessment is completed first. This should include reviewing medical history records including hormonal imbalances that might trigger excessive hair growth. Furthermore, pregnant women should not receive these treatments due to insufficient scientific proof that this won’t harm the unborn fetus.
Laser treatments effectively vaporize hair follicles permanently; however, it’s important to keep in mind that hair will eventually regrow; when this does happen, its texture may change over time and it will appear lighter and finer than its previous state.
Laser treatments work best on people with light complexions and dark hair, as the contrast allows the laser beam to more accurately target and destroy hair follicles without harming surrounding tissue. A series of eight-10 treatments is usually necessary, followed by top-up sessions every six months afterwards; if a person suffers from hormonal imbalance, such as PCOS, hirsutism or postmenopausal changes then these top-up sessions may need to be completed more often.
Hormonal Imbalance
Laser hair removal is usually undertaken for cosmetic reasons, with those seeking smooth, even skin with less or no unwanted hair opting to undergo this treatment. While laser hair removal usually succeeds in its goal, in certain instances paradoxical hypertrichosis occurs; often found among women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or those inheriting conditions such as male pattern baldness and female pattern hirsutism.
At the anagen phase of hair growth cycles, excess melanin accumulates within hair follicles. Laser light can target this melanin to target and destroy it without harming surrounding tissue; other phases do not contain excess melanin thus remaining undamaged by laser treatment and thus it may result in some hairs growing back after laser treatments have taken place.
For optimal results, it is crucial that 1-2 days prior to each scheduled laser session you shave the treatment area as this allows the laser to effectively target hair growth. Furthermore, avoid tweezing or waxing before and between laser sessions as this could hinder progress towards hair reduction.
Most clients will notice their unwanted hair gradually reduce and eventually go away entirely over time, though some individuals may require more than two to six treatments to reach this result. Though hair may regrow in treated areas, its thickness tends to be finer and lighter.
People with sensitive skin can sometimes experience side effects after laser hair removal treatment such as redness, irritation, folliculitis perifollicularis or edema. People with extremely sensitive skin should consult their physician prior to receiving laser treatment. Some medications can interact negatively with laser light treatments; therefore if anyone taking any medications should discuss how they will interact with any laser treatments.
Poor Preparation
Preparing properly for laser hair removal can prevent excessive hair growth. Shave the area to be treated a day or two prior to your appointment in order to protect the skin from burning while simultaneously targeting hair roots with laser. In addition, avoid plucking and waxing since these techniques interfere with targeted results.
Before having laser treatment, it is wise to forgo tanning and sunless tanning creams as they will discolor your skin, diminishing its effectiveness as the laser cannot easily target pigmented areas in your skin. In addition, you should refrain from applying any products, such as makeup, lotions, deodorant and perfume on top of that as these items could increase side effects like burning or redness on the skin.
Before your appointment, do not tweeze or wax the area that will be treated. Tweezing and waxing remove hair at its source from follicles in their new-growth stage; laser treatments work best when treating these new-growth phases of follicles. Tweezing or waxing could significantly diminish results of laser treatments and delay desired outcomes from laser therapies.
Another reason you shouldn’t tweeze or wax is because doing so could damage hair follicles, making laser treatments ineffective. Laser treatments use light waves that penetrate into your root of hairs; you don’t want this light treatment harming them in turn. Laser hair removal takes multiple sessions before it produces lasting results; however, many find they no longer require touchups after five years as their hair has grown back thinner and sparser than before. Hair that regrows after initial treatments typically becomes finer and lighter in color than their predecessors, leading to reduced visibility. Unfortunately, however, this cannot be guaranteed since each person’s natural cycle of hair growth varies.
Insufficiently Trained Practitioners
Laser hair removal works by targeting cells responsible for creating unwanted hair with high intensity lights, which produces heat that kills the hair follicle and can harm surrounding tissues, such as damaged nerve endings. Therefore, it is imperative that qualified practitioners who specialize in this procedure be hired so as to ensure treatment goes as intended and without complications such as scarring.
Regrowth after laser hair removal can be disconcerting and make people question whether laser treatments really provide lasting hair reduction. But there may be several reasons for why this might happen.
Hair and skin colors can have an effect on the success of laser treatments. If they share similar pigmentation, it could make it harder for the laser beam to target hair follicles effectively, leading to ineffective treatment or even burns.
Preparing for laser treatments properly is also essential, and is recommended that people shave the area being treated 1-2 days before their appointment to create contrast between hair and skin color and allow the laser to target individual follicles more efficiently. Furthermore, people must refrain from tweezing or waxing until after their laser session.
Before seeking medical treatments, individuals should discuss any medications or health issues with their practitioners. Certain drugs, including hormone replacement therapies and anti-rejection meds, may alter the results of procedures; it’s also vitally important that anyone with a history of herpes or infectious disease inform their provider immediately.
While laser hair removal may not be suitable for everyone, it remains an effective and safe method to reduce unwanted body hair. When performed by a qualified practitioner, laser treatments can produce permanent reduction that is faster and more comfortable than shaving or waxing. For optimal results, individuals should follow a preparation protocol and attend regular sessions throughout their hair growth cycle; should any regrowth occur, additional treatments or long-term methods of hair removal may help eliminate it quickly and permanently.
