Laser hair removal can be an efficient and safe method to reduce unwanted hair growth. Treatment sessions typically occur quickly and painlessly.
Your practitioner may apply a numbing gel to the area being treated before performing laser hair removal. Experts suggest shaving 24 hours prior to receiving treatment as this allows the laser more easily target pigment in hair follicles.
1. Excessive Hair Growth
Laser hair removal uses a machine to treat unwanted hair by damaging follicles and preventing them from producing more strands of hair growth. While the procedure is typically safe and effective for most individuals, there may be side effects; therefore, before undertaking laser hair removal consult your physician about its risks and benefits.
At each laser hair removal session, your doctor will press a hand-held laser instrument against your skin, equipped with either a cooling device or gel tip that helps protect it and minimize discomfort. When activated, the laser emits lightwaves that convert into heat; they attract pigment in hair follicles and destroy them; this treatment needs to take place while they’re in their anagen (growth) stage for effective results; many people require multiple sessions.
After several treatments, you should notice a significant reduction in unwanted hair. What remains should be finer and lighter in color; since hair loss and growth naturally occurs on a cycle basis, regular laser treatments for long-term reduction of unwanted hair might be required.
Prior and following laser treatments, it is wise to stay out of direct sunlight as its UV rays can harm your skin and increase the chance of adverse reactions from laser treatments. Tanning beds should also be avoided for those considering laser hair removal with sensitive skin or those considering hair transplant.
Some individuals experience an unexpected side effect of laser hair removal called paradoxical hypertrichosis that causes their hair to grow faster after treatment, known as paradoxical hypertrichosis. It typically affects women of darker skin tone from Middle Eastern or Mediterranean backgrounds as well as those suffering from hormone imbalances such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
Your doctor may prescribe medication or suggest lifestyle changes to reduce excess hair growth, while there are also different hair removal techniques such as shaving or waxing you could try. In case of hormonal imbalance, additional testing and treatments may be needed in order to identify its source and treat accordingly.
2. Excessive Skin Sensitivity
Laser hair removal is an effective treatment to eliminate unwanted body hair permanently by targeting and killing its roots. When administered by a skilled practitioner who understands which laser type best matches their skin type and complexion, laser hair removal should be safe and effective. Unfortunately, some individuals experience increased skin sensitivity following laser treatment – should this happen to you, it might be wiser to find another practitioner or cease future sessions altogether.
Laser hair removal can cause skin sensitivity for some individuals due to heat generated by its laser beam, weakening their lipid barrier – the protective outer layer which keeps moisture in and harsh chemicals out – thus increasing environmental, cosmetic and lifestyle factors sensitivity and increasing redness, prickling and stinging sensations all the way through to bumps, erosions and pustules. Unfortunately there’s no definitive test to identify hypersensitive skin.
Laser hair removal involves having a technician place protective eyewear over your eyes before pressing a handheld device against your skin to trigger the laser’s firing, which may feel similar to being pinprick or sunburned; but is less painful than waxing. A numbing cream may be applied beforehand in order to ease discomfort; you might also receive cooling gel to soothe skin irritation during treatment.
Once treatment has concluded, your skin may feel sensitive and itchy for some time after. You may also observe some swelling in the treated area; if this happens to be an extreme reaction for you, try applying an ice pack directly onto the area in question to reduce pain and swelling. Furthermore, sun exposure could further exacerbate symptoms.
To minimize sensitivity and discomfort after laser treatment, it’s recommended that you wear loose clothing and apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Furthermore, hot showers or baths should also be avoided since excessive heat can irritate skin.
3. Excessive Hair Regrowth
Laser hair removal is an efficient method for permanently eliminating unwanted body hair. It reduces time spent shaving or waxing, reduces razor burn/nicks pain, as well as skin conditions associated with hair growth such as ingrown hairs/discoloration. Furthermore, this treatment is suitable for all skin types, being less invasive than alternatives like electrolysis.
However, even the most effective laser treatments may sometimes cause excess hair regrowth as a result of how their interaction with hair growth cycles and individual hormone levels interacts with laser treatments. To maximize results from laser sessions it is recommended that no hair be cut or plucked three days prior to your laser appointment as this enables the laser beams to target individual follicles with its laser beam and destroy pigment cells responsible for color of your locks.
Initial treatments should take place when hair follicles are in their active, or anagen, phase of growth. This ensures that most follicles will be affected, though some hairs can grow back lighter in color and texture than before. Most patients require four to six treatments in order to completely destroy and prevent future growth from hair follicles – long term results may still be achieved but regular maintenance sessions may be needed in order to experience lasting benefits.
Men and women with dark hair often opt for laser treatments for permanent hair reduction, but it may not work as effectively for people with light skin tones or colors such as red, blonde, or grey locks which absorb laser light poorly. With advances in technology there are now more solutions that are more efficient for all skin types and hair colors – even redheads!
4. Infections
Laser hair removal offers an effective and less painful alternative to shaving, waxing and electrolysis; saving both time and money while reducing irritation. Laser can even alleviate skin issues like folliculitis or discoloration caused by excess body hair growth.
Unfortunately, like any cosmetic procedure, laser therapy carries risks and side effects. One potential issue involves new acne appearing after laser sessions if pores become clogged due to heat from the laser opening up pores; bacteria then enter and cause infection leading to acne-like infections which require topical antibiotic ointments for treatment.
Laser hair removal treatments may fail to effectively stop some hairs from growing back following multiple sessions, since some hairs are in their resting or telogen phases and cannot be treated at this time. While this issue can be bothersome, usually only temporary issues arise with finer and lighter colored regrowth occurring over time.
Following laser treatments, some individuals may experience temporary dark spots or patches on the skin. Though these should not pose any serious medical concerns, if symptoms worsen it is essential to visit a physician immediately.
Laser treatments should only be administered by experienced practitioners who are registered and meet set standards of training, skill, and insurance coverage. Anyone claiming to have completed only a brief training course will likely not be capable of performing effective laser procedures and may cause irreparable skin damage as a result.
Laser hair removal is safe and effective for the majority of individuals; however, it requires multiple sessions before it becomes fully effective. If you’re uncertain which option would work best for you to remove unwanted hair, consult an experienced dermatologist or plastic surgeon in order to explore all your available options – this might involve discussing your medical history as well as an examination and testing for conditions that would make laser treatment unsafe or ineffective.
