Laser treatment differs from shaving by targeting the follicle instead, stopping hair growth from sprouting in its original place while eliminating ingrown hairs caused by other methods like waxing or plucking. It effectively stops all future ingrowth while eliminating ingrowns caused by shaving alone.
Laser treatment can be quick and painless; its results last long-term too. But it is still essential to follow some basic aftercare recommendations to maintain healthy skin after each appointment.
Preventing Ingrown Hairs
Laser treatments may be an ideal solution if you suffer from ingrown hairs. Lasers can effectively prevent painful, itchy bumps on your face and other parts of the body, so that you never again need to deal with uncomfortable bumps. They’re also quicker than waxing or shaving so you can quickly return to daily activities without delay.
Ingrown hairs are an extremely common problem that can affect any part of the body. Ingrowns typically form when dead skin cells clog a hair follicle’s opening – such as when shaving, plucking or using hair removal creams – leading to it clogging over time and leading to ingrowns forming as a result of shaving, plucking or using removal creams; they may also develop when fighting acne or trying to rid oneself of stray hairs that were unable to break free through layers of protective skin preventing it from breaking free resulting ingrowns forming on all parts of your body!
No matter where they occur, ingrown hairs are an unsightly, itchy and painful nuisance. They can lead to irritation, redness or hyperpigmentation as well as papules or pustules which form solid bumps on the skin surface – not forgetting pilonidal cysts which need to be surgically drained or surgically removed in order to clear away ingrowns hairs completely.
Ingrown hairs can be challenging to treat and may come back no matter how often or carefully you exfoliate or shave. Preventing ingrowns is key, yet thick or curly locks make it more challenging than usual to stay out. To combat this issue, it is vitally important that regular exfoliation regimens be maintained as well as shaving in the direction that your hair grows; also try using warm water soaked washcloths on the surface of skin to push hair back up through.
Laser hair removal can help eliminate ingrown hairs by disabling hair follicles, thus stopping their production. Compared to other methods that can irritate the skin, laser treatment is minimally invasive and suitable for most skin types and tones. To get maximum effectiveness out of laser treatment sessions, commit to multiple sessions over an extended period to ensure all your follicles have been shut down and ingrown hairs no longer present an issue.
Preparing for Treatment
Shaving, plucking and waxing can all lead to ingrown hairs. When hair pierces the skin instead of emerging directly outwards as intended, irritation, inflammation and infection ensues. A clogged hair follicle may even result in painful pilonidal cysts composed of dead skin cells and hairs which eventually form pilonidal cysts – painful pus-filled pockets filled with dead cells and hair that eventually lead to infection.
Laser hair removal can prevent ingrown hairs and bumps by targeting their source – the hair follicle. When technicians pulse laser light onto an unwanted area, the pigment (color) of hair absorbs energy from laser pulses that destroy it; without functioning hair follicles, no new hair growth occurs.
Make sure to follow your laser technician’s instructions regarding shaving the treatment area 24-48 hours before your appointment in order to help make it easier for the laser to target hair more precisely, and reduce risks of burning or damaging skin surfaces. In addition, using an unscented moisturizer will keep the treatment area hydrated and healthy during treatment.
If you are taking any medications, supplements, or vitamins that could impact the laser sensitivity of your skin, inform the laser professional during your consultation. Also discuss any history of herpes simplex virus or conditions which predispose to the development of keloids or hypertrophic scars as these could alter results and could interfere with results.
Pilonidal cysts, which typically appear near the tailbone, can be extremely painful and must usually be surgically removed or drained of their contents in order to be cleared away or prevent them from returning. As they’re filled with dead skin cells and hair follicles, it can be challenging for someone with them on their own to get rid of. Your laser professional may recommend regular treatments in order to quickly eliminate and stop future episodes recurring; typically this happens every four to 10 weeks.
During Treatment
At your appointment with a laser hair removal specialist, they will press a handheld device against your skin and activate a laser light that passes through to hair follicles, damaging them and stopping further hair growth. You may feel similar to being pinprickled while an additional cooling device or gel might be applied at the tip of the instrument to minimize discomfort.
Shaving and other hair removal methods can cause ingrown hairs by clogging up pores with dead hairs and skin cells, and forcing hair follicles back into your pores instead of growing out. Ingrown hairs appear as red, raised bumps that look similar to pimples or boils that can be uncomfortable to touch; laser hair removal destroys each individual follicle completely, which prevents ingrowns from returning.
Ingrown hairs can occur anywhere on your body that contains hair, but they’re most frequently found on areas that are regularly shaved such as your face, neck, armpits and legs. When they do occur on these sensitive spots they can become very painful, possibly even leading to an outbreak or infection in these sensitive spots.
Before laser hair removal, it is crucial to trim and shave the area being treated. Also, it is best to avoid products like tanning lotions that darken skin in this area as well as waxing or plucking that darken it further.
Once your treatment session is over, it is normal to experience redness and swelling at the treatment site for up to 24 hours following. An ice pack can help alleviate this. In addition, crusting of skin may occur that needs to be cleared away with either wet cloths or showering.
Your specialist will determine the number of sessions necessary during your initial evaluation; these could range anywhere from six to eight treatment sessions depending on your skin type and hair color, though additional touch-up treatments might be needed annually to maintain desired results.
After Treatment
Everyone who’s ever experienced shaving or waxing their body hair knows the discomfort associated with ingrown hairs can be devastating, yet laser hair removal prevents red bumps from appearing on your skin after treating unwanted body hair follicles. While shaving, plucking, and waxing only remove surface-level hair follicles, laser therapy directly targets each unwanted follicle for removal – effectively treating every unwanted follicle that’s been lurking underneath!
Laser treatments use pulses of laser energy delivered directly to a hair follicle by laser to target pigments and proteins within it, stopping their regrowth into skin follicles and helping prevent infections that lead to ingrown hairs.
After your laser hair removal treatments, there are several simple steps you should take in order to maintain ingrown hair-free results. Apply a moisturizer containing salicylic acid daily; this can help break down dead skin cells that contribute to overgrowing hair follicles. Exfoliate three or four times weekly using an exfoliator that’s gentle on your skin – overexfoliation can cause unnecessary irritation!
An important thing to keep in mind when using laser hair removal treatments is that they only target the area you receive them in. Therefore, if there is hair growth elsewhere on your body, ingrown hairs could still occur and should still be considered an issue.
Are razor bumps becoming an unwanted burden? Laser hair removal could be your solution! Our process is quick and relatively painless, providing all-over treatment of unwanted hair for smooth, hair-free skin that looks and feels amazing. So don’t wait another second: contact us now to set up a consultation so we can determine the optimal treatment plan tailored specifically to you and your goals!
