Laser hair removal is an ideal treatment option for people living with Keratosis Pilaris, as it can reduce redness and bumpiness and make skin smoother compared to depilation, shaving, waxing or any other methods that cause discomfort.
If you’re interested in laser hair removal as a treatment option for KP, contact a Body Details location near you today.
What is Keratosis Pilaris?
Keratosis pilaris is a condition that causes small, bumpy spots on the skin. This condition is caused by an accumulation of keratin protein which protects from harmful substances and infections and builds up over time, blocking hair follicles and leading to patches of rough and bumpy skin patches. While no treatment exists, over time most cases tend to clear themselves up naturally; other remedies might include using moisturizer and exfoliating regularly.
People who suffer from Keratosis Pilaris often compare it to having their skin feeling like sandpaper, most commonly on arms, legs and buttocks but can appear anywhere on the body. While any age can develop keratosis pilaris – however it most commonly affects children and teenagers with fair skin – typically it clears up during childhood/adolescence but may return due to hormonal changes during adulthood.
Creams available both over-the-counter and by prescription may help treat keratosis pilaris. These creams may help remove dead skin cells, unblock hair follicles, or both – however these treatments typically don’t completely rid skin of its symptoms and may irritate sensitive skin types further.
Laser treatments may also be effective against Keratosis Pilaris. A laser will emit intense bursts of light into targeted areas to penetrate and destroy any keratin plugs causing bumpy textures on the skin, as well as cause lasting damage.
Although laser treatments may help improve the appearance of keratosis pilaris, they do not constitute a definitive treatment option for this condition. Any bumps that appear will likely reappear once their keratin plugs reform; however, results from laser treatments can often last several months; for optimal results it usually requires multiple sessions to get maximum improvement.
How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?
Laser hair removal focuses on targeting the follicles responsible for hair growth. When light from a laser is directed toward these follicles, its light is absorbed by pigment in your hair and converted into heat, damaging its structure and stopping new hair growth follicles from growing back again – providing smooth stubble-free skin with reduced ingrown hairs (a common cause of keratosis pilaris). The end result: smooth stubble-free skin without ingrown hairs!
Candidates for laser treatment who possess dark hair and light skin are ideal candidates as the contrast helps the pigment absorb laser energy more readily than its surrounding skin, damaging only hair follicles without damaging nearby tissues. However, people with lighter locks that are still in anagen stage of growth cycle can also benefit from laser hair removal treatments as long as their anagen stage hair growth cycle.
Before beginning laser treatments for your keratosis pilaris, it is wise to arrange a consultation. We can then walk you through the process, assess if your skin is suitable for laser therapy and discuss how many sessions will be necessary to achieve desired results.
As part of your laser treatment, it is also important to limit how long you spend shaving, waxing or plucking an area before your appointment as this could hinder its effectiveness. Tanning or spending too much time in direct sunlight before your session could also have detrimental results resulting in skin discoloration as well as other side effects.
For optimal results, five to seven laser treatments should be undertaken for best results. Since hair grows in cycles, treatment needs to take place throughout each cycle for maximum effectiveness.
At your laser treatment session, protective eyewear will be worn to shield the light produced by the laser and to minimize discomfort during treatment. Should any issue arise with regards to pain associated with laser therapy sessions, consult your provider.
How Often Do I Need to Have Laser Treatments?
Laser treatments should typically be completed over an extended period, typically lasting several weeks, in order to align with your hair’s natural growth cycle in each area of your body. Re-treatments for your face might need to be scheduled every four weeks while for bikini areas and armpits they might occur every six to ten weeks. Your dermatologist can assist in determining how many laser treatments will be necessary in order to achieve desired results.
Contrary to other hair removal methods, laser treatment does not lead to thicker or darker regrowth; however, ingrown hairs that cause Keratosis Pilaris may return. That is why it is vital that any laser treatments be provided by licensed medical professionals with experience treating Keratosis Pilaris.
Most patients find that laser treatments help the bumpy texture of keratosis pilaris to decrease, with any new hair growth tending to be finer and lighter in color compared to before treatment. Some individuals also need maintenance laser sessions in order to keep keratosis pilaris under control.
While there is no cure for keratosis pilaris, laser treatments can significantly enhance its appearance. Exfoliation is another effective means of diminishing these bumps; using an exfoliating cream that does not irritate skin like Blue Water Spa’s exfoliating pads regularly should do just the trick.
If the appearance of keratosis pilaris or other skin issues that could benefit from laser treatment are bothering you, New York City dermatology office Dr. Michele Green can offer laser solutions. With her board certification as a dermatologist and her array of non-invasive cosmetic procedures available to her patients, Dr. Michele Green can give them smooth skin they desire. Contact her to arrange for an initial consultation session!
At your consultation, your skin will be cleansed and numbing gel may be applied to make sure it feels comfortable during laser treatments. Many patients describe the pulses of light used during these procedures as feeling similar to warm pinpricks or rubber bands being snapped against their skin.
What Are the Side Effects of Laser Treatments?
Most individuals who seek laser treatments for keratosis pilaris find them safe and effective; however, some mild side effects should be monitored closely during treatment; these typically only last temporarily.
One of the most frequent side effects is skin irritation. Your skin may feel tender and red for several hours after taking this medicine; for best results use an ice pack to alleviate any discomfort in sensitive areas.
Flaky or crusty skin may also result from heat generated by laser therapy. If this occurs, do not pick at it as doing so could open up wounds leading to bleeding, scabbing and scarring – instead use moisturizer to help your skin recover faster.
Some individuals may experience a tingling sensation during laser hair removal treatments due to targeting nerve-rich hair follicles with laser light. While this discomfort shouldn’t last too long, as the hairs grow back in, any discomfort should fade with time.
If your skin is especially sensitive, waxing could produce similar side effects; these reactions include stinging feelings, redness, folliculitis perifollicular rednessi, and swelling that typically subside after several hours.
Experts agree that shaving 24 hours prior to any laser procedure is the ideal way to minimize side effects and ensure hairs remain short enough for effective laser targeting.
Before opting for laser treatment, it is vitally important that a qualified practitioner be selected. Check that they are registered with an organization which oversees training standards, skill acquisition, and insurance requirements. Furthermore, request a demonstration on a small patch of skin before committing to full treatment sessions.
Blue Water Spa provides non-invasive aesthetic services like CoolSculpting, Emsella, laser skin tightening and microdermabrasion that are overseen by board certified plastic surgeons for optimal results and ethical skincare options. We guarantee medical-grade clean skincare at all of our locations!
