You may consider laser if you are unhappy with the results of shaving, tweezing, or waxing to permanently remove unwanted hair. It is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in the United States. It focuses beams of light onto hair follicles, and the pigment in the hair follicles absorbs the light, destroying the hair. Lasers can also be used to remove unwanted hair from all areas of the body, such as the face, legs, arms, underarms, and other areas.
Benefits of Laser Hair Removal
There are many benefits to laser hair removal, and this method is superior to other traditional methods despite its high cost, including:
- Efficiency: Laser is one of the most effective hair removal methods, and its effect lasts for a long time, and it can remove unwanted hair from all areas of the body.
- Speed: Laser removes hair permanently in a relatively short time, depending on the area being treated, for example, the lower lip area takes a few seconds, while larger areas of the body, such as the legs and back, take about an hour.
- Effectiveness: Laser hair removal requires several sessions to ensure permanent hair removal and does not exceed eight sessions.
- Mild pain: Laser hair removal is less painful than waxing or threading, and the skin is treated with an anesthetic cream before treatment because it may cause a slight tingling sensation with each pulse of the laser.
- Skin smoothing: Laser hair removal makes the skin smoother and more beautiful, and the laser is safe for sensitive areas such as the area around the mouth and eyes.
- Rare side effects: Side effects of laser hair removal are rare and not permanent and include redness, pain, or swelling, and these symptoms disappear quickly. To reduce the occurrence of any side effects, you should go to trusted specialized clinics and receive treatment from trusted specialists.
Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is done in 3 steps, which are:
Preparing for laser hair removal
Laser hair removal is a medical procedure, and before undergoing it, you must check the credentials of the doctor or specialist performing the procedure, and take into account several things to prepare for this procedure, including:
- Protect the area to be treated from exposure to the sun for a period of no less than four to six weeks, as this causes sunburn.
- Avoid bleaching, plucking, or waxing hair for four to six weeks before treatment.
- Take an antiviral medication before and after treatment in case of a previous infection with shingles or what is known as herpes.
- Do not take herbs or light-sensitive medications for no less than 24 hours before treatment.
- Do not shave the area that you want to treat with laser for three to eight days before treatment, and for better results, it is recommended not to shave for one to two weeks so that the doctor can see the hair well on the day of treatment.
- Use sunscreen throughout the treatment period.
What to expect during laser hair removal
The procedure begins by cutting the hair from the area to be treated several millimeters above the surface of the skin. The laser equipment is adjusted according to the color, density, and location of the hair, as well as the skin color. Special goggles must be worn to protect the eyes of the doctor and the person exposed to the laser. A cold gel or special cooling device is then applied to the skin to protect the outer layer of the skin and allow the laser light to penetrate the skin. The treating doctor will direct a pulse of laser light at the skin and monitor the area exposed to the pulse for several minutes to ensure that the settings are correct and that no adverse reactions occur.
Post-Laser Hair Removal Procedures
After the laser hair removal session, ice packs, cold water, or anti-inflammatory creams are placed on the treated area to relieve the uncomfortable and annoying feeling. The next session is usually scheduled after four to six weeks, and these sessions are repeated until the hair is permanently removed. There are several tips to follow after treatment, including:
- Apply aloe vera gel to the treated area for two to four days, and for dark skin, apply it for a longer period.
- Apply ice packs to the treated area if the hot feeling persists for more than 24 hours.
- Do not use cosmetics or creams on the treated area, and do not scratch or tamper with it in any way.
- Avoid cleaning the skin vigorously because it is sensitive at this stage, and avoid hot water, sauna, or intense exercise for two days after treatment.
- Avoid sunbathing for the first three days of treatment.
- Use high-quality SPF 70 sunscreen when leaving the house.
Laser hair removal damage
Laser hair removal is a safe option, but it can cause some damage, including:
- Skin burns due to skin exposure to the heat emitted by the laser, especially on dark skin because it absorbs heat more. Although they are mild burns, it cannot be denied that there are several cases of severe burns.
- Hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation.
- Damage to the eyes, so the eyes must be protected during treatment.
- Redness of the skin and swelling around the hair follicles after treatment for a few days.
- Feeling pain, tingling, and numbness in the areas treated with the laser.
- Skin peeling, and bruising, especially on sensitive skin, which usually fades shortly after treatment.
- A change in skin color to purple in the areas exposed to the laser, which are very rare case.
- Infection occurs in very rare cases, so the area treated with the laser must be kept clean.