Letโs face it, we all love to be smooth, not so much the methods we use to achieve that. Shaving in the evenings comes with razor burns and rashes and can be agonizing. Are you looking for a long term solution to your hair problem, then look no further than laser hair removal.
If you have come across this term before, then chances are you have wondered about how effective it is in the long term. Thatโs whatโs we are here to explore and discover.
Letโs dive straight into laser hair removal.
Is it painful?
The mere mentioning of the word laser is enough to send goosebumps across your entire backside. Laser on your skin can sound painful.
However, while patients who have undergone the treatment describe quick sharp pains, it is not nearly as painful as many people think.
Laser hair removal involves directing pulses of laser light at the skin to kill hair follicles. To control the pain and make the experience more tolerable for patients, the doctor may use ice to numb the area before and after treatment.
Also, note that some areas of our bodies have thin skin compared to others. The skin here is, therefore, more sensitive.
Removes ingrown hair
If your teenage child is experiencing bumps on the skin caused by ingrown hair, these push the skin upwards into contact with the razor. This can result in cuts and eventual scars. For a parent it can be painful seeing your developing child with cuts and scars.
The good thing is that people who have undergone laser hair removal experience fewer cases of ingrown hairs. Experts say that this is because it causes hair to begin growing upwards instead of in a curved fashion or sideways.
Forget those pesky ingrown hairs that are ooh so irritating once and for all.
Itโs better to avoid full body hair removal
Certainly, the idea of laser hair removal sounds enticing at this point. Not only are you able to prevent under armpit hair growth but you could potentially prevent hair growth on the legs.
However, experts and doctors will advise otherwise. Granted the skin is not as sensitive to laser light as the eyes are. That said, there is a limit to the amount of laser light that your body can absorb at any one time. This is why it is important to get treatment form a doctor with many years of experience such as Dr Edwin Lim as they can offer you the best advice.
Too much laser light on the skin over a short period of time can cause long term effects similar to sunburn.
Because of this, you are better off going for treatment sessions targeting different body parts at a time.
Make sure to shave
If you have committed to laser hair removal, note that you will need to get the perfect shave before receiving treatment.
This is because laser light will burn the hair on the surface resulting in a burning smell and irritation. The process is much smoother for both doctor and patient when you have shaved before treatment.
What if I have sensitive skin?
Different people have different types of skin. Some have more sensitive skin than others do. This makes them more likely to experience reactions after laser hair removal than others.
Some of these side effects include:
- Pigmentation
- Scarring
- Skin discoloration
It is important that the doctor understands your type of skin and whether it will handle laser hair removal without the major side effects. To find this out a technician will perform a patch test.
How long does the treatment take?
One thing is for sure, nobody wants to go through a treatment that is time-consuming and lasts hours. Luckily laser hair removal is pretty fast. The procedure lasts between 30 minutes and an hour.
That said, it is important to note that the length of the treatment will often depend on the size of the area being treated.
Underarm treatments are much quicker because the area is small. However, for legs and back, the treatment takes much longer.
Avoid saunas, the gym and even taking a shower
This often is not something that most people enjoy but is a crucial step towards ensuring a full recovery. Secondly, note that the heat from the laser will remain in the skin for the next 24 hours. Of say you were to take a hot shower, you will only prolong the duration of the heat in your skin creating a good environment for bacteria to thrive. This will result in breakouts.
Therefore follow your doctorโs recommendation and remain safe.
How long before I see results?
Many people expect to see immediate results, but it doesnโt work like that. Since hair follicles are at different developmental stages some will not be zapped the first time you receive treatment.
In fact, you may need as much as 12 treatments to see desired results. It is important therefore to go for regular treatments.
Conclusion
You may not get the results you desire the first time but with regular treatments, laser hair removal is a great way to archive that smooth silky feel. Just make sure to avoid treatment on large skin surfaces at one go as this could cause issues such as pigmentation and scarring. That said, laser hair removal is highly effective when used correctly.
