Laser Hair Removal: 7 Things You Should Know
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Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is not the cheapest, but effective method of removing unnecessary hair. It is definitely worth attention (and funds) because with a few treatments you can get the topic “over the top” for many years. Any part of the body can be subjected to laser hair removal – legs, arms, back, armpits, face. While it is said to be permanent hair removal, the truth is that we are talking about smooth skin for a few years. How much exactly is individual and depends, among others, on the type of hair and the hormonal balance of an individual.
In what way does laser hair removal work?
Before the cosmetologist performs the procedure, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire regarding your overall health, illnesses, or medications you are taking. Then, in the office, the skin doctor will prepare the skin and measure the level of melanin in order to individually set the optimal laser parameters. Then the person who performs the procedure and on whom it is performed puts on protective glasses.
During the treatment, the head of the device is placed against the skin. The laser releases “arrows” – this is when a beam of light is sent into the skin. It is absorbed by the pigment contained in the bulbs (melanin), causing the destruction of the hair follicles. Within a few weeks after such treatment, the hair should break through the top layer of the skin and fall out spontaneously. The treatment lasts – depending on the size of the depilated area and the quality of the laser – from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours.
The laser works best on dark hair
It’s a fact, women with dark hair do the best in this regard. For their hair – dark and thick – laser hair reduction treatment will be the most effective. This is because the laser is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicles – the more pigment, the better the effect. Much worse effects may be in the case of light and delicate hair. Blondes, therefore, may need more treatments than brunettes.
Laser hair removal is not done on gray and red hair – the laser does not work on them.
Prepare yourself for laser hair removal
For the treatment to be not only effective but also safe, you need to follow a few rules before epilation. Start shaving the hair that you want to remove with a razor blade a month in advance. The point is not to mechanically remove the hair with the roots before the laser treatment, but to trim them close to the skin. A few days before the procedure, give up peeling, but instead, moisturize the skin well – apply more balm than usual – thanks to this, the skin will endure the treatment better.
It is forbidden to use self-tanners and bronzers. A month before the procedure, you should also stop sunbathing, and two days before the treatment should not drink herbs – some of them may be photosensitizing.
Does it hurt?
Individuals experience pain in different ways. It depends on many factors – our pain threshold, the color, and type of hair, the part of the body we epilate, the depilatory device, the day of the menstrual cycle we are on (we best tolerate pain in the first half of the cycle). Usually, laser hair removal is comparable to pulling hair out with tweezers, some people talk about laser “shots” as if they were stings similar to mosquito bites. If the head has a cooling cap, the treatment is easy to bear
Effects only after a few treatments
For the effect to last, you need at least 6-8 treatments. After the first three, about 50-60% of hairs usually disappear. Treatments are performed not more often than every 4-6 weeks because the hair must be in the growth phase – this is the only way the laser works. Even when you achieve a satisfactory smooth skin effect, you may need the so-called smooth skin after a year or two. a reminder treatment, because some bulbs may “wake up”. Nobody will give you a guarantee that your hair will never grow back, because as a result of hormonal processes in the body, hair may reappear. However, you can stay calm for many years, and even if hair starts to grow back, it will be weaker and less frequent.
Who cannot undergo the procedure?
For health reasons, there is a list of contraindications. People with a fresh tan, taking photosensitive medications or ointments (e.g. retinoids ), pregnant women, and teenagers whose hormonal balance is still unregulated should not decide on laser hair removal treatment. In addition, laser hair removal is not performed in patients with vitiligo disease, psoriasis, epilepsy, diabetes, people with a pacemaker, cancer, blood coagulation disorders, hormonal disorders, skin infections, herpes, damaged skin, or cuts. In case you are in India, best to follow these kinds of procedures at one of the best hospitals in Coimbatore