Laser Hair Removal – Medically Reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAANP – By Jon Johnson – Updated on May 31, 2023
The process of laser hair removal is typically not painful, but the skin may hurt or feel tender afterwards. Side effects of laser hair removal can also include irritation, changes in skin color, crusting, and more.
Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is popular with people who want a hair removal solution that is more permanent than some other methods. Using lasers to remove hair works by stopping the hair follicles from growing new hairs.
The Science Of Laser Hair Removal
Before they start the therapy, however, people should make themselves aware of some side effects of laser hair removal, as well as some myths that surround the process.
For most people, laser hair removal is a safe way to get rid of hair in unwanted places permanently or for long periods of time.
A few different side effects can appear after laser hair removal. Most side effects are minor and temporary. Anyone who experiences lasting side effects should consult their dermatologist.
Laser hair removal destroys the follicles of the target hairs. The body reacts to it, and many people experience redness and irritation in the affected areas. The skin may tingle or feel tender, and may even appear slightly swollen.
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The symptoms are usually short. The affected area may look like skin that has just been waxed or plucked. Some dermatologists use a topical anesthetic to reduce how much a person’s skin reacts to the process.
Irritation should ease after the first reaction, usually within a few hours of the treatment. Swelling and redness may respond well to ice packs or a cool bath.
Some people may experience skin crusting in the affected area. This is typically a minor problem, but can be inconvenient.
Crusting can sometimes lead to scabbing or scarring. By taking care of the treated area after laser removal, as well as by using a humidifier, a person can avoid lasting problems from this treatment.
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Some people may notice slight color changes on the treated area of the skin. It can become slightly darker or lighter after laser hair removal.
People with lighter skin may be more likely to experience dark pigmentation changes. People with darker skin tones may be more prone to lighter pigmentation changes. These changes may disappear over time, and the skin will return to normal.
The hair removal procedure involves the use of powerful lasers. This means there is a risk of potentially serious eye injury, especially when a practitioner is working on a person’s face.
Both the person receiving the treatment and the practitioner must wear protective eye equipment to prevent injury while the procedure is being performed.
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As with other cosmetic hair removal methods, damaging hair follicles with a laser can create an infection risk.
The affected area should be treated as a wound while it heals. People should report any signs of infection to a dermatologist.
Finally, they should not apply over-the-counter (OTC) antibiotic creams to large areas of the skin if an infection occurs.
A practitioner may apply a cooling device to a person’s skin just before the laser is used. This helps to prevent the laser from burning the skin.
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Scarring is typically not a side effect of laser hair removal. However, if the practitioner makes a mistake, scarring can occur. This should not be a problem with most qualified practitioners.
They should treat the affected skin as if it were sunburned to prevent further damage. This means keeping it secure, protected from light, and regularly checking for signs of infection.
The majority of people who use it find that laser hair removal is safe and well tolerated. There do not appear to be any long-term health risks associated with the procedure.
However, some people may experience minor side effects after laser hair removal. People should ask their dermatologist to test how a small patch of skin reacts to the treatment before doing it on a larger area of skin.
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For a few days after treatment, the affected skin may become red and tender. Many people describe the sensation as similar to a sunburn. However, the process itself is typically not painful.
Laser hair removal therapy works, but it rarely achieves permanent hair removal. However, laser treatment can significantly reduce hair growth.
After the first treatment, many people will only be hair free for a few months. The hairs will eventually grow back, although they are often finer, lighter and less likely to be noticed than before.
Many people will require multiple sessions to achieve a permanent or satisfactory solution to unwanted hair. The hair can grow back lighter and thinner with each subsequent session. After enough treatments, it can stop growing completely.
Life Changing Benefits Of Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal can also be more effective on dark hair. People with blonde, reddish or gray hair may not notice much of a change because laser lights are attracted to dark hair and are often not successful on light hair.
Experts do not recommend laser hair removal for people who are pregnant. This is because scientists have not conducted human studies that prove the safety of laser hair removal during pregnancy.
Pregnancy causes hormonal changes in a person’s body. This can usually cause extra hairs to grow in unwanted places. Although this growth can be embarrassing, the hairs often go away on their own.
If the hairs do not go away without help, a person can try laser treatment after her pregnancy. Doctors may ask her to wait a few weeks after giving birth before having the treatment.
What To Expect After Laser Hair Removal
The myth that laser hair removal therapy can cause cancer is unfounded. The lasers are specially designed to pass through the skin cells and target only the hair follicles deep in the skin.
The lasers used in laser hair removal produce a small amount of radiation. However, this radiation is not thought to be harmful, and there is no evidence that laser hair removal therapy causes skin cancer.
Again, there is no evidence that laser hair removal causes infertility. The lasers only penetrate the skin and do not reach or affect other organs. Laser hair removal is usually safe, even in sensitive areas such as the groin.
Home laser removal kits are available for people who want to remove unwanted hair without going to a dermatologist.
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Many people may experience modest results from using these kits, such as lighter or finer hair. However, home kits are not the same as the powerful medical devices used by qualified practitioners.
Anyone who experiences adverse reactions to laser hair removal should consider seeing their doctor. They can usually manage symptoms such as redness and swelling at home, but they should always report signs of skin infection to a doctor or dermatologist
Anyone trying to get pregnant should talk to their doctor before getting laser hair removal. A doctor can advise on other options, as laser hair removal often requires multiple sessions that should not be undertaken during pregnancy.
Laser hair removal is safe and effective for most people when performed properly. It may take multiple treatments to completely remove unwanted hair, and permanent hair removal is not always guaranteed.
Semper Laser Hair Removal
Some people may experience minor side effects after treatment, such as redness, swelling, and irritation and can usually treat these at home. Anyone who notices the signs of a skin infection should see a doctor.
Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutes, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources – including studies, scientific references, and statistics – within each article and also list them in the source section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and up-to-date by reading our editorial policy. Medically Reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAANP – By Zawn Villines – Updated on June 26, 2023
Laser hair removal is a long-lasting form of hair removal that damages or destroys the hair follicle. It is not necessarily permanent.
However, the hair can regrow, especially if the follicle is damaged and not destroyed during the laser removal procedure.
Permanent Laser Hair Removal
For this reason, many doctors now refer to laser hair removal as long-term hair removal instead of permanent hair removal.
Read on to learn about how laser hair removal works, how long it takes, and the cost of laser hair removal procedures.
Laser hair removal uses light to target the pigment in individual hairs. The light travels through the shaft of the hair and into the hair follicle.
The heat of the laser light destroys the hair follicle, and a hair can no longer grow from it.
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Hair follows a unique growth cycle that includes periods of rest, loss and growth. Recently removed hair that is in a resting phase will not be visible to the technician or laser, so a person may have to wait for it to grow back before removing it.
Depilation of a destroyed hair follicle is permanent. However, people who undergo hair removal can expect some hair to grow back in the target area.
Over time, it is possible to re-treat the area to reduce the number of hairs that grow back. In some
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