Unwanted hair causes problems for many people and shaving, bleaching, waxing and depilation can be a bind. If you’re looking for ways to permanently remove pesky hairs, one option is laser hair removal.
How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?
Laser Hair Removal simply uses the light energy from a laser to get rid of the hairs. A laser is used to produce pulsed beams of very highly concentrated light, and these beams are absorbed by the pigment in hair follicles. The light damages the surrounding follicle, so that the hair cannot grow back again.
Laser hair removal can be used on most areas of unwanted hair on most people, although the best results are usually experienced in people who have a combination of light skin and dark hair. The treatment also seems to work better with coarse hair than it does fine hair.
It’s a suitable treatment for anywhere on the body where you have unwanted hair, from the face to sensitive areas such as the bikini line and underarms. The treatment works best on hairs that are just starting to grow. Not all hairs grow at the same rate, and they aren’t all in the same stage of their growth cycle at once, which is why it’s necessary to have several treatments on one area to kill off all of the hairs as they start their growth cycle.
What Happens during a Laser Hair Removal Session?
Before you have a Laser Hair Removal treatment, you’ll attend consultation where you’ll be assessed for your suitability for the procedure.
You’ll have to uncover the area you are having treated, so that it can be cleansed and then shaved. The therapist puts on an anaesthetic cream if you need one, and starts to use the laser after a few minutes. The length of a treatment can be anything from just few minutes up to over an hour – this obviously depends on the size of the area that’s being treated.
You might find that you experience a little redness in your skin after a treatment and you should avoid any type of heat treatment, sun exposure, and saunas for a day or so after your session.
Does a Laser Hair Removal Treatment Hurt?
It all depends on your pain threshold! Some people find the sensations hard to tolerate but in most cases the procedure can feel a little uncomfortable, but not actually painful. When the treatment starts, you’ll notice a slight stinging sensation, which just means that the laser has been activated. Then you’ll feel a series of pulses which you might feel as a slight burning or prickling sensation. Some people describe the feeling as a bit like having a rubber band snapped against their skin.
What are the Risks of Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removal is a safe procedure, although there are potential slight complications. These include a change in the colour of the treated skin (more common in darker skin) and occasionally burning and/or blistering in the area.
You should have specialist advice on laser hair removal if you have sensitivity to light – and you must avoid it if you have any infection around the area that’s to be treated. You should also steer clear of laser hair removal treatment if you’ve been prescribed Isotretinoin for acne in the previous year.
How Many Treatments Am I Likely to Need?
Most salons advise that it takes around four to six sessions to permanently get rid of hair in any one area. You can book a treatment every month if you wish.