Laser Hair Removal Can Provide Permanent Results

One of the most frustrating parts of personal grooming is keeping up with endless hair growth. Whether it's on the legs, armpits, arms, or face, it can look unattractive and mar one's self-confidence. Finding a remedy to get rid of unwanted hair for good has been an objective of self-care professionals for centuries.

Many of us have tried new treatment options to get relief from endless, unwanted hair growth. Hair removal creams were presented with high hopes. However, they crashed and burned hard as they created a lot of skin irritation issues for those with sensitive skin. This turned many of us back to the old reliable razor. Unfortunately, most of us end up shaving at least once a day to keep our skin silky smooth. This can be quite challenging to keep up with day in and day out. Fortunately, laser hair removal seems to be the reliable option in permanent hair removal we've all been waiting for.

The Laser Hair Removal Process

Laser hair removal is a medical procedure that utilizes a laser, also known as a concentrated beam of light, to remove unwanted hair from the male and female bodies. While one may be skeptical at hearing the words 'laser' and 'skin', understanding the process can help to alleviate any feelings of uncertainty. The whole process uses a laser to emit a special form of light that is absorbed by the actual pigment in the hair follicles.

Once this light energy comes into contact with the pigment, it turns into heat. This heat works to damage the hair follicles to delay future hair growth. Laser hair removal can be used to remove hair in various areas of the body. The most popular are the legs, upper lip, chin, armpits, and bikini line. This form of treatment is not recommended for areas that are covered by tattoos, as it may damage the tattoo.

Sessions Needed

It's important to realize that this treatment doesn't immediately remove the hair. Rather, the damaged hair follicles will start to fall out over a period of days or weeks. Most people will need to undergo about four to six laser therapy sessions to see the results they desire. The skin needs time to heal between each session. Most cosmetic physicians will recommend spacing out laser therapy appointments by six weeks. So, the average person may take a period of nine months to undergo all their treatments.

Those who have darker hair will typically require more sessions than those with lighter hair. Laser hair removal is not a permanent solution for many. The initial results can last anywhere from a few months to a few years. It's hard for medical physicians to predict your long-term results as every patient is different from the next.

One fact that has been shown is hair that does grow back is much finer and lighter than the patient's initial hair. This means that it will be less noticeable for the patient. When hair does grow back, it can be consistently retreated with fewer and fewer sessions as time goes on. Instead of going in for treatments every six months, like in the beginning, a patient may only need to go in every year or two for maintenance treatments.

Risks of Laser Hair Removal

As with any sort of cosmetic medical procedure, laser hair removal comes along with some risk. Understanding what these risks are ahead of time can assist a person in determining if laser hair removal is the right treatment for them. The most common risks of this non-invasive medical procedure include:

• Skin Irritation - Due to the heat that ruins the hair follicles, patients may experience temporary discomfort. This involves swelling and redness that will disappear within a few hours after the treatment is performed. In some rare cases, blistering, scarring, and crusting of the skin can occur.
• Pigment Changes - Due to the nature of how laser hair removal works, the process could inadvertently change the pigment of the skin. This could result in a darkening or lightening of the skin in the treatment area. The changes could be permanent or temporary. Those who have a naturally darker skin tone, and those who don't avoid sun exposure around their treatment window are more susceptible to pigment changes.