Everything you need to know about Laser Hair removal
Many of us dream of having silky smooth, fuss-free skin for the summer and one of the answers to this is often Laser hair removal. But what really is it? How does it work? Is it damaging? Is it permanent? And most importantly for many of us, how painful is it really?
Is laser the same as IPL?
Dissimilar from popular belief, laser hair removal and IPL are not the same. While both technologies use wavelengths of light, Laser hair removal is not only more effective and more targeted, but also comes with a decreased risk of side-effects when performed by a qualified laser technician. Laser hair removal has been on the public market since the 1990’s, but has recently been made more available for the everyday person, so let’s get into answering some of those questions.
How does laser hair removal work?
Depending on the type of laser used, lasers can work to decrease hair growth by two main modalities. Firstly and most commonly, the beam of light targets dark pigment and singes it, preventing or limiting effective functionality of hair growth in the future. The dark pigment targeted should be of the hair follicle in the dermis of the skin as opposed to melanin or pigment of the skin itself. For this reason, those with dark hair and fair skin often see some of the best results. This is very important to know as it allows us to understand that individuals with darker skin types (fitzpatrick scale) will not be treated with a laser mode that acts in this way. The other common mode of action of hair removal lasers is to limit blood supply to selected hair follicles.
Should I do it myself?
This sounds intimidating and a little bit dangerous, right? It can be. This is why the use of lasers should always be controlled by certified laser technicians. These professionals follow strict protocols to ensure safety and to minimise side effects such as skin irritation and more serious burns. There are also steps that consumers must take prior to and following a laser hair removal treatment to take care of their own safety. These include but are not limited to: not having treatment for a two week period following sunburn or even fake tanning; and avoiding exercise and hot showers or baths for 24 hours after treatment. Dishonesty or improper assessment relating to these variables may cause serious and sometimes permanent injury. Prior to really understanding this, I would show up to my appointments after tanning and would always leave very annoyed after being refused treatment. Needless to say, I am now very grateful that my technicians kept me safe by refusing to treat me and put me at risk of burns due to my own naivety.
What to expect
So is laser hair removal permanent? Laser hair removal is semi-permanent, significantly reducing hair growth for a period of time during treatment which may be experienced anywhere from fortnightly, to every two months depending on individual results, determined by a laser technician. Some individuals may even experience such reduced hair growth following a treatment plan, that they only require one treatment every 6 months.
Last but not least, how painful is laser hair removal? This depends on many things including the individual’s pain tolerance; how far they are into their hair removal journey; which area they are having treated; and the type of laser used. During the first few sessions when the hair is still thick and strong, the discomfort may feel like small rubber-band ‘ping’s which I would rate a 3/10 on a pain scale. Following this, laser hair removal could be described as pain-free. Again, this depends on the pain-tolerance of the individual and what type of laser is being used.
So now you know a little bit more about laser hair removal! Personally, I believe that the minimal discomfort is absolutely worth the long-lasting, low-maintenance results. And when performed by a certified professional, laser hair removal can be extremely safe and very effective.