Laser hair removal: pros and cons

If you have been thinking about laser hair removal for a long time, now is the best time to start the procedures! Solar activity will no longer give unwanted pigmentation, and during the holiday season it will be possible to demonstrate perfectly smooth, silky skin in skimpy outfits.

History of the salon procedure

The emergence of laser technologies in cosmetology has opened up a sea of ​​​​opportunities for doctors and patients. Today, it is not necessary to remove excess hair on the body, resorting to a razor or wax, sugar paste or tweezers. Getting rid of excess vegetation no longer requires so much time, endurance and effort. You can achieve perfect smoothness in just a few procedures. That’s what laser hair removal is for!

The first laser to remove unwanted body hairs has been approved U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S.FDA) in 1995. But his story began long before that. In 1960, the methodology was comprehensively studied, and the equipment was thoroughly tested. It was allowed to be used commercially in 1990.

Relevance and… security

According to the data American Society for Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery, laser hair removal ranked in the Top 5 Non-Surgical Procedures Performed in the USA in 2016. And every day its popularity is only growing.

Consumers are attracted to it, first of all, by ease of use and durability of the result. The technique is suitable for hair removal, both on the face and on the skin of the body. During its implementation, patients experience minimal discomfort, and the risk of negative side reactions is low.

Did you know?

Laser equipment only affects the «active» hair follicles. Just for this reason, a course of procedures is required to achieve the effect. After 5-6 weeks, the «sleeping» follicles wake up.

Once and forever?

Although the procedure is often advertised as a way to get rid of excess hair forever, in reality this is not true. Laser beams reduce the number of unwanted hairs in the treated area, but do not completely eliminate them. Over time, the hairs «return», however, in a smaller amount, and are lighter and thinner than they were before.

According to experts mayo clinics, laser hair removal is ideal for people with fair skin and dark hair, such patients get the best result.

Areas of use

American Association of Dermatologists Recommends laser hair removal to a certified dermatologist who has undergone appropriate training and has supporting documents. After all, the effectiveness of the procedure depends not so much on the equipment itself, but on its proper use.

During operation, a diode or alexandrite laser acts on the dark pigment of the hair — melanin, heating it and thereby destroying the hair root and the vessels that feed the bulb. If everything is done according to the rules, the hair along with the root will soon fall out. And the growth of new hairs will stop for a while.

Laser technologies can be used to combat unwanted hair on the face, chest, arms and legs, back, neck, bikini line.

On a note!

Unlike alexandrite, the diode laser can be used for any skin color.

beauty session time

Laser hair removal is generally a quick process. Processing small areas, for example, antennae on the face, will take only a few minutes. Removing vegetation from the skin of the legs will require much more time.

On average, one large area is worked out within an hour, given the time that the doctor will spend waiting for the local anesthetics to work.

1 session or full course?

One session of laser hair removal is not enough to get rid of excess vegetation. According to a study conducted by experts mayo clinics, most people require four to six therapy sessions. Moreover, each procedure is prescribed 6 weeks from the previous one, that is, the entire course of hair removal can take up to nine months.

But there is good news too! After each procedure, you will notice less and less hairs on the skin. Experts American Association of Dermatologists they say that the amount of hair with each session will become less by 10-25%.

After completing the full course of procedures, maintenance beauty sessions will be required. The doctor may recommend that they be performed 1 or 2 times a year.

On a note!

Laser hair removal can be performed at any age, but not earlier than 18 years.

Home preparation for the procedure

Before you decide on laser hair removal, you need to thoroughly prepare for it. It depends on whether the procedure can be carried out specifically in your case, and what results it will give. General instructions look like this:

• Refuse to visit the solarium or rest in direct sunlight a few days before the procedure. Epilation is not performed on tanned skin.
• Avoid irritation and accidental skin damage.
• Let the hairs grow back a little. Do not use hair removal and depilation products.
• Stop taking anti-inflammatory drugs that thin the blood.
• Pay attention to the doctor on neoplasms that are on the skin. Avoid the procedure if you have a recurrence of herpes.

Possible side effects

Statistics show that serious complications after laser hair removal are rare. And this is a big plus. But there are still side effects.

Common ones include: the appearance of redness at the treatment site, the occurrence of edema, a feeling of discomfort and skin irritation. All of the above does not require correction and disappears on its own a few days after the procedure. However, if symptoms persist for a long time, you should consult a doctor.

Less common side effects are: the occurrence of burns, scars and scars in the affected area, the addition of an infection, a permanent change in skin color. They arise as a result of the individual characteristics of the organism or the incorrect work of the doctor.

Fact!

Laser hair removal, just like using wax, razor and depilatory cream, does not make hair grow thicker and faster. This is a popular myth!

Laser hair removal and pregnancy

In 2017, in the publication International Journal of Women‘s Dermatology published the results of a study on the impact of cosmetic salon treatments on the health of the mother and unborn child.

The authors of the work stated that although laser technologies are considered safe for pregnant women and are used to get rid of kidney stones, genital warts and other problems, there is no data on their safety in cosmetology. And in the near future, studies on this topic are not planned, since scientists do not want to expose even the potential risk of women in position.

Hair removal at home

Today on sale there are miniature versions of equipment for laser hair removal at home. But their safety and effectiveness has not been confirmed by experts. The fact is that FDA does not classify such devices as medical equipment, therefore, does not study and does not test.

The effectiveness of the salon procedure

A 2013 study initiated by Birmingham Skin center, the results of which were published Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, showed that 71% of people who decide on laser hair removal are satisfied with its results, which is a very good indicator.

Expert comment

Cynthia Cobb, MD, dermatologist

If you’re tired of traditional hair removal methods like shaving or waxing, you might want to look into laser hair removal. Procedures performed by qualified, specially trained personnel are generally safe and not associated with long-term negative side effects. But temporary side effects may occur.

As a precaution, you should not resort to laser hair removal in the immediate vicinity of the eyes and during pregnancy.

You should consult a doctor if you experience any warning symptoms after the procedure.

Also, keep in mind that laser hair removal does not guarantee complete removal of excess body hair forever; repeated procedures may be required to maintain the effect.

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