Laser hair removal is an excellent option for anyone who is dissatisfied with shaving, waxing, and applying hair removal creams. Laser hair removal is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments available because it is effective at leaving you with smooth, clean skin. Before you start your treatments, however, you must realize the treatment takes a little time. Make sure you understand why it takes some time and what you should expect after each treatment. Here is some information that will help you understand the process and what to expect after laser hair removal treatments.
Laser Destroys the Unwanted Hair at the Root and Causes It to Fall Out
To keep your hair from growing back, the laser has to destroy the hair follicles, commonly called the “root” of the hair. The follicles are necessary to grow hair and to anchor the hair to your body. Be aware that only about 20% of human hair follicles are in the growth phase at any point in time. In the growth period, your body builds melanin in the follicle to grow the hair or create new strands of it. Because melanin is a dark color pigment, it is the substance that absorbs the light of a laser. The ability of melanin in the follicles to absorb the laser light during the growth phase causes those follicles to heat up and die. Immediately following your treatment, you will not see any reduction in the amount of unwanted hair.
What to Expect Immediately Following Your Treatment
You will probably notice that your skin in the area of treatment is red from the laser. However, your hair will still be present. But at least 20% of the follicles have been destroyed and cannot regrow new hair, nor can they prevent the affected hairs from falling out.
Over the next few days, you will notice the affected hairs falling out on their own. Do not try to hasten the process by scrubbing or tweezing. You are likely to pull out hairs that have not been affected by the laser (because it was not in its growth phase). Pulling out healthy hair is not going to speed up the loss of treated hair, and you cannot tell by looking at it whether it is a healthy hair or one that was fried by the laser. Also, plucking and tweezing will further irritate your skin before it has a chance to recover from the laser treatment. You should expect your skin to be sensitive.
You should avoid scrubbing or applying pressure to the treated area of your skin for three to five days. Refrain from shaving the area for about ten days.
What to Expect a Few Days after Treatment
You may notice something that looks like new hair growth in the treated area. What? New hair growth! Oh no, say it isn’t so! Actually, it shows that the laser treatment is working! The hair growth means the laser has destroyed some of the hair follicles of the hair that was under the surface of your skin. The hair was still inside the follicle and not visible at the time of the treatment. These new hairs can now can be removed carefully and gently. However, do not force it. If it feels like the hair is still attached, leave it be and wait a couple of days before trying again.
What to Expect Ten Days after Treatment
You can shave the area now without irritation to your skin.
What to Expect Two to Three Weeks after Treatment
The amount of time it takes for hair to fall out depends on the growth phase of each hair when it was treated by the laser. Some hair can take a few weeks to fall out. Hair that was not affected by the laser will need at least one additional treatment.
As noted earlier, the laser treatment can affect only about 20% of your hair at each treatment. Also, how many treatments you need for complete hair removal depends on your skin type, the size of the area to be treated, and your pigmentation. Dark hair responds more quickly than lighter hair.
A Note on Waxing and Tweezing
As your hair grows back, it may be uncomfortable. Removing it by waxing and tweezing removes the hair roots, thus depriving the laser of the ability to target it. For the treatments to work, the laser needs to be able to fry the root. It is best to refrain from waxing or tweezing until all of your laser hair removal treatments are finished. Shaving is the best way to remove remaining hair before your next treatment session. Shaving does not remove the root.
Contact the Laser Hair Removal Experts at Elume Medspa for more information.
Before you begin a laser hair removal treatment, be sure to contact the experts at Elume Medspa. Their knowledgeable specialists can answer all of your questions about laser hair removal treatment and what to except after laser hair removal. Reach out to schedule an appointment today!