Laser Hair Removal

Before the treatment, the area will be cleansed. Some patients receive a numbing gel. To perform the procedure, the skin is held taut and the skin is treated with the laser. Some patients say that the laser pulses feel like warm pinpricks or a rubber band being snapped against the skin.  The hair is removed by the laser by vaporizing it. This causes small plumes of smoke that have a sulfur-like smell. How long your treatment lasts depends on the size of the area being treated. Treating the upper lip takes minutes. If you are having a large area like the back or legs treated, your treatment may last more than an hour.

To avoid possible side effects, all patients need to protect their skin from the sun. After treatment, you should:

Avoid direct sunlight from hitting your treated skin. Not use a tanning bed, sun lamp, or any other indoor tanning equipment. Follow your doctors after-care instructions.

There will be some slight redness and swelling after the treatment, looking like a mild sunburn. Applying a cool compress can help sooth the area.

No, laser hair removal generally doesn't require any downtime. Immediately after having your treatment, your skin will be red and swollen. Most patients return to their everyday activities.

You will likely see the results immediately after treatment. The results vary from patient to patient. The color and thickness of your hair, area treated, type of laser used, and color of your skin all affect the results. You can expect a 10% to 25% reduction in hair after the first treatment. To remove the hair, most patients need 2 to 6 laser treatments. After finishing the treatments, most patients do not see any hair on the treated skin for several months or even years. When the hair regrows, there tends to be less of it. The hairs also tend to be finer and lighter in color.

Most patients remain hair free for months or even years. When some of the hair regrows, it will likely be less noticeable. To keep the area free of hair, a patient may need maintenance laser treatments.

The most common side effects are minor and last 1 to 3 days. These side effects include:

Discomfort Swelling Redness

Other possible side effects are rare when laser hair removal is performed by a dermatologist or under the dermatologist’s direct supervision. Other possible side effects include:

Blistering Herpes simplex (cold sores) outbreaks Infections Scarring Skin lightening or darkening

In time, skin color tends to return to normal. Some changes to skin color, however, are permanent. This is why seeing a medical doctor who is skilled in laser treatments and has in-depth knowledge of the skin is so important.

It is also important to follow your dermatologist’s instructions. Following both the before-treatment instructions and after-treatment instructions will greatly reduce your risk of side effects.

This varies from patient to patient. Removing hair often requires a series of laser treatments. Most patients can have laser hair removal once every 4 to 6 weeks. Your dermatologist will tell you when it is safe to have another treatment. Most patients see some hair regrowth. Your dermatologist can tell you when you can safely have laser treatments to maintain the results.

Lasers play an important role in treating many conditions that affect the skin, hair, and nails. In recent years, many advances have been made in laser medicine. Dermatologists have led the way in making these advances. One such advance is that more people can safely have laser hair removal. In the past, only people with dark hair and light skin could safely have laser hair removal. Today, laser hair removal is a treatment option for patients who have light-colored hair and light skin and patients who have dark skin. Laser hair removal must be performed very carefully in these patients. Dermatologists know what precautions to take to provide laser hair removal safely and effectively.