10 things you need to know before having Laser Hair Removal
If you're considering Laser Hair Removal, it pays to study up. I know it's easy to be lured in by the promise of a stubble-free life, but it's oh-so important to read up on the facts (and side effects).
The truth is, when it comes to removing body hair, you’ve got options—and you’ll want to consider all of them before making a decision.
You can shave everything away quickly, but the hair grows back in a matter of days. Depilatory creams dissolve hair in minutes, but they have a tendency to smell like wet dog mixed with gasoline. If you want a more thorough hair removal, you might consider waxing or sugaring, which snatches the hair at the root. Hair doesn’t grow back for weeks, but waxing isa painful process, and it itches like hell when the hair grows back. Not to mention having to grow the hair in-order to have it waxed!
And that brings us to Laser Hair Removal, a popular semi-permanent hair removal option that damages the hair follicle to destroy the hair growth.
1. What Exactly Is Laser Hair Removal?
Laser Hair Removal is a cosmetic procedure by which a powerful laser beam is targeted at unwanted hair to ultimately disable it. This beam (light) source converts to heat, which is absorbed by the pigment (colour) in the hair and damages the hair follicle and hair bulb, in most cases permanently.
2. Is Laser Hair Removal Permanent?
The most important fact that one MUST understand when doing Laser Hair Removal is that, there is NOTHING to date, that has been CLINICALLY PROVEN to remove hair 100% PERMANENTLY!
When considering Laser Hair Removal, you are investing in a significant REDUCTION in the hair growth, as oppose to eliminating each and EVERY hair follicle.
The reason for this is because, our hair grows in three separate cycles and at different times, meaning that at any given moment, the hair growing on your body may be at various stages of growth. Your hair has to be in a certain phase (anagen) in order for laser to work effectively.
The three cycles of growth are:
Phase 1: The growth phase (Anagen phase):
During anagen, the hair contains an abundance of melanin, the pigment which gives your hair its colour as well as its attached to the bulb.
***Hair in this phase on the day of treatment will be disabled permanently***
Phase 2: The transitional phase (Catagen phase):
This phase is when the lower part of the hair stops growing, but does not shed. It will be difficult for permanence to be achieved when the hair is in the catagen growth cycle.
***Hair in this phase on the day of treatment will be disabled semi-permanently.***
Phase 3: The resting phase (Telogen phase):
This is the last of the hair growth cycle. In this resting phase, the old hair falls out in preparation for the development of a new anagen hair.
***Hair in this phase on the day of treatment will NOT be effected.***
In summary, the hair needs to be treated during the growing phase (Anagen Phase) on the day of treatment to be disabled permanently.
3. What Should I Expect Before and After Treatment?
Before treatment - You should shave the area the night before. No waxing or removing hair from the root in any other way is permitted 4-6 weeks before and throughout the course of treatment, as hair needs to be in tack for it to be targeted by laser. The area should be shaved as closely as possible so that laser can target the most energy towards the hair follicle and not waste energy on the hair above the skin’s surface.
After treatment is completed, you should apply aloe vera to soothe the skin for a few days. Within 2-3 weeks, you should experience shedding of all treated hair. At first, hair will look like it’s growing back in, but it is just coming through the skin to shed. Shedding starts at about 1.5 weeks and can last until 3.5 weeks post-treatment or so. Exfoliating and/or scrubbing gently in the shower with a loofa can help speed up the process. After shedding finishes, you might experience little black dots still “stuck” in the skin. These are commonly referred to as “pepper spots” and will shed eventually, but might take a bit longer. Exfoliate to help those fall out.
After shedding occurs, you should experience a hair free period for a few weeks or even months if you're really lucky, until next set of hair that was dormant previously, starts to come in. Once you have enough hair to justify it, book in for another treatment. This usually happens within 4-6 weeks post-treatment. You continue this process until you have reached diminishing returns and the remaining hairs are too fine for laser to target, or until you have reached your desired reduction.
4. How Many Laser Treatments Will I Need and How Far Apart Should They Be Scheduled?
Most people need at least 6-8 initial treatments spaced 6-8 weeks apart initially. This is because hair grows in 3 phases (as per question 2) and is killed in the first “anagen” active growing phase. Several treatments are needed to target ALL hair in the active growth phase. After 6-8 treatments or so, you should experience a considerable percentage of hair reduction. Depending upon hair type and genetic factors, some people may require additional treatments beyond these initial treatments as top ups, as and when. If it seems like the treatments are not working after 6-8 treatments, patients should look into possible underlying reasons (see Question 8 below).
5. Is Laser Hair Removal Painful?
Everyone’s pain threshold is different, but generally laser hair removal is not much more painful than waxing, however the sensation is different. It resembles a rubber band snapping against the skin for a quick second with each laser pulse. Thankfully nowadays the lasers used have some sort of cooling mechanism (basically a constantly running cold blast of air right where the laser is pointing or a cold plate that pre-cools the skin seconds before the area is lasered). Whatever the cooling mechanism, you will appreciate it!
6. What are the Pre & Post Care:
· Avoid sun exposure in the area to be treated at least 4 weeks prior and after treatment.
· Application of sun block, minimum SPF 50 must be used at all times, even when there is no sun.
· NO Waxing, Plucking, Threading, Epilating, only shaving permitted (except on Face).
· Avoid exercise and excessive exertion before and after treatment for at least 24 hours. Perspiration from exertion may increase irritation and heat retention.
· Appropriate clothing worn on the day of treatment - no tight clothing, fleece type clothing, no creams should be applied and all Jewellery, should also be avoided for 24hours after treatment.
· No makeup AT ALL should be worn on the day of treatment.
· Avoid glycolic acid and retinol creams 2 weeks prior to the treatment.
· ALL AREAS SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY SHAVED PRIOR TO TREATMENT.
7. What Are the Possible Risks and Side Effects of Laser Hair Removal?
The possibility exists that some side effects or complications can occur given various variables, this may include:
Normal
· Itching, during treatment
· Redness for up to 3 days
· Swelling (around mouth of follicle) for up to 3 days
· Scaling
· Pain, tingling, or feeling of numbness
Rare
· Crusting/scab formation (on ingrown hairs)
· Bruising
· Purpura (purple coloring of the skin) on tanned areas
· Infection
· Temporary pigment change(hypo-pigmentation or hyper-pigmentation)
Side effects occur very rarely and infrequently and, as a rule, generally are temporary. If any of the above last for more than 3 days, make sure to contact your laser specialist. The earlier you start the post care, the quicker the recovery.
8. What are the possible causes of excessive hair growth and how can it affect my treatments
The causes of excessive hair growth pattern are many and varied, including:
· Heredity
· Pregnancy
· Glandular and/or hormonal imbalances (possible PCOS condition for women), including diseases causing these effects
· Insulin resistance issues
· Reactions to certain medications
· Normal ageing processes
· Excessive temporary removal methods like waxing, tweezing, creams and depilatories, etc
Every laser candidate should explore a possible underlying reasons for their EXTREME hair growth before starting laser because if there is something in the body consistently triggering hair growth, laser treatments might seem ineffective. This is because the body will keep developing new hair. So, it will always seem like there is no reduction, when in fact its the NEW hair that your body is producing and seeing, not the previously treated hair by laser growing back. Women with PCOS hair growth patterns (upper lip, chin, cheeks, neck, breast etc) should see an endocrinologist and have hormonal tests taken. Men can get tested for insulin resistance. Talk to your doctor if you suspect you might have an underlying medical condition causing excessive hair growth before starting Laser Hair Removal. Laser can affect the hair that’s currently present, but CANNOT prevent NEW hair from developing.
On extreme rare occasions PARADOXAL EFFECT has been noticed and reported. Occasionally some fine hairs within and next to the treatment area may become stimulated by the laser and may become more textured over time. This is most common on the face and abdomen area. Again, speak to your therapist if you are experiencing this.
9. What Should I Look for When Choosing a Laser Hair Removal Clinic?
The clinic: Make sure that you go in for a "free" consultation to see if you are happy with the way the clinic looks and feels (clean, up-to-date and informative) and avoid being pressured by sales reps to sign up on the spot. Make sure you feel that they show more interest in how the treatment will work for you and your personal results instead of being more interested in how much you will be paying.
The laser specialist: Make sure that the person treating you has experience of hair removal and has knowledge of how to best kill the hair. Ask questions and make sure they answer them based on your research. If you are an informed consumer, you will be able to better judge whether what they’re saying is in your best interests or not.
The laser: Make sure that the laser being used is best for your skin and hair type. Do not fall for “marketing hype”. Every laser can technically be used on any skin type, but you should be looking for one that will produce the highest probability of result and lowest probability of side effects.
10. How do I determine my Skin Type?
In 1975, Thomas B Fitzpatrick, MD, PhD, of Harvard Medical School, developed a classification system for skin typing. This system was based on a person's response to sun exposure in terms of the degree of burning and tanning the individual experienced. For successful removal of hair, wrinkles, veins, sun spots, and scars using LASER technology, it is necessary to determine your correct skin type. Based on your skin type, the most effective laser devise can be used.
TYPE I: Highly sensitive, always burns, never tans.
Example: Red hair with freckles or Albino
TYPE II: Very sun sensitive, burns easily, tans minimally.
Example: Fair-skinned, fair-haired Caucasians
TYPE III: Sun sensitive skin, sometimes burns, slowly tans to light brown.
Example: Darker Caucasians, European mix
TYPE IV: Minimally sun sensitive, burns minimally, always tans to moderate brown.
Example: Mediterranean, European, Asian, Hispanic, American Indian
TYPE V: Sun-insensitive skin, rarely burns, tans well.
Example: Hispanics, Afro-American, Middle Eastern
TYPE VI: Sun-insensitive, never burns, deeply pigmented.
Example: Afro-American, African, Middle Eastern
