Is laser hair removal permanent, and is it safe?

laser treatment for hair removal

Because lasers target melanin, if you have lots of melanin in your skin or not so much melanin in your hair, it's especially important to go to a great practitioner. "Treating dark skin is not difficult as long as the right lasers are used," says Karavolas. So going to a practitioner who knows the best types of lasers to use in any situation is key. During laser hair removal, a laser emits a light that is absorbed by the pigment (melanin) in the hair. The light energy is converted to heat, which damages the tube-shaped sacs within the skin (hair follicles) that produce hairs. Not all hair removal devices are safe and effective for all skin tones or hair colors.

Are at-home laser hair removal devices safe?

These devices depend on contrast between skin and hair color to effectively target the hair follicle. Laser hair removal is a medical procedure that uses a concentrated wavelength of light (laser) to target hair follicles in the skin. The laser damages the hair follicle while avoiding damage to the patient’s skin. Laser hair removal patients will need a series of treatments to achieve the best results. Clear + Brilliant is considered one of the most gentle skin rejuvenation laser treatments and it’s safe for all skin tones with no downtime.

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People who experience intense pain, a fever, crusting, blisters, or other signs of skin damage or infection should seek medical attention. Providing a detailed medical history and discussing risks and benefits can help the provider determine the right treatment, reducing the risk of serious side effects. Naturally, you might be inclined to learn a little bit more about how lasers work (and which type might be best for you) before allowing one to quite literally get in your face. So co-hosts Michelle Lee, editor in chief, and Jenny Bailly, executive beauty editor, decided to dedicate an entire episode of The Science of Beauty podcast to lasers. You’ll want to hear every word of their conversation with laser expert and dermatologist Tina Alster (and you can!), but we were kind enough to take notes for you. When you arrive at your treatment appointment, the area you’re targeting will be cleaned, and you’ll have the option to have numbing gel applied up to 30 minutes before the treatment, says Dr. Malik.

How we chose the best laser hair removal devices

Therefore, a contrast between hair and skin color — dark hair and light skin — results in the best outcomes. Dr. Li’s patients commonly opt for treatments on the armpits, bikini line, and the upper lip or the chin. Dr. Li said he’s also performed laser hair removal on patients undergoing gender-affirming care.

SMOOTHSKIN Pure FIT IPL Laser Permanent Hair Removal

If you use at-home laser hair removal, you’ll need to use the device for much longer to see results. While sometimes the names are used interchangeably, these methods work differently. The BoSidin Pro is designed for removing hair in multiple areas of your body.

Researchers Review Modalities and Ethical Considerations in Pediatric Hair Removal - Dermatology Times

Researchers Review Modalities and Ethical Considerations in Pediatric Hair Removal.

Posted: Wed, 06 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

These testers then gave notes on their device’s ease of use, performance and their overall satisfaction with it. For years, our GH Beauty Lab experts have regularly tested all kinds of hair removal products, from waxing kits, razors and dermaplaning tools to depilatory creams and epilators. "The contact sensor and skin tone sensor on this IPL are really impressive," she adds.

laser treatment for hair removal

Iluminage's FDA-cleared Touch permanent hair reduction system combines both intense pulsed light (IPL) and radiofrequency energies to remove hair. The brand ensures that the clinical studies were done on an inclusive range of skin tones to make sure the device is both safe and effective for all. Typically, patients need eight total sessions over 6-week intervals.

During the Procedure

laser treatment for hair removal

For each treatment you'll wear special goggles to protect your eyes from the laser beam. The doctor might apply a topical anesthetic to your skin to reduce any discomfort during treatment. The JOVS Venus Pro has several elements that make it worth the investment. It has a 180-degree rotating head (for better precision), a skin-cooling feature (for added comfort) and useful attachments like an LED option that also helps reduce visible signs of aging. Unlike the other options on this list, JOVS’ model uses optimum pulsed light (OPT) technology, which is a more enhanced version of IPL that may provide more effective results.

It's Wi-Fi enabled and connects to an app which helps you keep track of your treatments and your hair reduction progress. You can track treatments for each body area, and the app reminds you when it’s time for another treatment. There are various options for at-home laser treatments that you can use safely.

After treatment, patients can immediately go to the gym and put makeup on. Some patients may experience light irritation and redness after the procedure, but this typically disappears after a few hours. If performed by an experienced doctor, the risks of laser hair removal are relatively low. The biggest risks of the treatment include hyperpigmentation (darkening) or hypopigmentation (lightening) of the skin, or in some cases, burns that result in scarring or blistering. According to the Cleveland Clinic, these IPL and other devices do work to remove unwanted hair, but it often takes many sessions, and the results are rarely permanent.

If you want slightly faster results in an at-home hair removal device, consider the Braun Silk-Expert 5 IPL. The brand says users will experience full results in 4 weeks, which is less than half the time of some other brands. Regan Kudlata is a licensed Family Nurse Practitioner and a Senior Cosmetic Laser Practitioner licensed by the Georgia Composite Medical Board. Regan has more than 20 years of laser experience in laser hair removal, tattoo removal, skin rejuvenation, treatment of veins and skin lesions, IPL and SculpSure at WIFH. She also holds an advanced injector certification and has more than 18 years of experience with Botox and dermal fillers.

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