Laser Facial Hair Removal: Can You Use Laser Hair Removal On Your Face?
By Aaliyah Albo
Let’s face it - for most people, there is hair in places where they might not want it to be. Like the annoying peach fuzz growing on your upper lip or the hair between your eyebrows, you’ve always wanted to get rid of. The truth is that we are all mammals, and hair is a fact of life, but for some, it can really be frustrating to deal with - especially facial hair.
That’s why people all over the world have been turning to laser facial hair removal. But what exactly is it, and how does it work? Keep reading to find out!
Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal treatment is a noninvasive cosmetic procedure that has been used for many years to safely and effectively eliminate unwanted hair. The treatment uses high-heat laser beams that emit a light that is attracted to the pigment melanin. Melanin is a natural pigment that is found in high concentrations at the root of each hair follicle. Your follicles are located just below the skin and are responsible for producing new strands of hair. When the laser is targeted to the skin, melanin attracts the light causing the follicle to heat up. This process destroys the follicles preventing them from being able to produce new hair in the future.
By contrast, shaving, waxing and tweezing all remove hair above the skin’s surface. These methods don’t target hair-producing follicles as laser hair removal does, so hair will always grow back.
Okay, but can you use laser hair removal on your face?
The answer is YES! Laser hair removal treatment can be done on any area of the body, excluding the eyes. In fact, the face is one of the most common areas to get treated. Whether you have unsightly hairs growing from your chin or a unibrow that could desperately use some TLC, laser facial hair removal is a safe treatment that can help to combat unwanted facial hair permanently.
How to Prepare for Facial Laser Hair Removal
If you’re interested in facial laser hair removal, it’s important to choose a doctor who’s board-certified in a specialty such as cosmetic surgery or dermatology and has experience with laser hair removal on your skin type. Your skin is the largest organ in your body, so be sure to take extra care in finding the right specialist for you. If a physician assistant or technician will do your procedure, make sure a doctor supervises and is available on-site during each treatment.
If you're considering laser hair removal treatment, schedule a consultation with a doctor to determine if it is an appropriate procedure for you. Your doctor will likely do the following:
- Review your medical history, including prescription medication use, history of skin disorders or scarring, and past hair removal procedures.
- Discuss benefits, risks, and expectations, including what facial laser hair removal can and can’t do for you.
- Take photos to be used for before and after assessments and long-term reviews.
At the consultation, the doctor will also discuss a treatment plan and related costs. You'll also be given specific instructions to prepare for your treatments. These might include:
- Be sure to shower and cleanse your skin prior to each laser session. Your skin should be clean and completely free of any lotions, oils, creams, or fragrances of any kind.
- Avoid tweezing, waxing, or using any chemical depilatories on your face for at least six weeks prior to your laser session. Since the laser targets the root of the hair, it must be visible for the procedure to be effective.
- Stay out of the sun and do not use UV tanning beds at all for at least two weeks before the procedure. Any tanning of the skin can result in pigmentation changes in the areas you laser.
- Use a good broad-spectrum sunblock with an SPF of 30 or higher on a daily basis (rain or shine)
- Don’t use any topical products that cause photosensitivity like salicylic acid, hydroxy acids, retinoids, and benzoyl peroxide on your face for three days before treatment. Use a gentle cleanser free of harsh chemicals instead.
- Do not have dermal filler injections, Botox injections, chemical peels, or microdermabrasion on your face for at least 14 days before facial laser hair removal.
- Avoid blood-thinning medications such as aspirin before the procedure. (If you're taking any medication, be sure to let your doctor know during the consultation.)
What You Can Expect
Since facial hair tends to grow back quickly, the treatment is usually spread apart by four to eight weeks, and two to six treatments are typically needed for best results.
For each laser treatment, you’ll wear special goggles to protect your eyes from the powerful laser beam, and if you have a low tolerance for pain, the doctor might apply a topical anesthetic to your skin to help reduce any discomfort you may feel during treatment.
During the procedure
The doctor will gently press a hand-held laser instrument to your skin. When the laser is activated, the laser beam will penetrate through your skin to the hair follicles. The intense heat from the laser beam will then damage the hair follicles, which will inhibit future hair growth. You might feel slight discomfort, such as a warm pinprick, but most people will tell you it’s a walk in the park compared to the pain of getting waxed.
Facial laser hair removal is a quick treatment and usually takes no more than five to ten minutes.
After the procedure
You might notice a little bit of redness and swelling for the first few hours following treatment, but this is perfectly normal. To reduce any discomfort, simply use Aloe Vera to soothe your irritated skin and apply an ice pack to bring down the swelling.
After facial laser hair removal and between scheduled treatments, avoid sunlight, and don’t use a tanning bed or any sunless tanning products. Use a broad-spectrum SPF30 sunscreen for your face daily.
What about at-home lasers?
Laser light technology has come a long way over the last few years, and there are now laser hair removal devices that are available for at-home use.
KENZZI offers the world’s #1 at-home IPL hair removal device that can gently remove those pesky unwanted facial hairs you’ve been battling once and for all. This means no more costly wax appointments, no more painful threading sessions, and no more tweezing or plucking—just velvety-smooth, flawless skin, without any peach-fuzz or stubble insight.
The KENZZI IPL Hair Removal Handset has five different power settings to suit your unique skin-tone and skin’s sensitivity while still producing results at any level. When used properly, results can be seen in as little as three to four treatments.
If you have been dreaming about kicking your unwanted facial hair to the curb, look no further because KENZZI can help!
Recap
So, can you use laser hair removal on your face? The answer is: Absolutely!
Laser hair removal is a treatment that has been used since the 1960s to effectively eliminate unwanted facial hair. It’s a safe procedure that is virtually painless, and most people tend to see results in as little as two treatments.
Don’t have time to get to the clinic for treatment? An at-home laser hair removal device like KENZZI’s might be more up your alley. With the KENZZI IPL Hair Removal Handset, you can battle unwanted facial hair from the comfort of your very own home, making it easier than ever to have flawless hair-free skin!
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