What are the Negatives of Laser Hair Removal?
By Aaliyah Albo
When you were first introduced to the art of hair removal, chances are the first method was the classic razor. This technique worked like a charm as long as you put up with the occasional- or maybe all too frequent - razor bump, burn or cut. However, like many of us, eventually, you grow sick and tired of this technique and wonder if there could ever be a more permanent fix to all your unwanted hair-troubling woes.
Picture living a life where you never have to deal with shaving ever again. No more dull razors and no more floral scented shaving cream. Just velvety smooth hair-free skin, day after day, year after year. If this sounds like it's way too good to be true, then you’re in luck because laser hair removal can help!
Laser hair removal is a popular technique used in removing undesirable hair from various parts of the body. Treatment can be done just about anywhere excluding the eyes. The most commonly treated areas are the legs, bikini line, underarms, and face.
This method of removing unwanted hair works by exposing laser lights into tiny hair follicles. As the light is absorbed, the heat from the laser destroys the follicle preventing future hair growth. Laser hair removal comes with many benefits like oh-so-silky-smooth skin all year round, but are there any negatives? Keep reading to find out.
Is Laser Hair Removal Safe?
The vast majority of people who use laser hair removal treatment find it is safe and well-tolerated. This popular treatment has been around for many years and there doesn’t appear to be any negative long-term health risks associated with the procedure.
However, some people may experience a few minor side effects following treatment. Those thinking about laser hair removal should ask their dermatologist to test how a small patch of skin reacts to the treatment prior to having it done on a larger area of skin.
Is Laser Hair Removal Painful?
This is a tricky question because everyone reacts to pain differently. What your bestie might find painful might not be so painful to you and vice versa. In addition, sensitive areas of the body where the skin is thinner like your inner thigh and upper lip will hurt more than areas of the body with thicker skin like the shins and stomach. Most people will tell you that laser hair removal treatment is not as bad as getting waxed and essentially feels like getting snapped by a rubber band. Others will describe the sensation similar to that of a mild sunburn.
Negative Side Effects
A few side effects can appear following your laser hair removal treatment. The good news is that most of these minor side effects are temporary.
Redness and irritation. Laser hair removal treatment damages the follicles of the targeted hairs to inhibit future hair growth. The body reacts to this, and many people tend to experience a little bit of redness and irritation in the affected areas. The skin may tingle or feel tender to the touch, and in some cases may even appear to swell slightly.
These symptoms are usually short-lived. The treated area may look similar to how your skin looks after getting waxed. Irritation should ease up after the initial reaction, usually within a few hours or so of treatment. To help the swelling, use an ice pack or take a cool bath.
Crusting. Crusting is not as common but it does happen from time to time and can be quite inconvenient because it can lead to scarring or scabbing. By taking care of the area that was treated following the procedure, such as by using a moisturizer and keeping the treated area clean, you might be able to prevent any lasting issues like crusting from occurring.
Changes in skin color. Some people may notice slight color changes to the treated area of their skin following treatment. It may get slightly lighter or darker.
People with lighter skin tones may be more likely to experience darker pigmentation changes while people with darker skin tones may be more prone to lighter pigmentation changes. These changes do tend to fade away over time and skin will return back to normal.
Eye injury. Treatment involves the use of strong, powerful lasers. This means that a serious eye injury can potentially happen, especially when a practitioner is working on a person’s face. Both the patient and the practitioner should wear protective eye equipment to help prevent injury while the procedure is carried out.
What are the Benefits?
Laser hair removal treatment may come with the possibility of a few negative side effects but for many, the pros tend to outweigh the cons. Here are some of the best benefits of laser hair removal treatment:
Eliminates the need to shave. One of the best advantages that come from laser hair treatment is that after six or so consistent sessions, hair growth is eliminated by up to 90%! That means no more dull razors, no more shaving cream, no more ingrown hairs, bumps, burns, or cuts - just smooth, hair-free skin day after day. You almost literally will never have to worry about shaving ever again.
At-home treatments are available. While they may not work as fast as getting professionally lasered, there are at-home treatment options available for laser hair removal.
KENZZI offers the world’s #1 at-home IPL handset that will produce visible results in just a few treatments. In addition, the KENZZI IPL Hair Removal Handset is easy to use and gentle on the skin making it an exceptional choice for those looking to achieve a silky-smooth, hair-free look from the comfort of their very own home.
Treatments are quick. Laser hair removal sessions are much quicker than you may expect. It takes roughly twenty minutes to perform treatment on your bikini line and only about an hour for larger areas like your legs. Don’t expect to spend the entire day in the spa when having laser hair removal done - you will be in and out in no time.
You’ll save money. When you get laser hair removal treatments done, you eliminate the need for endless amounts of razors, waxing appointments, tweezers, etc. Think about it: how much money have you spent on these popular hair removal methods over the course of the last few years? It adds up! Sure, laser hair removal treatment may cost a little more upfront, but it is financially smarter and will save you much more money in the long run.
You’ll save time. Think about all of the times you’ve had to spend an extra fifteen minutes in the shower shaving only to find you’ve missed a few annoying spots and had to go back to fix them later. With laser hair removal treatment, you no longer have to spend time shaving or going to wax appointments. You also don’t have to worry about making mistakes and missing spots anymore. You will have smooth, clean-shaven skin without the hassle of waxing or shaving.
Recap
Laser hair removal treatment is an effective way to get rid of unwanted hair. However, it does come with a few negative side effects that you should be aware of prior to undergoing treatment. The good news is that the side effects are all pretty minor and tend to go away within a day or two.
If you want beautiful, hair-free skin but are sick and tired of traditional hair removal methods like shaving and waxing, look no further because laser hair removal treatment can help!
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