Laser Hair Removal: Everything You Need to Know
Now is the best time for hair removal, which promises permanent results instead of applications such as waxing, which takes women’s time and sometimes even hurts them. Come and listen to the experts, refresh your old knowledge about laser hair removal and shelve this hair-feather issue.
So, is laser hair removal done on the face? Is laser hair removal harmful during pregnancy? How should the device be selected? Does laser hair removal cause infertility? Can breastfeeding women have laser hair removal? Everything you wonder about is in this article…
Saying goodbye to unwanted hair that you have postponed for a long time may be on the list of things to do before summer comes. Maybe you have experienced it before, maybe you will have it done for the first time. We have compiled for you everything that comes to your mind, true or false, about laser hair removal.
Are there any damages to laser hair removal?
Laser hair removal is an extremely effective treatment method as long as it is done in appropriate places and under the control of a doctor. No scientifically proven harm to our body has been detected so far.
Laser hair removal; It should not be applied in case of active skin diseases such as psoriasis, vitiligo and similar active skin diseases or active skin infections such as hair follicle inflammation, herpes or eczema, and more importantly, when the skin is dark in color.
Before laser epilation, the hair of the application area must be shortened. It is appropriate to do this two or three days before the procedure. That area should not be irritated and especially the skin should not be tan. Immediately afterwards, it is recommended to apply ice, as there may be redness, burning sensation, itching and sometimes hair follicle inflammation in that area. It is beneficial to use epithelial creams that reduce irritation on the skin for the first three to five days.
How to choose the device?
Before laser hair removal, the hair color, density and thickness of the hair determine the type of laser device to be selected. However, the choice of laser is a situation that the physician should decide and should be evaluated by talking with the patient. Generally, Alexandrite laser is recommended for dark and thick hair, Diode laser (ice laser) for moderately thick and light hair, and NdYag laser for weak and very light hair (usually very light hair in the face area). Sometimes these lasers can be used together (first Alexandrite laser, then Diode laser when the hairs get weaker).
What is an IPL device? Can laser hair removal be performed with this device?
Devices called Intense Pulse Light (intense light pulse) are not laser devices. They can be used for hair removal. In our country, only the use of this device for epilation has been authorized by the Ministry of Health in beauty salons. While the medical devices (Alexandrite, Diode laser) used for laser epilation are laser devices that shoot at different depths, IPL devices that shoot intense light are not laser devices. The effectiveness of IPL devices is weak compared to laser devices and can cause hair regrowth.
What conditions are required to get better results from laser hair removal?
The most important point for effective results in laser hair removal is to conduct treatment sessions regularly. It is also very important to avoid skin irritation during the treatment.
How many sessions are expected to achieve definite results?
Number of sessions in laser hair removal; It may vary according to the applied area, hair thickness and hair color. Although good results are obtained with an average of 6-10 sessions in the armpits, legs and genital areas, other regions may differ. Since the hair in the arm area is light-colored and weak, the number of sessions may increase. Especially in men, the number of sessions on the back (depending on skin thickness) and trunk is higher than normal (6-10 sessions). Epilation in young men takes a long time due to the lack of androgen hormone stimulation.
Can laser epilation be done on the face?
The face area is the region where the thin and light colored hairs are the most dense, and before laser hair removal is performed, a very well thought and decision should be made. This region is the most open area to the effect of androgen hormone and contains many hair follicles. In addition, there are many hairs (in the form of quince hair) on the face area. Therefore; The number of sessions is higher compared to areas such as armpits and legs. The laser light given during laser epilation can stimulate silent and invisible hairs on the face. This leads to the emergence of new hairs and an increase in the number of sessions.
What types of devices are no longer recommended?
Alexandrite type lasers have been used as the gold standard in laser epilation for a long time and still. Diode (ice) lasers are used less frequently because their application is painless for women. There is no obsolete type of laser in this technology.
Is laser hair removal done during pregnancy?
Laser hair removal is not recommended during pregnancy. This is not because of the harm that the laser light may cause to the baby. The baby is not harmed in any way because the laser is treated locally and at a depth of approximately 1-2 mm on the skin. However, it is not recommended during pregnancy as other medical problems that may occur in the baby or mother for different reasons may be associated with the laser.
Does the laser affect the milk ducts and cause danger?
Laser applications for unwanted hair on the nipple do not affect the milk ducts in the deep parts of the breasts, the laser beams remain on the surface. Therefore, laser hair removal methods do not harm the milk ducts.
Is it safe to have laser hair removal while breastfeeding?
There is no harm in laser hair removal in breastfeeding women, but it would be appropriate not to apply an application on the nipple area.
Will hair grow back after laser hair removal?
Laser hair removal has been widely used in the world for the last 25 years. Laser epilation applied in appropriate doses and times gives a permanent result and it is aimed that the hairs will not grow again. Laser application generally helps to remove more than 80 percent of the hairs in a year, when eight sessions are performed with 1-1.5 monthly intervals. Although polycystic ovary syndrome (cyst formation in the ovaries) or tumoral formations that secrete androgen hormone may be encountered in the patient, hair growth may occur again, but these conditions are very rare.
Which laser hair removal should women with low pain threshold?
Alexandrite laser is known to be painful by patients. Diode laser is more easily tolerated. If the patient’s pain threshold is low, considering that the sessions may take longer, diode laser treatment can be performed.
Home laser hair removal devices
Devices produced for use in homes are devices that produce IPL (intense light source) energy weakly. They cannot replace laser hair removal. These devices are capable of temporarily reducing the number and density of hairs and can be an alternative to waxing.
Myths and facts about laser hair removal
Laser hair removal, which is used very frequently today, has become an almost indispensable requirement for women. However, there is still misinformation that we often hear about this subject, which has no scientific basis. Laser; It is not X-ray or ultraviolet ray. It does not harm the body. It only affects the hairs. The effect wears off after the treatment is over.
Can lasering your bikini area cause infertility?
Laser hair removal does not cause infertility. The laser is a device that is applied to a depth of 0.5-1 mm in order to destroy the hairs on the skin, which is not harmful to the person and gives effective heat energy only to the hair root. Since the laser applied to the genital areas destroys the hairs with a superficial effect, it does not affect the ovaries too far from that area and does not cause infertility.
Do we get skin cancer when laser light comes to moles?
Laser lights are not ultraviolet rays that can cause cancer in moles. Ultraviolet rays from the sun can cause dangerous transformations in some moles. Laser beams are different from sunlight and are not likely to harm me. For this reason, even if laser light comes to the moles, it certainly does not cause the moles to turn into skin cancer. There is only a darkness in its colors for 10 days and this color increase will pass in a short time.
Does underarm laser application affect lymph nodes?
The lymph nodes in the armpit are on average 2-3 cm deep. It is impossible for laser beams applied at a depth of 0.5-1 mm to reach these areas. Therefore, underarm laser treatment has no effect on lymph nodes. It does not cause lymph node diseases in any way.
Does it increase capillaries in legs?
Laser beams applied to the leg area do not increase the capillaries. Capillaries in the legs are more common with standing for a long time. The light given by the laser does not affect the capillaries. Therefore, it does not cause the formation of new capillaries.
Would chemotherapy treatments be ineffective for people who receive laser treatment?
Laser treatments cause only 1-2 mm deep hairs to be destroyed by heat energy as soon as they are applied. Its effect continues throughout the treatment period of the hairs. There is no effect that spreads and continues on our body. Since the effect will not continue after the treatment is over, it is not possible to prevent chemotherapy treatments to be taken in the future. Laser hair removal is an application that must be done under the control of a physician.