Laser hair removal is a popular non-surgical cosmetic procedure that millions of people receive every year. It works by targeting the hair follicles with laser light, damaging them and preventing them from producing hair. While this treatment is generally safe, it can cause some side effects, such as redness, swelling, itching, tingling, and numbness. To reduce the risk of these side effects, a topical anesthetic or numbing cream may be applied before treatment.
Pain usually goes away soon after treatment, but irritation may last for a few days. People with blond, reddish, or gray hair may not see much change from laser hair removal. Additionally, pregnant women should avoid this treatment as there have been no studies to prove its safety during pregnancy. The areas most commonly treated with laser hair removal are the upper and lower legs, the bikini area, the upper lip, the chin, the arms, the armpits, the shoulders, the back, the chest and the neck. During treatment, everyone in the room should wear protective goggles to prevent optical damage caused by the laser.
After several treatments, more and more hair will start to fall out and the hair follicles will stop producing hair. Shaving between treatments can help optimize results as it leaves the hair shafts in the follicles for the next laser treatment. People with darker skin will absorb more light from the laser and therefore will feel it more than people with paler skin. It is important to note that some people may experience skin burns, discoloration, and scarring if they have exposed their skin to the sun or are taking a light-sensitizing medication that has not been declared to the laser specialist prior to treatment.
