Benefits of Laser Hair Removal

Benefits of Laser Hair Removal

We all understand the struggle of shaving, waxing, or plucking out hair. It is tedious, and time consuming. With summer approaching, everyone wants to look their best for the upcoming bikini season, but traditional methods of hair removal in many cases can be frustrating and will only remove hair temporarily. Laser hair removal is effective, and it provides a long-term solution for getting rid of unwanted hair. While laser hair removal will not remove hair completely, it does make the new hair grow finer, lighter, and easier to maintain. There are also several other benefits to laser hair removal.

1. Treatments are quick and efficient

How many hours a week do we spend shaving, waxing or plucking out hair? Laser hair removal treatments are both quick and efficient. It takes around 20 minutes to perform treatment on underarms or the bikini area and only about an hour for arms and legs. Additionally, you will have six to eight weeks between each treatment. For optimal results, it is generally advised to attend six treatments in total.

2. You’ll Save Money

Have you ever taken the time to total up what you spend on razors, shaving cream, waxing appointments, etc? Over a lifetime, a woman will spend $1000s of dollars removing hair and most methods are very short term and time consuming. Laser hair removal treatment in the U.S. ranges from $200 to $800 per treatment and the costs for the bikini areas specifically are around $350. Interestingly, the costs of laser hair removal treatments are rapidly decreasing while the costs of waxing and razor blades are increasing. Laser hair removal takes less time, will cost you less over the long run, and will give you a much longer lasting result.

3. Eliminate Ingrown Hairs

We all know the struggle of razor burn and ingrown hairs. Ingrown hairs are primarily caused by aggressive hair removal such as shaving or waxing. They are most common around the bikini areas for women, and in the neck area for men. Ingrown hairs can be itchy and uncomfortable, and they can also cause infections, darkened skin or scarring. In some cases, ingrown hairs can become so painful that surgery is required to remove them. Laser hair removal does not just remove the hair, it breaks down the hair follicle, so the hair grows back thinner. Laser hair removal treatments will get rid of those ingrown hairs and help alleviate any skin discoloration caused by them. It will also leave your skin much softer than shaving or waxing.

4. You can shave between treatments

Unlike with waxing, laser hair removal allows you to gently shave in between your treatments. You are not required to grow hair back in order to attend your next appointment.

5. It’s a long-term solution

Most people see permanent, lasting results with laser hair removal. You will see a permanent reduction of hair growth and the hair that grows back will be fine and easy to maintain. You will no longer spend money or time to shave, wax, or pluck your hairs. You will enjoy of convenience of laser hair removal every time you are in a rush and no longer having to take extra time removing unwanted body hair.

How does it laser hair removal work?

Simply put, laser hair removal is a medical procedure. According to an article by mayoclinic.org, A laser emits a light that is absorbed by the pigment in the hair. This light energy is converted to heat, which damages the hair follicles within the skin. This damage inhibits or delays future hair growth reducing unwanted hair significantly. Laser hair removal, however, is not recommended for eyelids, eyebrows.

How to prepare for laser hair removal?

It is best to be freshly showered or bathed beforehand. Your skin should also be shaved no sooner than 24 hours prior to your appointment to prevent from any skin irritation. Avoid using any lotions, oils, creams, or fragrances on the day of your treatment. It is also advised to stay out of direct sunlight for at least 3 days prior to your appointment and 3 days after. Do not use self-tanner for at least 2 weeks before your appointment and avoid waxing, threading or tweezing the area for at least 4 weeks before treatment.

What should you expect?

Laser hair removal usually requires two to six treatments for best results. On areas where hair grows quickly, treatments might be repeated in four to eight weeks. In areas of slower growth, the treatments might be every 12 to 16 weeks. During the procedure, the doctor will press a hand-held laser instrument to your skin. Your skin will be numbed to prevent from any discomfort due to the intense heat. Treating smaller areas will be quick while treating larger areas will take much longer.

After the very first procedure, you might notice a little bit of redness and swelling. This is perfectly normal and should go away quickly. Your doctor may offer you a steroid cream to apply to the affected area. You can also apply ice to the treated area to reduce any discomfort. However, even after this redness has faded, your skin will still be very sensitive. It is best to avoid using any scrubs, exfoliants or any form of pressure for 3 -5 days after treatment. Avoid direct sun exposer to reduce the chance of dark or light spots for three days. If you are going to be in the sun, make sure to use sunscreen (SPF 25 or higher) throughout your treatment period.

Where to Start

Summer is upon us which means bikini season! Now is the best time to get laser hair removal and if you are ready to get started, we’d like you to consider us at Derick Dermatology. We have over 15 years in practice, over thirty-six-thousand 5-star reviews and 98% of our patients would refer their friends to us. Here at Derick Dermatology, we use the latest and most updated technology which means your appointment will be much less painful than other establishments with dated technology. We have several beautiful dermatology locations, and we are among the leading authorities in surgical, medical, and cosmetic dermatology. We also offer both pediatric and adult services. Our dedicated, licensed professionals will make sure your treatment is as painless, quick, and convenient as possible.