Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is a cosmetic procedure, which involves removing unwanted hair with the help of a laser. This procedure is performed by exposing the hair follicles to laser light, which is absorbed by the follicles, thereby destroying them. It can be used on areas like face, arms, leg, underarms, bikini line and so on. It is a comparatively safe and efficient method, and can be adopted by those individuals who want a more permanent solution to hair removal.

Treatment

The patient should avoid waxing, plucking, tanning or any other such skin treatment for a minimum of 3-6 weeks before undergoing laser treatments as a preparation for the same.  Waxing and plucking remove hair follicles temporarily, and considering that laser can only be performed on existing hair follicles, it should be avoided for best results. Before the procedure starts, the laser will need to be adjusted keeping in mind the type of hair that needs to be treated (colour, thickness) for the best possible results. Protective eye wear is worn by both, the patient and the doctor. The hair is trimmed short to a few millimeters and a cooling gel is applied to the skin. The gel not only helps in the better absorption of light, but also protects the skin from damage. The doctor will then apply the laser light to the area that needs to be treated and make necessary changes to suit the patient and for the best possible results. The hair starts falling out two to three weeks post the procedure.

Risks

Laser hair removal is a fairly safe treatment.

However, there may be a few side- effects and risks as listed below:-

• The most common side effects of this treatment are itching, redness and swelling of the skin. These usually go away in a matter of a couple days.
• Hypopigmentation and hyperpigmentation of the skin
• Pain and numbness around the area that has been treated
• Acne
• Burning of the skin and skin discoloration
• Risk of infection
• Bruising on the skin and scab formation

After Procedure

There are a few things that should be kept in mind post the treatment

• Moisturizers, aloe vera gel and ice are recommended to treat effects such as swelling, itching and redness

• Saunas hot tubs and hot showers should be avoided

• Excessive exercising that can lead to perspiration should also be avoided as this may aggravate the symptoms

• Make-up and cosmetics are not preferred for 2-3 days post treatment

• A sunscreen should be applied at all times when going out in the sun