Laser focuses heat energy on the follicle structure. This can destroy hair that will start to shed 1-3 weeks after treatment. Seeing an increase of dead hairs falling out indicates the laser has hit its target.
Unlike waxing, laser won't rip out your hair follicles. Instead of instantly removing them, laser destroys the follicles by applying heat. Right after your treatment you'll see the dead hair growing out of the dead follicles and shedding away.
Comments Section It's not a very good indicator. Hair on the surface will burn well before the laser is turned up enough to actually burn the follicle. The best indicator is immediate follicle swelling, eg red bumps all over your face. If you're not getting this then it's not working.
When the laser targets the hair follicle, it damages the root of the hair. This damage signals to the body that the hair is no longer needed and will eventually be shed. In most cases, this occurs 1 to 3 weeks after your LHR treatment, and it sometimes looks like blackheads or stubble.
You will notice that the hair growth after four weeks of IPL treatment will be lesser and thinner. After completing a session of 12 weeks, the hair growth will reduce completely, providing you with silky, smooth skin for a longer time. However, you may have to continue touch-ups as needed.
Sometimes a specific brown spot that resolved with IPL treatment may come back months or years later. This does not mean the treatment did not work, but rather, the treatment worked and the spot returned due to aging and lifestyle factors, and it should respond well to another treatment.
What does IPL feel like during treatment? On low settings, it may feel like nothing at all. On higher settings, you may notice some sensation. Some describe it as a slight stinging or a light rubber band flick.
The skin is usually sensitive after laser hair removal, and squeezing can cause further irritation and redness. Instead of squeezing, it's best to allow the hair follicles to shed naturally over time. This can take up to 10-14 days.
Hair follicles are below the skin, so you cannot see them when looking at your scalp. When they are healthy, you can see the hair they produce. However, when they are no longer able to produce hair, there is nothing left to see above the scalp.
Pulling out loose hair after a laser hair removal session is not recommended. It disrupts the hair growth cycle; when hairs are loose it means the hair is in its cycle of removal. If it's removed before it dies on its own, it could stimulate hair to grow again.
It could indicate that the follicles were not sufficiently damaged during the procedure, which may necessitate further sessions or even alternative treatments, conducted with the same precision you'd expect from plastic surgery procedures.
Some patients have less satisfactory results because of hormonal factors, skin or hair type, or because an optimal treatment series was not completed. Hair must be treated during the active (anagen) phase of the growth cycle.
Procedure Details
Shave the area that will be treated two to three days before a treatment. Laser hair removal treatments won't work on areas where the hair is longer than a grain of rice. After treatment begins, avoid waxing, tweezing and plucking hair in the treated areas.
The laser targets the melanin (pigment) in the hair follicles, so when the hair is too light or too closely matched to the skin tone, the laser may struggle to distinguish between the two. As a result, people with light-coloured or blonde hair often experience less effective results.
Shedding after a laser hair removal treatment typically occurs around one to three weeks after your treatment, and may look like stubble or blackheads.
It's perfectly acceptable to shave between laser hair removal sessions.
Remember that you will not necessarily feel any unusual sensation on your scalp as the hair grows. Do not worry if there is no tingling at all.
You can speed up the shedding process by gently exfoliating with a soft brush or daily scrub. The goal is to slough off the dead skin cells so trapped hairs can surface. Avoid picking or scratching the spots, as this can cause scarring.
If you notice any hair regrowth, patchy or uneven hair growth, and lack of hair reduction after undergoing laser hair removal, it means the method is not working for you.
IPL session prices can vary widely, from about $200 to $1200 per session. This broad range is due to factors such as the size of the treatment area and the specific skin concerns being addressed. For example, a full-face treatment might cost more than targeting a smaller area like the hands or neck.
One of the most significant concerns associated with IPL treatment is the risk of burns or skin discoloration, particularly in people with darker skin tones. This risk stems from the procedure's reliance on light absorption, which can lead to excessive heat in areas with higher melanin concentrations.
IPL Photofacial is More Effective at Treating Melasma
Microneedling, on the other hand, promotes collagen production, which can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles—but it's not as effective at treating melasma.