For most people, laser hair removal only causes minimal side effects like temporary redness and tingling lasting 24 hours or less. Some individuals experience more troublesome bumps, breakouts, and irritation lasting days to weeks.
Laser Bumps
You can minimize their intensity by avoiding direct sunlight and activities that make you sweat. You should also apply Vaseline®, Aquaphor®, or hydrocortisone 1% to the affected areas thrice a day.
Yes, laser hair removal can cause skin problems, such as acne, redness, irritation, and discoloration. However, these side effects are usually temporary and resolve on their own within a few days to a week.
After your first laser hair removal treatment, you can expect some mild redness and slight discomfort or sensitivity in that area for up to an hour. The skin may also appear to have goosebumps as the hair follicles swell a little. This is totally normal and means the treatment is working as it should.
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.
The best way to help speed up shedding after your laser hair removal treatment is by gentle exfoliation once or twice a week once you start to see signs of your hair starting to shed.
It is recommended to avoid sun exposure for at least one week before and one week after your treatment to prevent unpleasant side effects like blisters, burns, and hyper-pigmentation. It's best to limit your time at the beach and wait at least two or three days after laser hair removal before you venture to the beach.
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.
Those bumps are frequently due to the skin glands being over stimulated by the laser which causes localized irritation and inflammation. The bumps look like milia or white heads. the bumps usually resolve themselves in a few days.
According to Dr. Soni, this post-treatment breakout is a side effect of your pores opening up due to the heat of the device and getting clogged with dead skin cells, dirt, and bacteria. As your body tries to get these particles out, it creates a pus-filled bubble as a response.
Post-Treatment: Understanding the Healing Process
After laser treatment, you might notice temporary inflammation and darkening of the treated razor bumps. This is a normal response to the heat and usually resolves within a few weeks, revealing smoother skin.
While reversal is not possible, there is the possibility for hair to still exist. There are various kinds of laser hair treatments. Some may be specific for hair reduction or temporary hair loss, while others are meant for permanent hair loss. Also, different follicles may be in different phases of their cycle.
For most people, laser hair removal only causes minimal side effects like temporary redness and tingling lasting 24 hours or less. Some individuals experience more troublesome bumps, breakouts, and irritation lasting days to weeks.
Ingrown Hair Caused by Laser Hair Removal
This is more likely to happen in areas already prone to ingrowns. Additionally, after treatment, some hairs may regrow finer and weaker. These weak hairs might not be strong enough to break through the skin's surface, causing them to grow trapped underneath.
LASER TREATMENTS
Don't go there if your peach fuzz is light in color – laser will do more damage than good, as laser hair removal works by targeting the pigment in the hair. You could end up with burns, permanent hyperpigmentation or scarring, with no reduction in peach fuzz.
Most patients can have laser hair removal once every 4 to 6 weeks. Your dermatologist will tell you when it is safe to have another treatment. Most patients see some hair regrowth. Your dermatologist can tell you when you can safely have laser treatments to maintain the results.
Shave 24 to 48 Hours Before Your Appointment: It's best to shave 1-2 days before your session to give your skin time to recover and any potential irritation to settle. This timing helps ensure your skin is in its best condition for the treatment.
Use a soft washcloth or a mild exfoliating scrub in gentle circular motions. This can help expedite the shedding and smooth the skin. Moisturise regularly: Keeping the skin hydrated is essential. Use a fragrance-free, gentle moisturiser to soothe the skin and enhance its natural regeneration.
This is a sign that the laser successfully treated the follicle, and it's clearing out the dead hair shaft. This shedding process, also called “peppering,” can last anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. In some cases, it may feel like the hair is growing back because it's breaking through the skin.
It may be tempting to pick or scratch at any little surface hair remnants that eject after a laser hair removal treatment, but this can cause unnecessary skin irritation. Let the skin recover naturally.
Hairs do not fall out immediately, but you will shed them over a period of days to weeks. This may look like continued hair growth. The repeated treatments are usually necessary because hair growth and loss naturally occur in a cycle, and laser treatment works best with hair follicles in the new-growth stage.
If you shave too quickly you may irritate the skin even more, so waiting at least three or four days after your treatment is usually ideal. A few days following your laser hair removal treatment, you may notice your hair shedding. This is completely normal and is a sign the treatment worked.
To ensure the best outcomes, it's advisable to avoid waxing for at least 4-6 weeks after a laser session to prevent interference with the hair removal process and minimize the risk of skin irritation.