The good news is follicular edema after laser hair removal usually resolves on its own within 3 to 5 days without the need for special treatment. But to keep swelling and discomfort to a minimum, be sure to: Take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen if approved by your provider.
First, it's important to note that follicular edema is temporary. It should last a few hours to up to a day or so after your treatment. Anything lasting longer than that is something else that you need to talk about with your laser practitioner.
Answer: Hair Removal Loss after Treatments Normally the follicles that are killed during a treatment can take 10-12 days to fall out. You should normally be waiting 4-6 between treatments and sometimes 6-8 weeks depending on the area treated. There is no reason you should be going every 2.5 weeks, that is too soon.
Laser hair removal is an unbeatable procedure for the long-term reduction of unwanted hair. Most people know that their skin might feel a little sensitive immediately after, but perifollicular edema is one of its less known side effects.
Gentle exfoliation: About a week after your session, you can gently exfoliate the treated areas to help loose hairs exit the follicle. Use a soft washcloth or a mild exfoliating scrub in gentle circular motions. This can help expedite the shedding and smooth the skin.
Apply a soothing lotion or cream. Try relieving itchy skin with a soothing lotion or a nonprescription-strength hydrocortisone cream. Clean the affected skin. Gently wash the infected skin at least twice a day with an antibacterial soap or cleanser, such as benzoyl peroxide.
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.
The good news is follicular edema after laser hair removal usually resolves on its own within 3 to 5 days without the need for special treatment. But to keep swelling and discomfort to a minimum, be sure to: Take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen if approved by your provider.
BRUISING AND SWELLING: Redness and oozing will be most noticeable on days 2-3. Swelling should be at a maximum on days 2 to 4 and start to decrease after this. You may also have some bruising. This is normal and should resolve over 7-10 days.
So while the laser does not damage the glands themselves, it may alter some of their secretions that contribute to body odor. Additionally, changes to the skin microbiome may occur when the hair follicle environment is disrupted. The populations of bacteria that break down sweat and cause odor can shift.
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.
While most follicles will be effectively treated, a few might not be fully damaged and could potentially regrow hair in the future. Should you notice hair regrowth in treated areas, a touch-up session can be safely performed. Factors like hormonal changes and certain medications may influence hair regrowth.
Potential Regrowth
Stopping often means you're more likely to experience regrowth sooner. The hair might be finer than before or grow back at a slower rate, but the permanence promised by continuing treatment is unlikely.
During laser hair removal, a laser emits a light that is absorbed by the pigment (melanin) in the hair. The light energy is converted to heat, which damages the tube-shaped sacs within the skin (hair follicles) that produce hairs. This damage inhibits or delays future hair growth.
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.
Individuals up to their 50s benefit greatly from laser fractional resurfacing treatments. Skin concerns like sun damage and deeper wrinkles are common in this age group.
Post-Treatment Instructions
If a large facial area has been treated, you may experience swelling. If this occurs, keep your head elevated, and prop it up on several pillows at night. Some over-the-counter Benadryl by mouth at night can help with swelling. Avoid ice packs as these may cause increased swelling.
Shortly after your treatment, you can reduce any swelling, redness, or irritation by icing the affected area with ice packs or cold compresses. Remember to wrap them in clean, gentle towels to protect the surface of your skin from being exposed to severe cold.
One such side effect is perifollicular edema, also known as laser bumps. But there's no need to worry—it's not serious, tends to clear up quickly, and in fact, can be a sign of effective hair removal treatment.
Follicles are the openings in the skin where the hair grows. The rash appears as small red bumps or pus bumps that can itch or be mildly painful. Folliculitis is common on the buttocks, arms and legs - especially the thighs. Most improve in 7 to 10 days.
Lasers can kill hair only during the anagen stage. However, only about 15 percent of the hair will be present in this phase at the time of one laser session. That means that only 15 percent of hair follicles will be destroyed, and those hairs will fall off five to 14 days following treatment.
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.
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.