The procedure makes use of strong light from the laser device to focus on the pigmentation in dark hair and lets the skin absorb the heat to kill hair follicles. However, it's not permanent, and a new hair follicle will eventually grow.
But laser hair removal doesn't guarantee permanent hair removal. When hair regrows, it's usually finer and lighter in color. You might need maintenance laser treatments for long-term hair reduction.
Post- treatment, it can take 10 to 14 days for hair to shed. During this time, it's important to let the process occur naturally. Pulling on loosening hairs can irritate the skin and potentially cause folliculitis. Which is the inflammation of the hair follicles.
Answer: Hair regrowth after laser hair removal The laser treatment actually destroys the hair beneath the skin. While some hair may still appear in a treated area, it will not grow back in the way it was before being treated because the follicle, or root of the hair, has been permanently destroyed or altered.
Fine, lighter hairs: The hairs that regrow after laser hair removal may be finer and lighter in color, which can be a sign that the treatment is working.
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.
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.
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.
Generally, clients need about two to six laser treatments in order to completely get rid of hair. You can expect to see about a 10% to 25% reduction in hair after your first treatment. As you continue your treatments, more and more hair will fall out, and you'll notice that it continues to grow back more slowly.
You can reduce unwanted hair growth with the application of hair removal creams. However, in case of excessive hair growth, you may need to undergo laser treatments, electrolysis, or prescription creams that best suit your condition. Sometimes, you may also need hormonal treatment for any underlying health issues.
It's called paradoxical hypertrichosis — and even the name sounds scary. No one actually knows why this happens with laser patients, but after treatment, the laser can do the opposite of what you're expecting and actually stimulate hair growth.
While you shouldn't be able to pull hair out forcefully, you're free to cut or scrub the hair in order to speed up the shed process. Rub the treatment area with a circular motion with a loofah or gentle washcloth for removing dead hair.
According to Dr. Soni — in one session — a laser device might only be able to address around 15% of the hair which falls off on its own later on — around 5 days or more after the procedure. This mechanism varies on the person and their age, skin type, hormones, and natural hair growth processes.
While laser hair removal significantly reduces hair growth, it doesn't always eliminate it completely, and some may still require occasional touch-ups. Skin reactions can also play a role in feelings of regret, although this is rare when the procedure is done correctly.
You should not pull out loose hairs after laser hair removal. Laser hair removal targets the hair follicle to permanently remove hair from the body. For successful results the follicle has to be present so the laser can target it.
Up to a few weeks after treatment, your skin will develop stubble or blackheads as a part of the shedding process that happens from hairs that were partially grown at the time of the procedure. Exfoliation during this period aids the shedding and diminishes the blackhead or stubble appearance.
Most patients remain hair free for months or even years. When some of the hair regrows, it will likely be less noticeable. To keep the area free of hair, a patient may need maintenance laser treatments.
What Does Shedding Look Like After Laser Hair Removal? Shedding is exactly what it sounds like—you'll see small hair fragments or stubble falling out from the treated area. It might look like tiny, scattered hairs popping up on your skin's surface. Don't worry, this is temporary and will fade as your skin heals.
While teenagers can benefit from laser hair removal, the most effective time to begin treatment is just after the late teens through the early 30s.
If you notice hair not shedding a couple of weeks after your treatment, it's important not to forcefully remove it by waxing or plucking. This could disrupt the natural hair growth cycle, which could affect the success of future treatments. The best course of action is to consult with your laser hair removal expert.
It's perfectly acceptable to shave between laser hair removal sessions.
Overusing an IPL device is a major no-no. It can lead to side effects that range from minor irritation to long-term skin damage.
Easy removal is a sign of thinning hair. 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.
Depending on your skin color and hair type, you might need up to 12 weeks of single weekly treatment with IPL to get complete results. You will typically notice more sparse and slower hair growth within the first month with a permanent reduction in hair growth within the three months.