Laser Hair Removal: Is It Safe and Effective for Your Skin?

Many people opt for laser when it comes to hair removal therapy. It can be used for hair removal for all over the body: arms, legs, bikini area, underarms, face etc. It is slowly becoming one of the most common cosmetic procedures in Pakistan.

Laser has replaced shaving, tweezing and waxing, for removal of facial hair especially. It works by beaming highly concentrated light into hair follicles and destroying the hair.

However, laser hair removal should be done by trained experts; usually it is offered by dermatologists, but other trained individuals do it as well. In the long run, laser has proven to be a safe treatment. Although there may be temporary short term side effects, which tend to go away in a few hours.

There are many benefits of using laser versus other forms of hair removal:

Precision

Unlike waxing, and shaving, laser hair removal is more precise. It can target selective areas for hair removal. The surrounding skin remains undamaged and unaffected while targeting the dark, coarse hair.  

Speed

A single pulse can take a fraction of a second, and treat many hairs at the same time. Small regions, like the upper lip, can be treated in under a minute. Larger areas like the legs can take up to an hour.

Permanence

Three to seven sessions can result in permanent hair loss. Patients with coarse and dark hair may need more sessions compared to people with fine and light hair.

Is It Safe?

Severe side effects with laser are rare. There is increased risk only if you are opting for home-kits or you go to an inexperienced provider.

Some rare side effects may include excessive hair in the treatment area, changes in skin texture, scarring, crusting of the skin. Even though these side effects are rare, it is important to be aware of them and discuss them with your doctor if they occur.

To prevent such side effects, you can ask the technicians to adjust the laser setting so the risk is minimized.

Is It Effective?

Laser hair removal is considered to be an effective treatment for the removal of unwanted or excessive hair. It can be up to 90% effective in permanently reducing unwanted hair.

The procedure is usually carried out in multiple treatment sessions. Normally it can be done in two to six treatments or more, in some cases depending on the patient and the location. Patients can expect 10-25% reduced hair on the targeted area after the first treatment.

Laser hair removal ensures that hair does not regrow on the treated location for many months or years. When the hair eventually does grow back you can expect it to be much lesser than before. At this point, patients can opt for getting a laser hair removal treatment again.

Risks Of Laser Hair Removal

Skin irritation: Temporarily, some side effects such as mild skin irritation may be seen. These side effects vary according to skin type, hair colour, and care after the treatment. Skin irritation can cause some discomfort that goes away after a few hours. Redness and swelling are common manifestations.

Pigment changes: the affected area may be lightened or darkened in response to treatment. For light-skinned individuals, the skin may become darkened, and for people with deeper skin tone, the affected area may lighten. It is important to adhere to post-treatment protocols for this reason. In either case, discuss the condition with your healthcare provider.

Can Pregnant Women Get Laser Hair Removal?

Laser hair removal is not recommended for pregnant women. Many women experience increased hair growth in regions like the stomach and breast, but most commonly these excessive hair fall out on their own after pregnancy is over.

If you want to opt for laser hair removal, then book an appointment with top dermatologist in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad through oladoc.com, or call our helpline at 042-3890-0939 for assistance to find the RIGHT professional for your concerns.