The desire to get rid of body hair is growing and growing every year. If previously there were only so-called "home" methods - razor and wax, now you can lose unwanted vegetation in a medical office, and forever. We decided to study all the existing pros and cons of laser hair removal, to get acquainted with the contraindications and consequences of the procedure.
Background
In the early 60s, scientists decided to put their talented hands to the beauty industry. They created the world's first laser, which was able to remove hair for a sufficiently long period of time. It was called ruby, and its wavelength was 694 nm. The peculiarity of the device was that it worked only on fair skin and removed only dark hair.
Some time later, a new laser was developed - alexandrite. A wavelength of 820 nm made it possible to remove hairs not only with light but also with dark skin.
The next generation - a diode laser - was already designed for any type of skin: both light, porcelain, and black, African. All hair types except gray hair were removed.
This problem was soon resolved by a laser with a wavelength above 1064 nm called neodymium. It is able to remove both gray and light hairs from any type of skin. Used all over the world. Unlike previous lasers, it does not leave burns.
The basis of the procedure
So, what is this - a procedure for laser hair removal from a scientific point of view? This is the removal of hair follicles, which are responsible for the formation and growth of hair using a diode laser wave. This, perhaps, the characteristic ends. How can laser hair removal be described through the eyes of a woman who attends this procedure?
- To begin with, the hair is completely shaved off.
- An hour and a half before the procedure, anesthetic cream "Emla" is applied.
- Then the doctor, using a special device, specifically removes hairs from a specific area of ​​the body.
- The procedure is performed throughout the year at various intervals. Two weeks should elapse between the first and second procedures, three, then four, five, six, and so on between the second and third.
- The number of procedures is determined depending on the result obtained and the characteristics of the client’s hair.
- After the course, the hair stops growing for about 7 years.
Is everything so smooth? Now we will consider the main pros and cons of laser hair removal, and you decide whether you need it.
"FOR" - efficiency and durability
Who does not want to get rid of unwanted body hair for a very long period of time, and maybe forever? It all sounds more than attractive - initially you lay out decent amounts for the procedures that you visit during the year, but at the end you just forget that you once shaved or epilated your legs, armpits, bikini zone, etc. The method really works, as proven by millions of women around the world.
"FOR" - getting rid of ingrown hairs
This is not a problem, it is a pain that women who have done shugaring, waxing or using a regular epilator are familiar with. Hair does not just hide under the skin - a small tubercle appears on the surface of the skin, which looks like a pimple. If you pick it up - a wound will appear, leave it - it will "shine" and spoil the whole appearance. If you have already signed up for laser hair removal, be sure that all subcutaneous “residents” will soon come out and leave you alone.
"FOR" - no allergies and negative consequences
We remind you that we consider the pros and cons of laser hair removal in cases where the procedure is done by a professional. Just note that it is forbidden to go to non-professionals - you will spoil your body and health, so choose only proven and certified clinics. So, laser hair removal performed by a doctor cannot have negative consequences. Moreover, this procedure, unlike wax and shugaring, does not cause allergies or rashes.
“FOR” - time saved and unearthly beauty
Of course, a year old will have to suffer. Before the procedure, you will shave your hair, as before. Then, after the first procedure, you will have to wait about 10 days before the hairs begin to fall out. After the second session, their growth is aggravated - again you need to shave every day. But the third visit to the doctor will already be the start for noticeable metamorphoses. We recommend taking a photo during laser hair removal - after each procedure, so that you personally notice the results. Hair will grow more slowly, their number will be significantly reduced. After the last session, they will finally fall out, and for many more years you can enjoy smooth, flawless skin.
We reviewed all the items in the pros category. Not many facts testify to the “against” of laser hair removal, but nevertheless they are.
“Against” - pain
For women who can tolerate for the sake of beauty, the procedure will seem very tolerable, albeit unpleasant. You can ease the pain a little with the help of Emla cream, but an unpleasant tingling sensation and a slight burning sensation will still be felt. If the pain threshold is too low, the hair removal process can turn into a real torture, and no pharmacy gel will help. Learn the features of your nervous system before you go to the procedure. You do not want to waste money once, get exhausted, and then stop all sessions.
“Against” - does not work on fair hair
Even the most modern lasers, except neodymium, are not able to "make out" and remove very light, thin and especially fluffy hair. The same applies to gray hair - it rarely disappears, because there is completely no melanin in the hair. Alas, the owners of this kind of unwanted hair will have to remove them in a different way - razor, wax, shugaring.
The opinion of doctors
The pros and cons of laser hair removal can also be described from a medical point of view, paying attention to diseases that may worsen after the procedure. In other words, these are contraindications to this procedure:
- Oncological diseases.
- Leukemia.
- Diabetes.
- Varicose veins.
- Pregnancy and lactation.
- The use of hormonal substances.
- Young age - until the end of puberty.
- A large number of birthmarks or moles.
Also, contraindications include the so-called temporary manifestations of tanning, burns, colds and acne. In pursuit of beauty, do not hide existing diseases from specialists.
What are the reviews talking about?
The pros and cons of laser hair removal - what to do? An urgent issue among ordinary women, which is regularly discussed in millions of forums. What opinions exist? Most say yes, because the technique really allows you to say goodbye to unwanted hair. Most people have dark hair, so there will be no problems with follicle removal. Women are for, if we are talking about a qualified doctor, a certified clinic and high-quality equipment.
Those who have blond hair say “against”, and the laser simply could not cope with them. Here you need to blame not the equipment, but the doctor. He initially had to warn the client about such an outcome, looking at her data. Among the reviews, a lot of “contra” comes from those who ran into low-quality equipment, to “sub-doctors”, to the “fake” clinic. Alas, this is common, so be extremely vigilant.
Possible consequences
Both specialists and most women claim that there are no unpleasant consequences after laser hair removal. Some have lost all their hair, others partially, others started growing after a couple of years - but these are all individual characteristics of the body, there is nothing to be done about it.
Some women talk about unpleasant moments that may arise in the process of an illiterate procedure or because of a doctor’s incompetence and lack of knowledge of primary data about your health. The effects of laser hair removal can be as follows:
- Burns - if an old type of laser is used, the skin is too sensitive or too tanned. It is possible that a specialist could work illiterate. But in good clinics this does not happen.
- Folliculitis is an inflammation of the hair follicles. The disease can be caused by excessive sweating. It is forbidden to use the sauna a week before or a week after the procedure.
- Mild rash. Skin rashes occur only in 6% of patients, most often in owners of hypersensitive skin. As a rule, redness disappears after a few days and does not require treatment.
- Exacerbation of herpes. That is why it is recommended to completely heal all wounds and only then go to an epilation session. This is especially true for those clients who remove hair in the bikini area and above the lip.