Is laser hair removal the perfect solution or an unnecessary expense?

The desire to get rid of unwanted hair in various parts of the body or take care of their appearance encourages more and more people to resort to laser hair removal. Laser hair removal is an effective method for quickly getting rid of unwanted hair. However, some may question the wisdom of this procedure. Therefore, it is worth knowing what laser hair removal is, how it is carried out and whether it is beneficial to a wide range of people.

What is laser hair removal?

According to the definition, laser hair removal is one of the most frequently chosen and at the same time the most popular aesthetic medicine procedures both in Poland and in many countries around the world. Also in terms of gender, this is an extremely popular procedure - it is chosen by both women and men. The procedure itself consists in permanent hair removal using a specially designed device that emits laser beams that penetrate deep into the hair follicles, permanently removing unwanted hair.

Epilation itself has been known for centuries. According to some studies, even in ancient Rome or Egypt, people at the peak of power or in the highest social order removed unwanted hair with a mixture of oils and honey. This tradition has survived several millennia, thanks to which many women and men today cannot imagine their lives without skin epilation.

How is laser hair removal performed?

As the name suggests, laser hair removal is performed using a laser. Strictly speaking, we are talking about the use of a special device that emits laser beams, which, penetrating deep into the hair follicle, "burn" the hair there, down to the root, leaving the skin absolutely smooth, without excessive hair growth. .

In order for the treatment to bring the desired results, it is necessary to carry out a series of 4-8 procedures with an interval of approximately 5-6 weeks. Such intervals are necessary because the more often the procedures are performed, the more adverse complications may occur, for example, severe reddening of the skin surface. It is also worth knowing that when choosing this type of treatment, individual visits will not have any effect, on the contrary, they can cause even more intense hair, which will contradict the initial assumptions of the selected person.

Depilation itself is usually carried out with several types of laser. The most popular include:

alexandrite laser;

diode laser;

neodymium-yag laser;

laser type E-light;

laser IPL.

When using one of the above lasers, the selected skin surface is irradiated with a laser beam with a larger or smaller head. The beam of laser light penetrates the skin and penetrates the hair structure up to the hair follicle, which contains a special dye that absorbs all the energy. The accumulated energy causes the hair to burn, and as a result, it disappears, leaving only the root. It is worth remembering that each such procedure must be agreed with a specialist doctor who agrees to conduct such a series of procedures and declares that laser hair removal procedures will not affect the general health of this person.

Who is eligible for laser hair removal?

Contrary to what it seems, laser hair removal is not for everyone. There is a certain group of criteria that preclude the use of laser hair removal for individuals. Contraindications for laser hair removal are:

pregnant women;

people with damaged or irritated skin;

Tan;

Taking photosensitizing drugs (which react to light, such as a laser, which can cause negative side effects), such as antidepressants or steroids

people with skin pigmentation disorders;

diabetic patients who are required to take insulin, the so-called. "Insulin dependent diabetes"

people with cancer, such as skin cancer;

people taking drugs that reduce blood clotting.

People who are taking the above medications or who have certain medical conditions such as cancer or diabetes are not recommended to undergo a series of laser treatments. This can lead to the accelerated development of certain diseases or the appearance of severe redness or damage to the surface of the skin.

How can you prepare for laser hair removal?

Contrary to what you may think, you can (and sometimes even need to) prepare for your laser hair removal procedure. There is a set of several simple steps to help you get ready for laser hair removal. These include, among others:

Before the procedure itself, shave the hair in the place where the epilation will be carried out;

A few weeks before the start of laser hair removal, you should refrain from sunbathing, especially in the solarium. A tan, especially a fresh tan, automatically excludes this person from the depilation procedure due to negative skin complications that may occur after the procedure. In addition, it is not recommended to use self-tanners;

You should also avoid skin irritation, damage, or scratches. In case of a sudden allergy, it is worth taking calcium desensitizing tablets;

Approximately 7 days before the procedure, it is worth taking teas with calendula or St. John's wort, which support skin condition;

Before the procedure, you can not use creams with a high dose of retinol, vitamin C or A;

Before the procedure itself, it is recommended to remove makeup, perfume, sweat and other cosmetics.

How to maintain the skin after the procedure?

Soon after the laser hair removal procedure, the most important thing is to expose the skin to sunlight. Excessive sun exposure can cause skin changes, burns, or redness. It is also recommended to use sunscreens, which additionally protect the skin from the penetration of harmful UV rays.

Another way to support the skin is to use preparations with allantoin or panthenol, which have a calming effect on the skin. Experts also do not recommend washing the skin with soap or other products that can harm the skin. The best way to keep the skin clean for 1-2 days after the procedure is to wash the skin with soothing preparations based on vegetable oils or extracts of certain trees, such as bamboo. These types of preparations have a cleansing and moisturizing effect on the skin, so that the risk of irritation is minimal.

Is laser hair removal effective?

Although some people may doubt the effectiveness of laser hair removal, it is worth understanding that laser hair removal is absolutely effective. According to studies by some scientists and institutions involved in aesthetic medicine, even in 90% of men and about 80% of women who underwent a series of procedures, laser hair removal completely eliminated or significantly reduced the intensity of hair growth in a selected area of ​​​​skin. leather.

Moreover, the use of a series of laser hair removal procedures not only leads to the disappearance of hair from the surface of the skin, but also prevents their growth. In many people who have successfully undergone a series of laser hair removal procedures, it has been confirmed that the hair on certain areas of the skin has completely disappeared or their growth has slowed down significantly. Thus, laser hair removal guarantees excellent results that last for a long time.

What are the benefits of laser hair removal?

Contrary to the opinion of some people, laser hair removal brings many benefits for both the appearance and well-being of the chosen person. The benefits of laser hair removal include:

Effective removal of excess body hair (or all hair) from the body - laser hair removal has been clinically proven to permanently remove hair from selected areas of the body. Thus, it is no longer necessary to regularly remove hair with traditional methods, for example, with a razor or depilatory patches;

High level of safety - laser hair removal, which is used by people who do not have contraindications, for example, those who do not have cancer, diabetes, or who do not have a persistent tan on the skin, is completely safe. Carrying out a series of laser hair removal procedures does not cause irritation, redness or other unwanted side effects that may harm the health of the selected person;

Durability of the effect even after one series of treatments - another advantage of laser hair removal is the fact that the effects it leaves after a series of 4-8 treatments are permanent and last for years. However, experts recommend a fixative treatment once a year after a series of treatments. Its concept is that it is designed to maintain the effect and slow down hair growth even more. However, it is recommended to have a maximum of one treatment for at least 6-9 months after the last of the series of laser hair removal treatments;

Favorable price - contrary to publicity, laser hair removal is one of the cheapest in aesthetic medicine. True, the cost of one procedure can range from 140 to 300 zł. The whole series of depilatory treatments, together with the use of drugs that prevent the growth of hair on the skin, can cost from PLN 4 to 10. However, it should be understood that if we compare the cost of such a procedure with the costs that would have to be borne each time to remove excess hair, it is incomparably lower. In the long run, the cost of laser hair removal can be much more cost-effective than traditional skin hair removal methods.

Disadvantages of laser hair removal

Despite the many advantages of laser hair removal, this solution also has several disadvantages. One of the most frequently cited disadvantages of using laser hair removal is the fact that for some people it can cause discomfort or pain during the procedure. This is especially true of intimate areas, such as the bikini area, as well as the skin under the arms, which is most sensitive to all kinds of external factors.

Moreover, some people may be put off by the cost of a series of laser hair removal treatments. Sometimes this cost can exceed the amount of several thousand zlotys, which may seem like an unbearable burden to some people both in the short and long term. It should also be remembered that such procedures must be carried out in several series to obtain the desired effect, which really increases the cost of laser hair removal.

Another disadvantage that is sometimes mentioned by people who have used laser hair removal is the appearance of negative side effects. This mainly concerns discharge, burning, itching and other undesirable effects of laser treatment. They can be uncomfortable and a visit to a dermatologist may be necessary to minimize the effects.

Is laser hair removal beneficial?

In conclusion, it is worth realizing that, despite the negative side effects or the high cost of the entire treatment, laser hair removal is the best solution. It is especially recommended for people who have excessive hair growth in various areas of the skin and cannot cope with this disease on their own. You should know that laser hair removal lasts a long time. This means that the effect of a series of laser hair removal treatments permanently removes excess hair for years to come. Moreover, thanks to this type of treatment, you can feel good in your own skin.

However, the most important advantage of using laser hair removal is the fact that you can completely abandon the traditional methods of dealing with excess hair. Laser hair removal means that the use of a razor or wax patches to remove hair is no longer required.