How Long Does Laser Hair Removal Last?
The advancements in cosmetology have introduced many ways to take care of your skin. Laser hair removal is one such procedure. As the name suggests, laser hair removal is used to remove unwanted hairs from the body. It is a sought-after treatment for people who don’t like to shave their bodies or get bothered by the pain involving other hair removal options, such as waxing.
The procedure uses a laser to reduce or remove unwanted body or facial hair. The dermatologist uses a laser at a specific wavelength to target the pigment or melanin within the hair follicles. As a result, the follicles in their growth phase are destroyed. However, the ones in the dormant stage and the surrounding skin are unaffected.
Laser hair removal is considered the gold standard for reducing unwanted hair and poses many benefits.
- The procedure helps to eliminate and reduce unwanted hairs from the body.
- It reduces the time and expenses used in the less permanent forms of hair removal, such as waxing.
- The results are efficient and promising and make your skin smooth.
- Laser hair removal alleviates skin problems associated with hair growth.
- This procedure also prevents and eliminates ingrown hairs.
How Long Does the Result of Laser Hair Removal Last?
There have been varied opinions if laser hair removal is a permanent treatment option to remove unwanted hair from the skin or not. The effects of this procedure may be long-lasting. However, it is not an entirely permanent treatment. You may have to opt for 4–5 sessions to remove hair for a long period. That said, for some people, the results of this procedure are close to permanent. As per dermatologists, you may be hair-free after a session of 5–6 treatments.
Your face is the most common area with high chances of hair growth after this procedure, especially in women nearing menopause age. Hairs can also grow back in other areas, including legs, chest, arms, and stomach. When the hair grows back, it is more sparse and finer. The longevity of this procedure varies from person to person.
What Factors Affect the Longevity of Laser Hair Removal?
Hormones
Hormonal changes in women are one of the most prominent factors impacting the regrowth after laser removal. If you get pregnant after laser hair removal, you may require a touch-up session after your delivery. Likewise, if you have polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS, you may experience sudden hair growth on your face and other parts of the body.
Another factor where hormones can play a role is when you are on hormonal birth control. For some people, hair regrowth after the procedure is next to the minimum, while others may experience an increasing shift in their hair regrowth.
Skin Colour
Skin colour is another factor that affects hair regrowth after laser hair removal. Reportedly, this procedure targets melanin. So, if you have light skin with dark hair, the treatment may prove effective for you as the hair-to-skin contrast is sharp and the laser will easily target the hairs against the skin.
That said, this procedure may work well for people with dark skin tones and hair colour too. The only difference here is you may want to opt for frequent sessions.
The State of Hair Follicle
Another factor affecting hair regrowth after the procedure is the state of the hair follicle. If the hair follicle is destroyed during the treatment, the effects will be permanent. In some cases, you may not want to opt for this procedure again. However, if the hair follicle is merely damaged, it can recover in some time, and the hairs will eventually regrow.
Are there any side effects and Risks of Laser Hair Removal?
Despite being a sought-after treatment for hair removal, some people do not opt for this procedure. It is because of the buzz around its side effects. Some people may experience burning, stinging, or discomfort as the laser strikes their skin. For this reason, dermatologists use a numbing cream.
Other side-effects of laser hair removal include the following.
- Laser hair removal changes the colour of the skin in people with dark skin tones. However, the effects are temporary.
- The procedure may lead to redness in some people.
- Blistering or crusting of the skin is another side-effect of this procedure.
- In some cases, irritation related to hair removal may lead to scarring.
- In rare cases, laser hair removal may lead to skin infection, and if not addressed on time, it can spread to other parts of the skin and become life-threatening.
Takeaway
The longevity of laser hair removal is driven by many factors, natural hair growth is one of them. Besides this, some factors may make your hair grow quicker. In the best practice, you should discuss all the pros and cons with your dermatologist before opting for this procedure.
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