Laser Hair Removal Side Effects You Should Know About

There’s no denying we humans have hair everywhere on our bodies that need to be taken care of. They may not be as much as a gorilla, but they’re still pretty evident.

And every month, we need to make salon trips to get rid of those measly creatures that only add to our expenses.

Sometimes you wish you didn’t have to shave your bodies every month! Even if you’re not waxing, using a hair removal cream is inconvenient. Hair removal is time-consuming and painful, especially if you wax.

People avoid using razors to remove body hair because of the myths surrounding them, and we’re also not as skilled with them as men. We avoid something so simple because we are afraid of cutting our bodies.

We’d be willing to go with laser hair removal if it meant not having to deal with hair removal. But there’s something we don’t think about when we consider laser hair removal.

We frequently overlook the negative effects of this permanent hair removal method. Here are some of the side effects of laser hair removal.

Side Effects of Laser Hair Removal

Permanent side effects are uncommon when carried out by a dermatologist with board certification. Some people report bruising, pigmentation, blistering, redness, swelling, and swelling in the treated area; however, these side effects rarely persist for more than a few days after the procedure.

Skin Infection

Most users of laser hair removal find it to be risk-free and convenient. But as with any other method of cosmetic hair removal, using a laser to damage hair follicles can raise the danger of infection.

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Keep all pre and post-treatment precautions in place, and treat the affected area as if it were sunburned while it heals.

If you notice any signs of infection, contact your dermatologist right away. On the treated area, do not apply over-the-counter antibiotic cream.

Redness and Irritation

A laser technician will guide a laser light through the skin around your pubic area. Your skin absorbs light, which is then converted into heat energy. This heat is strong enough to damage the hair follicle tubes in your epidermis, promoting pubic hair removal by weakening its roots. This heat can also cause your skin to become red and irritated, similar to how it reacts when you pluck or wax.

To help prevent this, the technician may apply a topical anaesthetic or numbing cream to alleviate any discomfort or irritation.

Depending on how sensitive your skin is, you may experience tingling or even tenderness and swelling in the treatment area. The pain usually goes away quickly.

Skin Burns

Depending on your skin tone and the amount of hair on the treated area, lasers can reach temperatures ranging from 50°C to 70°C. In the wrong hands, this can result in severe burns that can take up to three weeks to heal.

Because of this, even though there are at-home laser hair removal tools and places that offer them for a lower price, it’s always best to have it done by a qualified laser practitioner.

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Trimming or shaving your pubic area prior to your appointment is highly recommended because shorter pubic hair can reduce skin damage caused by burnt hairs.

Your technician will apply an anaesthetic cream and cooling gel prior to the procedure to prevent lasers from burning the treatment area.

Pigmentation

Following laser hair removal, some people may notice minor colour changes in the treated area. If you have lighter skin, you are more likely to have darker pigmentation, while if you have darker skin, you are more likely to have lighter pigmentation.

Thank goodness, these changes will pass and your skin will return to normal.

Discolouration

Your skin’s melanin, which is in charge of giving the skin its pigment, absorbs laser light. All patients may experience discolouration as a result of the heat absorbed by their skin.

Patients with fair skin will notice slightly darker skin in their pubic area, while those with darker skin will notice lighter pigmentation.

This is only temporary and, in some cases, insignificant. After exfoliating, you may notice that the discolouration fades and returns to your skin’s natural colour over time.

Ways to Prepare Your Skin for Laser Hair Removal

To prepare your skin for laser hair removal, you must follow the instructions:

  1. Avoid excessive sun exposure. When you go out, wear broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen.
  2. Your doctor may prescribe a skin bleaching cream if you have a darker skin tone or a recent tan.
  3. For at least four weeks before the procedure, avoid plucking, waxing, and electrolysis, as these can disrupt hair follicles and interfere with the treatment.
  4. Before laser hair removal, it is best to avoid blood-thinning medications such as aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs. Before the procedure, discuss with your doctor which medications you can and cannot take.
  5. Before the procedure, trim and shave the treatment area to reduce skin damage caused by burnt hairs.

Aftercare Tips for a Laser Hair Removal

You may experience minor pain or discomfort during the procedure. It hurts more for people with darker skin and dark hair because their pigment and hair absorb more light, resulting in higher temperatures.

This could take up to an hour depending on how much hair you have in your pubic areas.

You may experience redness and swell immediately following the procedure. This is normal and should only last a few hours.

Apply ice to the affected area. After this has passed, you may experience the aforementioned side effects within the next few days. Here are some aftercare tips to help you deal with the pain and discomfort.

Do not pick, scratch, wax, or use tweezers. Picking and scratching at the hairs, as well as skin crusting, can expose new and tender skin or open wounds, resulting in bleeding, scarring, and infections.

Treated pubic hairs will not fall out right away, but you will notice shedding in the coming weeks. Picking, waxing, or tweezing them out can be painful and leave your hair follicles vulnerable to infection.

All of these will eventually fall out, especially if you exfoliate.

Wear loose-fitting, breathable clothes. Wear cotton underwear and breathable bottoms if possible. Women can avoid restricting the skin in the treated area and its surrounding areas by wearing loose dresses and skirts.

Tight clothing and non-breathable fabrics not only feel uncomfortable on untreated skin, but they can also create heat and friction between your thighs, exacerbating discolouration.

For sensitivity, apply a cold compress, over-the-counter pain relievers, or aloe vera gel. You can use any of the three for discomfort if you experience pain or discomfort during your recovery period.

To avoid skin irritation, make sure your Aloe Vera is 100 percent organic.

Final Thoughts

So that’s a wrap on the side effects of laser hair removal and all you need to do to take care of your skin. Make sure you follow the instructions of your dermatologist and take good care of your health and skin.

We hope it helps.

Filed under: Skin Care, Tips and Myths


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