Is Laser Hair Removal Painful?

When considering laser hair removal, many women are hesitant due to the possible pain involved in the process. Laser treatment is used by many to remove hair from areas such as the lip, bikini area and arms. This type of hair removal will cause some discomfort and possibly pain for some.

It generally depends on each individual's pain threshold. What may be excruciating pain for some may be just a tickle for others. The majority of clients say that laser hair removal is simply uncomfortable and is compared to a rubber band snapping on the skin. Because the laser light itself does produce a small amount of heat you will feel a sensation as it works to remove the hair. Follicles are covered in nerve endings which for some people can create a slight discomfort or mild pain.

People with darker thicker hair may need multiple treatments to reach the desired effect they are looking for. Dark, thick hair is able to absorb more of the laser light which could hurt more than people with lighter, thinner hair. Typically, the hair being treated becomes thinner after each laser light treatment so it does get easier and less painful after the initial treatment.

Some clinics are able to use a numbing cream on the area that is being treated to lessen the amount of pain being felt by the customer. Discuss your paint tolerance with your clinician so that they can determine the best course of treatment for you. This will make it much easier for the clinician to make it as comfortable as possible and the pain minimal.

There are many tips and ideas that could also make the laser hair removal process easier and less painful. Make sure to wear loose, cool clothing to your appointment. Many women say after the appointment the skin feels similar to being sun-burnt. Wearing cool clothing will help alleviate this.

Take a pain reliever such as Tylenol or Advil an hour or so before arriving. This should also help ease any pain you might experience. One of the most common hints given to soothe the skin is using an Aloe Vera cream or lotion on the area that was treated after your appointment. This will soothe the skin and moisturize the area as well. Make sure to continue applying the aloe cream for about 24 hours after your treatment to soothe the skin.

Is Laser Hair Removal Safe?

Laser hair removal is a method used for removing unwanted hairs on men and women as an alternative to painful plucking, rash inducing hair removal lotions, waxing and dangerous bleaching which doesn't remove the hair at all. It came into popularity in the mid 1990's after two decades of experimentation and an accidental discovery that hair quit growing in areas that lasers had been used on to treat something else, such as tattoo removal for instance.

Initially presented to the public as a painless and permanent hair removal treatment, laser hair removal has evolved during nearly 40 years of experiments and consumer input. The FDA's involvement has made the process a lot more tolerable than it was in its earliest years. There are minimal side effects and the results show that most people are satisfied with a noticeable slowing of hair growth or a complete obliteration of hair in the treated areas. Laser hair removal is most effective on light thin hair as opposed to dark or coarse hair and that is due to the fact that the process involves the hair follicle itself. Thinner hair shafts are attached to a finer follicle base which makes the burning off procedure all the more productive.

There are some common side effects associated with laser hair removal which are very minimal in most people. To avoid damage, a patient must avoid the sun or tanning booth for one week before and one week after having the procedure performed. This exposure would exasperate the burn and may cause permanent damage to the skin. Most customers of the treatments experience very little pain or discomfort of any kind and those that do are able to treat with Ibuprofin or a similar acting pain reliever.

Those that have sensitive skin or tattoos may be at risk when using laser hair removal procedures. It may cause burning on very fair skin and it certainly can alter the depth of colors on a tattoo. Certain medications do not react well with exposure to laser treatments the same as with exposure to UV rays from the sun or tanning booths.

Because of its growing popularity, laser hair removal has become commonplace everywhere. However it is imperative that a reputable and licensed technician perform the treatments to avoid any risk that could occur. Research the spa or shop thoroughly and ask for references from former users of laser treatments.