Laser Hair Reduction: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Laser hair removal is one of the most commonly done cosmetic procedures alternative to shaving, tweezing, or waxing to remove unwanted hair. It is done by applying beams of highly concentrated light into hair follicles. Pigment in the follicles absorb the light and penetrates deep down the root of each hair strand and damages the follicle. Thus, that hair follicle is not able to grow hair anymore. It works well for all areas of the body like the face, chin, arms, and the rest of the body.

Laser hair removal is the process of removing unwanted hair on the skin by means of exposure to pulses of laser light. This pulses help to destroy the hair follicle and prevent hair growth on the topical regions. The treatment is relatively safe and has three steps which involve cleaning, shaving, and scanning of the area that is to be treated.

Before the treatment, the area to be treated should be protected from sun tanning and sun exposure for at least four to six weeks. The person should not take any drugs or medicines prior to the laser therapy. The primary principle behind laser hair removal is selective photothermolysis (SPTL). This is matching of a specific wavelength of light and pulse duration in order to obtain optimal effect on a targeted tissue with minimal effect on surrounding tissues of the skin. Laser hair removal is most effective when hair is in the growth stage. Typically, the areas to be treated are shaved a few days before the laser hair removal treatment. On the day of the treatment, the doctor may apply an anesthetic cream, although this step is not necessary. In addition to this, a cool laser tip, spray, or gel can be used to make the patient feel more comfortable. Special glasses that are designed to filter out harmful light during the treatment are worn by both, the doctors and the patient. The laser is adjusted for power, size, and pulse frequency to optimize the treatment for the patient's comfort.

Laser hair reduction is a cosmetic treatment since a long time with increasing popularity. This is no major treatment and as such do not have any medical emergency. People who wish to remove their facial hair or unwanted hairs from other parts of the body to increase the smoothness of the skin and the aesthetic beauty can undergo this treatment.

The procedure involved in the laser treatment is usually risk-free. But, there might be some side effects of laser hair removal that people need to consider. For instance, laser therapy involves the use of a lot of heat to burn the hair. This heat can lead to skin burns in some people. Itching, pink skin, redness, and swelling around the treatment area or swelling of the follicles (follicular edema) are common side effects of this treatment although these are mild and rarely last more than two or three days. The two most common serious side effects are acne and skin discoloration that is the laser heat pulses may cause hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation. The patient may feel a kind of pain during the treatment and afterwards. Sometimes, people show signs of infection and allergy, especially people with very sensitive skins.

After treatment, the skin will regain its normal look by three to four days. A clear aloe vera gel is recommended to be applied on the treated area for two to four days. It may be extended depending on the individual. Ice, cool compress or moisturizers may be used to soothe the heated region and also ease the redness. It is important to protect the treated area from exposure to sun rays or any other kind of heat. Thus, application of sunscreens and prevention of sunbathe are vital.

Laser hair removal is a quick and effective way of removing unwanted hair from the body. Recovery and re-establishment of normal smooth skin is brought about within two to three days.

Laser hair reduction is a costly treatment and usually consists of about two or three sessions. The cost depends on the area to be covered, type of hair, number of sessions, and the doctor. Its price range usually varies between Rs 16,000/- to Rs 25,000/- per session.

Unfortunately, laser hair reduction treatment is not permanent. This is a highly effective method of removing unwanted hair and hairs take a lot of time to regrow when removed with laser. This is because laser penetrates deep into the roots and destroys the follicles, preventing hair growth for a wide range of time.

• While this is unlikely to bother you on a daily basis, it can make laser hair removal more uncomfortable. Avoid caffeine consumption for at least 24 hours before undergoing laser therapy.
• It's not just coffee that should be avoided before laser hair.
• Caffeine-Containing Foods and Drinks.
• Tea is piping hot.
• Coffees that aren't decaf.
• Tea, iced.
• Chocolate on the rocks.
• Yogurt and ice cream.
• Pudding, to be exact.
• Sodas.
• Chocolates or Chocolate sweets.

Summary: There are certain foods that you must avoid while undergoing laser hair removal therapy. Some of the food items are sodas, caffeine, yogurt, ice cream, chocolates, etc.

Laser hair removal, as the name suggests, uses the application of laser pulse beams to remove hair from the body. This treatment does not have any possible alternative. However, unwanted hair can be removed from the body by waxing, tweezing, or shaving. The use of certain homemade pastes can also remove the superficial layers of hair on the skin.

Conclusion: Laser hair removal is a revolutionary way of removing hair almost permanently. It uses laser light to prevent hair from developing further. Laser therapy is the secure way to get your hair removed for a longer period of time. It may not remove your hair permanently but it offers long-lasting results. In this therapy, light is being passed that later on converts into heat which damages the hair-producing hair follicles. This slowed the development of future hair sprouting.