We spend a lot of time using different methods to get rid of unwanted hair. Razor bumps, nicks, cuts and wax burns are just the tip of the iceberg of issues we face to get smoother skin. There is a more permanent answer to the daily struggle against unwanted hair—laser hair removal. Call SkynDeep MedSpa in Papillion, NE to discuss this exciting skin smoothing solution.
What Is Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removal uses the light from a laser to target hair at its source—the follicle. The follicle anchors the hair to the skin in the root. It’s there that cells come together to make keratin: the protein that makes up our hair, fingernails, and toenails.
The hair grows up the follicle and out through the skin. The hair you can see is made of dead cells and is called the shaft. Shaving and other topical methods of hair removal only get rid of what we can see and don’t address what causes hair to grow.
How It Works
Laser hair removal works by the light from the laser traveling down the hair shaft to the follicle, where it heats, disrupts and destroys it. When the follicle is destroyed, it can no longer grow hair.
This treatment is a great choice for those areas we spend the most time shaving, waxing, tweezing or using a depilatory. It’s a great solution for:
- Legs
- Face
- Arms
- Back
What About Waxing and Creams?
We’ve mentioned that shaving just removes hair at the surface, and we all know how quickly that grows back. Often we’re left with razor burn, nicks, and cuts. But what about other popular methods of hair removal?
Waxing
If you’re no stranger to waxing, you know it’s not comfortable no matter how many times you have it done. Waxing does pull the hair out, root and all, but it doesn’t destroy the follicle. It takes a little time for the hair to grow back—but it will. It may be thinner and finer at first, but it will eventually regain its thickness and you have to repeat the cycle again.
If you go to a spa or the salon to have this done, it can be very expensive. Because hair always grows back, it’s an expense with no end in sight.
Depilatory
This method of hair removal involves applying a cream or lotion packed with chemicals that will break down the protein bonds of the hair, turning it into a jelly-like substance that can be wiped away. The downside? First, the hair removal is just as temporary as shaving because it’s only dealing with hair above the surface.
The biggest downside is the harshness of the chemicals used to make this work. If you leave a depilatory cream on too long, it can cause serious damage to your skin, like blisters, rashes, and burns. Even if you follow directions, there’s a much higher risk of having an adverse skin reaction than with other methods.
What to Expect From Laser Hair Removal
After you and your skincare specialist have discussed your areas of treatment, they’ll give you some pre-treatment instructions.
Before Treatment
The first is not to wax or tweeze the area for six weeks before your session. The laser needs to find the follicle, so it needs to be intact. They will ask you to stay out of the sun and avoid tanning or tanning products. Treatment works best when there’s a good contrast between the follicle and the skin.
Shave 24 hours before your appointment. Getting rid of the surface hair will only make it easier for the laser to find the follicle.
Treatment Sessions
On the day of your treatment, your provider may apply a numbing agent to the area, or they may use a device that has a built-in cooling element. Both are to maximize your comfort. You may be given goggles to reduce any risk to your eyes.
The handheld device will be placed over the treatment area and the laser turned on. It will go to work gently, targeting your hair follicles. There is no downtime associated with this treatment, so you can go back to your normal routine immediately. Some clients schedule their appointment to fit into their lunch breaks and go right back to work.
Results
The follicle is destroyed, but your hair won’t fall out right away. It will shed away over the coming days and weeks. You may experience hair growth, but this isn’t a failure of the laser. Our hair is in different stages of growth all the time. Some hair is in an active stage, and that’s the hair the laser targets.
You’ll have other hairs that had just recently fallen out, so they will grow back because their follicles weren’t active or targeted at the time of treatment. Some clients get the results they want after just one treatment, while others may opt for several treatments to maximize their results and get the level of hair removal they desire.
Results depend on each client, their hair color and the area to be treated. Your skincare specialist can help you decide what treatment plan is right for you.
Make an Appointment
When you’ve decided you’ve had enough of burdensome and difficult methods of removing hair, call the expertly trained staff at Skyndeep MedSpa in Papillion, NE. Their skilled specialists can help you achieve the results you want for silky smooth and permanently hassle and hair-free skin.