Our Experts Breakdown the Details of LHR
Wouldn’t it be nice to relax in the bath or shower and never worry about shaving your legs? What about skipping those painful appointments to wax your brows? Everyone’s been talking about laser hair removal (LHR), but you’re not so sure. Is it really permanent and is laser hair removal safe for dark skin?
Laser hair removal is safe for all skin tones if you use the right laser. Read our quick guide on LHR and find out how you can bare it all and throw away the razor! You’ll be surprised how easy it is to get permanently hair-free skin by the hottest days of summer!
How Do Laser Treatments for Hair Work?
A cosmetic laser heats the pigment in your hair shaft, which gets hot enough to destroy your hair follicle. Once your hair follicle is completely destroyed, it’s unable to grow hair. Your results are smooth, hair-free skin in areas like your legs, underarms, back, and chest.
Keep in mind that your results depend on your medical provider. Always get your laser hair removal in Pittsburgh from a medical professional who has extensive experience with cosmetic lasers.
Let’s Get to It – Is Laser Hair Removal Really Safe for Dark Skin?
Yes! The lasers of the past could only distinguish dark hair from light skin, which meant people with dark hair and dark skin couldn’t receive LHR. They often ended up with poor results, burns, and scarring. However, that was many years ago, and laser technology has advanced leaps and bounds.
Now, we have the diode laser. This laser is incredibly safe for dark skin, because it gently removes hair, while easily distinguishing between skin and hair. It even cools as it works, so you feel extra comfortable during your treatment.
So, Is Laser Hair Removal Painful – Does It Require Recovery Time?
Some clients report mild discomfort during treatment that feels like rubber bands softly snapping against their skin. There are also areas on your body that are a little more sensitive than others, like your upper lip and bikini area, but any sensation you feel during treatment is easily tolerated.
One of the best parts about getting laser treatments for hair is that they require absolutely no recovery time. Schedule an appointment during the middle of the day, and return to your usual activities when your treatment is over.
How Many Laser Hair Removal Treatments Do I Need?
The number of treatments you require depends on the treated area and how thick and dense your hair is. LHR only works on hair follicles in the active growth stage, so it takes a few treatments to reach each hair follicle effectively. After your last session, you can expect around 80% permanent hair loss in the treated area.
Most people need about 6-8 sessions of laser hair removal, spaced about 5 weeks apart to experience maximum results. Make sure you talk to your medical provider about setting up a convenient schedule for your LHR sessions.
How Can I Prepare for My Laser Hair Removal in Pittsburgh?
While the process is fairly straightforward for our experts at Cosmetic Laser Centers, we need you to do a few things before your laser treatments, in order for you to get the smoothest results possible.
Stop Plucking and Waxing
When you make the choice to start laser hair removal treatments, it’s essential you stop all methods of hair removal that remove your hair at the root. Even plucking the smallest, most annoying hairs before your LHR sessions can disrupt the growth cycle needed for an effective treatment.
Shave 24-48 Hours Before Your Treatment
You don’t actually need to see visible hair to have laser hair removal. When you shave before your treatment, it leaves just enough visible hair for the laser to target your hair follicle and reduces discomfort you might feel during treatment.
Avoid Oils and Lotions
Even though your skin could use extra moisture after you shave, deodorants, oils, and lotions can prevent the laser from reaching the root of your hair. Come to your appointment with clean and dry skin.
Discuss Your Health History With Your Provider
Laser hair removal is a very safe procedure, but there are certain medications that may interfere with your treatment. This doesn’t mean you should stop taking your medication, it just means you need to inform your provider about your prescriptions, so they can customize a treatment plan for you. Here are just some medications to discuss with the expert providing your LHR:
- Acne medications
- Anti-inflammatory drugs
- Birth control
- Hormone treatments
- Photosensitizing medications
What About After Laser Hair Removal Treatments?
There isn’t any downtime associated with LHR, but we recommend avoiding activities that cause excess friction or sweat for about 48 hours. For instance, excessive exercise, saunas, and steam rooms.
Where Can I Get the Best Laser Treatments Near Me for Ultra-Smooth Skin?
At Cosmetic Laser Centers, we use cutting-edge hair removal technology from LightSheer™, which offers ultimate comfort in LHR. Laser hair removal only takes a few minutes out of your day, and your results are permanent. To start your sessions for hair-free skin by August, call our team at (724) 935-4200 or send us a message online.
If you think laser hair removal is amazing, you’ll love the way you look with our other laser treatments. Ask a member of our staff about how laser facials can rewind the signs of aging and make your skin look like new!