Laser Hair Removal 5 Tips for Better Treatment Results
When looking at treatments on the surface, laser hair removal seems like a very simple process—visit a clinic, undergo treatment, experience freedom from unwanted hair. In reality, this treatment is very complex and exact in nature. Optimal results require cohesiveness in several key treatment components. Many individuals who have previously undergone treatments will say that the treatment did not work because they are still experiencing hair growth in the treatment area. More often than not, those that experience hair re-growth are guilty of not strictly following the guidelines in place that ensure effective results. In order to ensure that you get the most out of each treatment, here are 5 tips that will help you to see better laser hair removal treatment results.
Stay on Your Treatment Schedule: This is without a doubt the most important factor involved in the laser treatment process. When you initially visit a laser treatment facility, a laser technician will devise a treatment schedule based on your hair color, skin tone and the area you are having treated. Depending on these factors, your treatments will typically be spaced out every 4 to 10 weeks. This is due to varying hair growth cycles in specific areas as well as your individual genetics. Patients who do not strictly stick to the treatment schedule given to them will not see optimal results. The idea of the schedule is to catch actively growing hair follicles so that they can be effectively destroyed. If you do not follow this strict pattern, less hair will be destroyed therefore more hair re-growth will be experienced.
No Tanning: The one downfall of laser treatments is that it takes time. With laser hair removal treatments spread out every 4 to 10 weeks and an average of 6 treatments needed, patients will undoubtedly be undergoing treatments during the warm summer months. There’s nothing better than enjoying the sunshine on a beautiful summer day, but exposing your treatment area to the sun can have a severe effect on your treatment schedule. Clinics will not treat individuals who have been tanning in the treatment area. Laser parameters are set specifically to your skin type and hair color, by altering your skin type via tanning, the laser parameters may be too strong and could cause adverse reactions such as hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation or burning. If clinics do choose to treat you, the parameters will be adjusted and the energy of the laser will be much lower, this means a less effective treatment. By keeping your treatment area covered in sunscreen and out of direct sunlight, your treatments will be much more effective.
No Waxing, Tweezing, Sugaring or Depilatory Creams: At your consultation, clinics will tell you that in order to see successful treatment results, the hair must be present in the hair follicle. Hair removal methods like waxing, tweezing, sugaring and depilatory creams remove the hair from the follicle, if there is no hair present to treat, patients will not see results. Discontinue use of these hair removal methods three to four weeks before your first treatment and then refrain from using them throughout the remainder of your sessions. Shaving and trimming the hair between treatments is perfectly fine, these methods only remove the hair from the surface of the skin. By doing this, you ensure that your actively growing hair follicles are present; this allows them to be effectively treated.
Treat on the Right Laser: There are several different lasers on the market today, these include: Alexandrite, Diode, Nd: YAG and IPL lasers. Knowing which laser is right for your skin type and hair color will help you to undergo treatments on the most effective laser. Alexandrite lasers are used for lighter skin tones, Diode Lasers can be used on light and mid dark skin tones, and the Nd: YAG lasers are used for darker skin tones. Each laser has specific wavelengths and settings that safely and effectively treat different skin tones. Many laser clinics today will also use the IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) laser for hair removal. This laser is most often used for skin rejuvenation techniques, but it can also be used for hair removal. Be aware that treatments on this machine will take much longer to complete than on a true laser, so if the option is available for you to undergo treatments on one of the three other lasers, it’s recommended you choose those instead.
Follow Recommended Treatment Guidelines: When contacting a clinic, besides the four tips above, each clinic will have its own variation of other guidelines to follow. Depending on the lasers they have, they may tell you to shave a few days before treatment, or the day of. They may tell you to not wear make-up before being treated, after treatment they may tell you to not go in hot tubs or pools or to try not to sweat excessively for about 24 hours. If you experience redness in the treatment area they may tell you to put lotion or aloe on to sooth and protect the skin, or they may have other suggestions as well. It is important to take these suggestions into consideration because they very well may help you experience more successful results.
When getting tips from any laser facility, it’s important to remember that experienced laser technicians know what they are talking about. When they give patients suggestions, they are doing it because they want you to get the most out of each laser treatment. Technicians want to see hair free results just as much as you do. By following all tips and suggestions, it is much more likely that you will experience the hair free results you are looking for.
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