Laser Hair Removal vs Pulsed Light

It’s a noninvasive method to lessen or eliminate undesirable body hair. This procedure was first performed in 2016, and it is considered one of the most usual and slightly invasive cosmetic treatments. For those who look for a method to lessen or remove hair from different areas in the body, laser hair removal is a good choice. If you want to keep a glimmer appearance and soft skin, this blog post is for you. We will discover together,

About Laser Hair Removal Technique:

Prior to the procedure, a medical specialist cleans the treatment area. There will be a need to use numbing gel if the area is sensitive. All who exist in the room have to wear specific protective eyewear to impede eye damage from the laser. 

After this, the specialist focuses a beam of high-energy light at the required area after kicking in the numbing gel. The procedure may take a long time if there is a bigger area that needs to be treated.

On the other hand, it takes a couple of minutes with small areas like the chest that need an hour or more. Some patients record a sensation equal to a rubber band snapping or a sunburn-like sting. There can be a brimstone smell from the smoke puffs as the hair vanishes from the energy of the laser.

Laser Hair Removal Preparation:

During preparation, your doctor should provide you with directions before scheduling your appointment. By following all the instructions, you can reach more effectiveness of the procedure and lessen the risk of side effects.

Discover some usual guidance:

• Keep away from the sun for a few days prior to the procedure. Laser hair removal shouldn’t be conducted on tanned skin.
• Evade irritating the skin.
• Be away from waxing and plucking.
• Avoid taking anti-inflammatory drugs that may boost bleeding, like aspirin.
• The procedure should not be applied in case you have any active infection, including cold sore or bacterial skin infection.
• You might be recommended to employ a skin-bleaching compound to the treatment area if you have dark skin.

How does laser hair removal work?

It is essential to know deeply about the laser hair removal procedure and how it works to follow all the necessary precautions. This procedure works by using focused light to influence hair follicles, which are small hollows in the skin from which hair grows. The hair follicle takes the laser, which is taken with the hair’s melanin pigment, and the hair vanishes immediately. The laser targets the pigment in the hair, making darker hair more effective at absorbing the laser. This is why individuals with dark hair and light skin are considered ideal candidates for laser hair removal.

In some cases, the doctor uses a specific type of laser for patients with dark skin. Some candidates with light hair are considered less ideal, and they are also less likely to undergo drastic results as the laser doesn’t center well on colorless hair. So, laser hair removal is not strong on blonde, gray, or white hairs.

Pulsed Light (IPL) vs. Laser Treatment:

IPL is like laser treatment. But while lasers apply wavelengths of light at your skin, IPL flashes different wavelengths of light, such as a photo flash.

IPL’s light seems more scattered and less centered than a laser. IPL also reaches the skin's second layer without causing any harm to the top layer, so it has less injury to your skin. The skin’s pigment cells consume the light energy that is transformed into heat, which ruins the undesirable pigment to elucidate freckles and other dots. It may wreck the hair follicle to stop the hair from rising again.

IPL is applied on any area in the body but it may be ineffective on uneven areas. It isn’t advisable for people who attend to get thick, raised keloid scars or who have darker skin tones. It’s also not as useful on light-colored hair as it is on darker hair.

How well does it work?

You can reach optimal results with the latest IPL devices as laser treatments have the same effectiveness for some cosmetic treatments, like waning blood vessels in the skin. On the other hand, IPL is more practical for removing thick and dark hair than fine and light hair. In some cases, you may need many treatments to reach your desirable results.

Expectations Afterward:

After applying the procedure, you are able to go back to your normal activities. There may be redness or some sensitivity for a few hours on the treated spot of the skin. There may also be sunburned or slightly swollen skin. For a couple of days, there may be sensitiveness in the skin after applying the procedure. You may need to prevent using hot water on it until your skin cures.

Alternatives to IPL

Other ways to eliminate lines, spots, and unwanted hair apart from IPL can include such alternatives:

Lasers:

Plenty of people use lasers to get rid of excess hair, wrinkles, sun damage, and other spots. The types of light-based treatments that are commonly employed for these conditions include lasers that emit a single continuous wave of light. When the laser removes the first layer of skin this is referred to as an ablative treatment. If only the deeper tissue is heated with no harm to the uppermost layer then it is classified as a non-ablative laser system. Unlike IPL which needs more sessions to achieve similar outcomes; they can be applied efficiently on darker skin tones and require less time span in between treatments.

Fraxel laser treatment:

The non-ablative nature of these lasers makes them penetrate beneath the topmost layer of your skin without leaving it damaged. However, if we consider that some Fraxel procedures treat only a small section at any one time, they could also be referred to as fractionated lasers—they destroy bits and pieces of your dermis instead. In this way, Fraxel lasers can eliminate sun spots, age lines, and acne scars. Over time, therefore, the body renews itself following these treatments requiring multiple sessions before changes are observable.

Microdermabrasion:

An abrasive device is used in microdermabrasion to gently sand off the top layer of your skin. It can be used to fade age spots and areas of darkened skin. Fine lines and wrinkles can also be reduced by it. A number of sessions have to be undertaken for results to be seen, but they are often just short-lived.

FAQs

1. Is laser hair removal permanent?

While laser hair removal can notably diminish hair growth, it cannot be considered a completely lasting measure. The majority of patients usually see their results lasting for a long time; however, maintenance sessions may be needed after some time for the treatment areas to remain devoid of hair.

2. How many sessions are needed for optimal results?

Depending on the individual and the area being treated, different numbers of sessions are required. Generally, patients require 4 to 6 sessions approximately every 4 to 6 weeks for best results.

3. Are there any side effects of laser hair removal?

Common side effects include temporal rubor, edema, and slight unease resembling sunburn. These negative impacts typically disappear shortly after several hours or days. Rare adverse events include vesicular eruption, cicatrization, or alteration in skin color.

4. Can laser hair removal be performed on all skin types?

Indeed, laser hair removal can be done on any race, but it requires adjustment of lasers specifically used for this purpose. In order to distinguish the hair from the skin in people with darker pigmentation, there are specific types of lasers used.

5. Is laser hair removal painful?

In general, it is a procedure that has high acceptance among the patients. Most of them compare the feeling to that of a rubber band on their skin or like being bitten by a mosquito without much pain involved on another occasion; thus causing less discomfort. Some instances require usage of anesthetic gel to help relieve some of these painful feelings.

Clinique Main d’Or:

We are committed to giving you quality laser hair removal services based on your individual necessities. Utilizing modern laser technology, our experienced medical professionals perform safe, effective, and convenient procedures. Our staff will assist you in achieving a hairless and smooth skin from any unwanted hairs on larger body parts such as the back and legs or even smaller delicate ones such as the underarms or the face.

Conclusion

Laser hair removal has emerged as an immensely favored option for hair loss and treatment of unwanted hairs. The result is long-lasting with little or no pain and no complication during recovery. Smooth, hair-free skin may be possible through knowledge of procedure, proper preparation for laser treatment as well as adherence to post-procedure care instructions. You can choose between laser hair removal or other alternatives such as IPL when consulting your dermatologist about which one would suit you best depending on your skin type and color of your hair.

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