Published on 7:16 pm, Thu, 18 July 19
While most patients elect to undergo professional laser hair removal in a medical setting, some individuals are trying their hand at DIY treatments.
Most are attracted to the idea of eliminating unwanted hair in the comfort of their own home and at a reduced cost.
But there are several factors to consider before selecting this option, including: Are DIY treatments safe? Does laser hair removal at home work? How many sessions are needed?
Continue reading to learn about laser hair removal at home and if it’s right for you.
Laser hair removal is a noninvasive treatment that’s designed to eliminate unwanted hair from the body and face.
It’s typically performed in an office setting and takes 10-60 minutes – depending on the size and location of the treatment area.
During laser hair removal, a concentrated beam of light bypasses skin and selectively targets melanin in hair follicles. As this energy is converted to heat, it weakens follicles and inhibits regrowth.
Damage accumulates over a series of treatments to permanently destroy follicles and produce smoother skin.
If you are interested in getting rid of unwanted hair with a DIY treatment, you are likely wondering: Does laser hair removal at home work?
To start, DIY hair removal operates at a much lower strength than professional equipment like the lasers found at Lumiere Skin and Laser. As a result, this option usually requires additional treatments and yields slower results.
Additionally, home-based laser hair removal devices often rely on IPL technology, which is designed to treat dark hair and fair skin.
Because these systems are unable to properly differentiate between melanin in hair and skin, they can result in burns, blisters, and scarring when used on darker skin tones.
With that being said, patients considering at-home laser hair removal should seek guidance from a dermatologist before starting treatment.
It’s also important to carefully weigh the advantages of a professional treatment, including experience, top of the line technology, and ability to limit and manage complications, vs. the perceived benefits of laser hair removal at home.
If you are considering laser hair removal, please call our office today to schedule a consult with one of our highly skilled and talented providers.