The Temporary Side Effects of Laser Hair Removal
Whether you are embarking upon your first or fifth laser hair removal treatment, it's important to understand the potential side effects that could occur. The truth is that there are many temporary side effects possible, even if you have not previously experienced them in your past treatments.
Some of the temporary side effects from laser hair removal treatment include:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Folliculitis
- Redness
- Hyperpigmentation
- Blistering
Many of these side effects can be avoided by sticking to the precautionary measures advised by your laser hair removal specialist, and also by using a trained technician to administer your laser procedure. The truth of the matter is that if your laser hair removal technician is not highly qualified, then you are more likely to experience temporary side effects, like blistering and hyperpigmentation.
One more thing to keep in mind is the fact that you must adhere to all of the guidelines before treating your skin. As an example, it is not advised to tan or have sun exposure up to 30 days before your laser hair removal treatment. If you forget or provide false information, then you are likely to blister or experience hyperpigmentation because your skin has too much melanin below the surface.
As a basic overview, pain is a very common side effect of laser hair removal. Many specialists will allow you to use a topical numbing agent after your first treatment to prevent excessive pain in the skin. If you are undergoing your first treatment, it is not recommended to use a topical numbing agent because your laser hair removal technician needs to know how your skin reacts to plan further treatments and laser settings. If you are undergoing your first treatment and the pain is severe, you can ask your laser hair removal technician to stop, and you can make an appointment for another treatment using a topical numbing agent to reduce the pain. You can also expect your skin to be sore to the touch for up to 48 hours after your laser treatment, but after that, the pain will subside.
If you experience swelling after your laser hair removal treatment, that is actually normal. The laser is penetrating heat energy below the surface of your skin, and if you have highly sensitive skin, then it is common for it to swell. This is also true in more delicate areas, like your upper lip, bikini area, and other areas of your facial skin. That is precisely why it is not advised for you to schedule your laser hair removal before any type of special event, like a wedding, vacation, or any time that you will be taking pictures. The odds are that you may swell after your laser hair removal as a temporary side effect, so make sure to treat well in advance of any special occasions.
Folliculitis is also another common side effect that is only temporary. It involves the swelling of the follicles, and it will look like red bumps on the skin. This is actually a good side effect because it shows that your treatment is working. You may experience severe folliculitis on your bikini area, or any other area that has very dense hair. If you have coarse hair on your face as a woman, or if you are a man treating your beard area with laser hair removal, then you can count on having severe folliculitis because it will take more laser energy to kill the hair at the root in denser areas. The folliculitis will subside within a few days, but it is important to keep track of how long you have folliculitis so that you can tell your laser hair removal technician upon your next treatment in case it was an extreme reaction. Likewise, redness is another very common side effect that will subside within a few days. This is especially true in sensitive areas.
However, if you experience blistering or hyperpigmentation, it is important to call your laser hair removal center right away to alert them of any reaction that you may have had. Blistering can often occur if you have had sun exposure, or if an improper technique was used in the laser hair removal. If the blisters are not treated properly, they can lead to hyperpigmentation, which is dark areas on the surface of the skin caused by outside damage.
As a rule of thumb, if you have a concern about any side effects from your laser hair removal treatment, make sure to contact your laser hair removal center right away so that you can receive the best care and preventative treatment!
This article was written by Bethany North. Bethany is a licensed esthetician with experience in hands-on experience in chemical peels, microdermabrasion, facials, laser hair removal, makeup applications, skin analysis, waxing, spray tanning, and product ingredient assessment. She has also worked as a salon sales and training consultant, as well as a consultant for beauty and hair care product lines in branding and marketing.