Laser hair removal is a great way to get rid of unwanted body hair, but it can be a little tricky to choose the right treatment for your skin. Laser hair removal works by targeting the melanin in your hair follicles, which causes them to rupture and stop producing new hairs. But different skin types will react differently to laser treatments, so it’s important to find out which type of laser is best for your skin type before you start any treatments.
It’s also important to note that not all lasers are created equal. Some lasers will target dark or light-colored hairs better than others, so you’ll want to find out what kind of laser provides the best results before you start any treatments. If you’re considering laser hair removal because you have Indian skin, then this guide is perfect for you! We’ll walk through some key factors that will help you choose the right type of laser for your unique needs and preferences.
Read on to learn more about Best Laser Hair Removal For Indian Skin, Laser Hair Removal Risks And Safety and How Long Does Laser Hair Removal Last
Best Laser Hair Removal For Indian Skin
We know that lasers are good for skin upkeep but what do they actually do? The term laser is an acronym for ‘Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation’. A laser device converts light of various frequencies into an extremely intense, small, and nearly non-divergent beam of monochromatic radiation. This may be in the visible or invisible spectrum of light. The laser beam is capable of mobilising immense heat and power when focused at a close range. Lasers act on skin tissue and take care of everything from scarring to hair removal to hyper-pigmentation. Presently, these are the best and most popular laser treatments for Indian skin.
Starwalker by Fotona
This laser works on a variety of pigments, ranging from melanin (formed in the skin) to tattoo inks. Dermatologist Dr. Gauri Desai from Skinsense Skin and Laser Clinic in Mumbai states, “Treatments with Starwalker laser can be done as ‘lunch-time procedures.’ There’s no pain as there are no surgeries, injections or anaesthesias. No pre-procedure preparation or post-procedure care is required.”
Price per session: Depend on the severity of the issue and the area.
Downtime: Slight redness that lasts for about an hour.
Soprano Diode Laser
This laser is mainly used for hair reduction. “Soprano Diode Lasers use single wavelength of light that has high absorption rate in Melanin. As the melanin heats up, it destroys the root and blood flow to the hair follicle, disabling hair growth permanently. It shows exceptional results for dark, thick hair,” says Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, Medlinks in New Delhi.
Price per session (Approx): Face lasers and full body lasers start at Rs 7,500 and Rs 35,000 onwards, respectively.
Downtime: Tiny Red bumps which settle in an hour or so
SP Dynamis by Fotona
“This laser is used at our clinic for various treatments such as permanent hair reduction, skin rejuvenation and texturing, reduction of acne scars, 4D Non Invasive Laser Facelift and collagen-boosting, reduction of snoring, and removal of skin tags and warts,” says Dr. Gauri Desai, Skinsense Skin and Laser Clinic.
Price per session: It varies from Rs 1,000 to 15,000
Downtime: Mild redness depending on the intensity of the laser.
E-Light System
“This device is an amalgamation of three advanced technologies – IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), radio-frequency, and a cooling system. The part of the applicator, which is in contact with the skin, has a cooling system, which reduces the heat delivered to the skin. This laser has multiple uses such as hair removal, photo rejuvenation, wrinkle removal, treatment of pigmentation, acne, and other vascular disorders,” adds Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, Medlinks.
Price per session: Rs 8,000-10,000 per session (45 mins)
Downtime: None as far as we know.
Tribeam Premium (Q Switch Nd YAG Laser)
This laser works on photo-acoustic technology and is specifically used for pigment related issues such as tattoo removal, birthmark removal, reduction of sunspots, and dark spots. This laser’s advanced mode can also be used to treat acne, scars and stretch marks, and open pores.
Price per session: Rs 8,500 (60 mins) to Rs 35,000 (3 hrs)
Downtime: Mild redness depending on the intensity of the laser.
Carbon Dioxide (C02) Fractional Laser
This laser removes layers of skin tissue in a fractionated method (columns of skin are removed, leaving the skin surrounding each column intact). It is used to treat age-spots, fine lines, wrinkles, scarring, uneven coloration, skin laxity, and textural irregularities. It is also used to increase the collagen layer of the face, neck, and chest.
Price per session: Rs 12,000-15,000 (60 mins)
Downtime: 5-7 days depending on the intensity of the laser.
Laser Hair Removal Risks And Safety
Laser hair removal doesn’t guarantee permanent hair removal. Some hair could be resistant to the laser treatment or grow again after treatment – although the new hair growth might be finer and lighter in color.
Possible laser hair removal side effects include:
- Mild swelling around the hair follicles
- Pigment changes may occur, especially in those with darker skin – these changes are usually temporary
- Slight redness of the skin
- Temporary irritation resulting in blistering, crusting, scarring or other changes in skin texture
Special care must be taken for those with darker skin. A less intensive laser should be used to avoid damaging the outer skin.
Anyone who has tanned, used a spray tan or gone to a tanning booth should wait until the tan has faded as the pigment in the skin absorbs the laser light and reduces the effectiveness of the treatment.
These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It’s important that you address all your questions directly with your laser hair reduction provider.
How Long Does Laser Hair Removal Last
Every morning, when I’m greeted with the task of shaving my legs, I wish like hell for a solution that’s more permanent. Despite the fact that I know laser hair removal is far-and-away the most lasting option, I’ve never saddled up to try it out for a few reasons: One, I’m a little worried about the pain; two it’s certainly the most expensive option out there, and three, how long does laser hair removal last, anyways? Because, if I’m going to invest the time and money, I want the hair to be gone for-e-ver.
“Laser hair removal uses pulses of light to destroy the hair down to the root,” says Saime Demirovic, co-founder of Glo Spa in New York City (it does this by targeting and destroying the pigment in the hair follicle). “These laser-light pulses create heat which damages the hair follicle until it is permanently destroyed.” (More on that later). “You’re exposing the targeted hair follicle to a high energy beam of light without injuring the surrounding skin structures,” says Leonard Bernstein, MD, board-certified dermatologist with the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York. As for what to know about the treatment itself and how long it lasts, keep on reading for all the intel to have before you book your first appointment
What it’s like to get laser hair removal?
Though laser hair removal has been around since the mid ’90s, Dr. Bernstein says it’s advanced a lot since then. At his facility, he uses devices like the Clarity II by Lutronic, which he says has many bells and whistles that make it customizable for different people who comes to his office. “Many lasers and Intense Pulse Light (IPL) devices have developed over the past decades, making the elimination of hair a very safe process when performed by well-trained and experienced laser physicians,” he says. To figure out which laser to use on a patient, he takes into account factors such as skin tone, hair color, hair coarseness, tattoos, and past use of certain medications.
Demirovic says you shouldn’t be pregnant to have the treatment done, and you must be off of antibiotics (both topical and oral), for at least one to two weeks before starting laser because otherwise you’re extra sensitive to light and can be burned. The same goes for retinoids, which you should not use for three to five days before the treatment. Keep in mind that if you’re about a week away from starting your period, your skin can be extra sensitive, so you might want to schedule around that for pain’s sake.
Advancements in laser technology have also made laser hair removal much safer for darker skin tones, which hasn’t always been the case. “When laser hair removal first came on the scene, the machines used were IPL lasers and were not designed to treat darker skin tones,” says Demirovic. ” But now, technicians can used the Nd:YAG laser, which operates at a longer wavelength (1064 nm) to remove hair safely in darker skin tones. Alexandrite lasers, by contrast, have shorter wavelengths (820 nm) and are often used to treat lighter skin tones.
Because laser hair removal works by seeking out the darker pigment in the hair follicle than in the skin itself, laser hair removal only works on hair that’s darker than the skin tone itself (sorry, peach fuzz!). “Generally speaking, the density or concentration of pigment in the skin surface is considerably less than the hair shaft, so that the laser light is mainly absorbed by the intended target,” he says.
When you first go for an appointment, Dr. Bernstein says you’ll want to have your natural hair on the surface of skin so that the technician can better evaluate the density, quality, and color of hair. Following that appointment, you’ll want to remove hair prior to visiting your technician. “If there is hair on the surface, the laser will waste its energy burning the hair and won’t be able to reach the root to effectively kill the hair,” says Demirovic.