Have you been thinking about laser hair removal in Issaquah? If so, you’re not the only one – thousands of patients come to us each year to find out how laser hair removal can help them feel and look their best. Our team is here to answer your questions and provide you with all the information you need, so give us a call today!
Laser treatment is a good choice if you want to remove hair from your chin or upper lip, but it works just as well on other parts of your body. If you don’t like the look of hair on your chest, back, neck or shoulders, a few laser treatments will get rid of the hair quickly and easily. Lasers also remove hair in the delicate bikini area, allowing you to wear your favorite swimsuit with confidence.
Read on to learn more about Issaquah Laser Hair Removal, laser hair removal machine near me and laser hair removal device near me
Issaquah Laser Hair Removal
Does it seem as if you are constantly plucking or shaving unwanted hair? Laser hair removal offers a long-lasting way to remove hair from many parts of the body. Dr. Suseela Narra, MD of Narra Dermatology in Issaquah, WA shares a few facts about this popular hair removal method.
Laser hair removal slows hair growth
Lasers use thin beams of light to target precise areas of your body. When the laser is aimed at a hair, energy from the light heats the follicle, damaging it. The damage slows hair regrowth, allowing you to enjoy a much longer hair-free period. Laser treatment works best on dark hair and may not be as effective if your hair is blonde, red or gray. In order to maintain your results, you will need to schedule periodic follow-up treatments.
Laser treatment can remove hair from multiple areas
Laser treatment is a good choice if you want to remove hair from your chin or upper lip, but it works just as well on other parts of your body. If you don’t like the look of hair on your chest, back, neck or shoulders, a few laser treatments will get rid of the hair quickly and easily. Lasers also remove hair in the delicate bikini area, allowing you to wear your favorite swimsuit with confidence.
What happens during laser hair removal treatment?
Before treatment begins, a layer of cooling gel will be applied to your skin. You will also be given a pair of goggles to protect your eyes from the intense laser light. Before beginning the treatment, your Issaquah dermatologist will adjust the laser light to the correct setting for your hair or skin color. He or she will then use a handheld device to direct the laser light at the hairs you want to remove. After treatment, your skin may be red for a day or two. Ice packs and anti-inflammatory cream will help reduce any discomfort.
Laser Hair Removal Machine Near Me
If you’re not up for the potential pain or higher cost of laser treatments, consider other hair removal methods and how they stack up with regard to pain and potential side effects.
Shaving
Unless you accidentally nick yourself, shaving is perhaps the least painful hair removal method. Take extra care by using shaving cream or gel on wet skin so that you reduce the chances of razor burn.
When done right, shaving doesn’t pose as many side effects, but the results don’t last long because you’re only removing hair from the surface of the skin.
Waxing
Waxing can feel similar to laser hair removal in terms of pain, but it doesn’t last long. This hair removal method can last for a few weeks — much longer than shaving, but not as long as laser treatments. Mild rashes and irritation are possible post-treatment.
Depilatories
These methods are similar in principle to waxing, but instead you apply them as a cream or gel. They dissolve hairs and are then rinsed away clean. Depilatories are chemical-based, so these tend to have the most side effects. Blisters, rashes, and burns are possible, and you may feel mild pain from the acidic nature of these products.
Plucking
While time-consuming, plucking your hairs can last a bit longer than any of the above hair removal methods. It’s important to pluck with the direction of hair growth, rather than against it — this will help minimize skin irritation.
Electrolysis
Like laser hair removal, electrolysis is a medical-grade treatment that produces more permanent results. It works by destroying hair follicles via radio frequencies. While not painful, some side effects may include swelling and rashes.
Laser Hair Removal Device Near Me
In order to determine how long it’ll take before your hair grows back, it may help to understand the growth pattern of hair.
Stages of hair growth
Hair goes through four stages of growth. They are:
- anagen, the growing phase
- catagen, the transitional phase
- telogen, the resting phase
- exogen, the shedding phase
At any given time, you have hairs going through all four phases.
Laser hair removal works by vaporizing existing hairs below the skin and at the root.
For that reason, it can only target hairs during the anagen, or growing phase. That’s why it takes multiple treatments, spaced apart, to get to all of the hair that grows in a particular spot.
Regrowth on the body
You’ll continue to see hair during the course of laser treatments. Some of this will be regrowth, but much of it will be hair that hasn’t yet been treated. Once your course of treatment is complete, you may not see regrowth for many years.
On the body, laser hair removal may provide permanent or very long-lasting results. Over time, any hair that does grow back should be very sparse and fine.
Regrowth on the face
On the face, laser hair removal isn’t typically permanent but may be long-lasting.
Some people report seeing no hair return after 10 years or more. Others experience regrowth sooner and rely on annual touchup treatments to keep unwanted hair at bay.
Does hair on certain areas of the body or face grow back faster?
After laser hair removal, hair is most likely to grow back on the chin, neck, and other areas of the face.
This may be due in part to hormonal fluctuations and the reactivation of hair follicles by androgens, such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and testosterone. In some women, regrowth of hair on the chin, neck, upper lip, and sideburns may coincide with menopause, when estrogen levels drop.
Hair regrowth on the body is also possible. In some people, it may be more likely to occur on the arms, legs, or chest rather than on the bikini line, stomach, or underarms. When hair does grow back on the body, it’s typically sparse and very fine.
In rare instances, laser hair removal may cause thicker, darker hair to grow or regrow in an adjacent area to the one being treated. This condition is known as paradoxical hypertrichosis. Paradoxical hypertrichosis can occur anywhere on the face or body.