Are you tired of having to shave the same areas of your body only to have thick body hair grow back? Are you done with feeling the itchiness of stubble? If there is a part of your body you want to be hairless, you need to try laser hair removal, available along with other aesthetic and restorative medicine at Rejuvené MD, in El Paso, Texas.

What Is Laser Hair Removal?

Laser removal is the perfect way to reduce and get rid of unwanted hair. Whether you are tired of having to shave your armpits or legs, you don’t like having to dye your upper lip, or you’d rather go through life without beard stubble, hair removal is a simple and easy treatment.

How Does It Work?

During the process, a laser emits a concentrated beam of light. The light that is emitted is specifically absorbed by the pigment, called melanin, that’s found in the hair. As the hair absorbs the concentrated beam of light, the light energy is converted to heat, and the heat damages the hair follicles beneath the skin that produce hairs.

This damage to hair follicles works to inhibit or delay future hair growth. This type of hair removal is extremely effective in delaying hair growth for long periods; however, it does not result in permanent hair removal. Generally, individuals need to go in for several laser treatments, as well as some maintenance treatments as needed.

Because this hair removal treatment depends on the melanin in the hair, but not the skin, picking up the laser light, it works best on individuals whose hair is significantly darker than their skin. That is, their hair contains far more melanin than their skin does. That being said, modern changes in the way laser removal is done has enabled doctors and technicians to effectively use the treatment on people with darker skin as well as skin and hair that are of similar darkness.

Hair Removal Options

There is more than one way to remove unwanted hair from the body. There’s actually a whole host of options.

Shaving

Obviously, you can shave away the hair. It’s fast, it’s easy, and you can get it done at home.

But this results in hair growing back in a matter of days. Plus, shaving for long periods of time leads to hair growing back thicker and darker.

Depilatory Creams

There are also depilatory creams. A depilatory is a chemical agent used for hair removal. It’s widely used in creams aimed at helping people get rid of unwanted hair. The chemical works by breaking down the bonds in the hair’s keratin. This makes the hair very easy to remove from the body.

When using depilatory creams, it’s important to be careful. Using depilatories on sensitive skin areas, like around the eyes or genitals, can lead to chemical burns. Most depilatory creams include chemicals such as sodium thioglycolate, calcium thioglycolate, and strontium sulfide. These chemicals work to break down protein in the hair.

The first step in the process is to rub the cream on the unwanted hair. Then, the hair is processed into a jelly-like substance. This usually takes around 5 to 10 minutes, although thicker hair can take longer. Once the hair has been broken down, it can be wiped off with a towel.

There are some obvious pros to this method: it’s fast, cheap, and you can do it at home. However, there are also some clear cons. Most depilatory creams have a strong chemical odor, and if your skin is sensitive, it might have negative reactions to the chemicals. And for all the time you spend around chemicals, it has a pretty short-lived effect. It only removes hair above the surface, so you’re likely to see more hairs peeking out a day or two after using the cream.

Waxing

Another option for the removal of unwanted hair is waxing. Even if you’ve never waxed, you’re probably familiar with the concept. Hot wax is spread on the areas with unwanted hair. Once the wax has cooled and hardened, it, along with any hair you have, is ripped off.

There are some upsides to this method. It gets rid of hair and keeps it gone for a pretty long time. This is because waxing doesn’t just remove the unwanted hair but also the follicles beneath the skin. Removing the follicles gives you a much longer time before your hair begins to grow back.

But of course, there are some pretty big downsides, too. In order for the wax to really grip onto the hair, and thus pull the hair out, you need to let your hair grow as long as possible. That can be uncomfortable, especially in areas you already don’t want to be seeing hair. Also, it hurts. It really hurts. You might need to reschedule any activities you have planned for after your waxing in case you are having a hard time moving.

Sugaring

This relatively new phenomenon is purported to be a much gentler version of waxing. It has a similar process, except that the paste is made from all-natural ingredients: sugar, lemon, and water. Unlike the hot wax, this paste only attaches to your hair, not your skin. It leads to a much less painful experience, with similar results. That being said, it’s still pretty painful because your hair follicles are being pulled out from your skin, and you’ll need to let your hair grow long before you can do it.

Electrolysis

Electrolysis is like a step up from laser hair removal. It’s the only hair removal process that is FDA-approved for permanent hair removal. The process includes inserting a very fine probe into the hair follicle that sends a small electric current into the follicle. This current destroys the growth center of the hair. Afterward, the hair is removed with tweezers.

While this is a permanent solution, it requires several sessions to get rid of all the hair. Additionally, sending an electric current into a hair follicle can be quite painful. And because electrolysis requires treating each individual hair, the process can be very time-consuming.

Why Laser Hair Removal?

Compared to other hair removal options, it’s clear why so many people opt for laser removal. Unlike shaving and using depilatory creams, the results are much longer-lasting. You don’t have to remove all your unwanted hair and then, a mere day or two later, do it all again. You don’t risk cutting yourself like you do with when shaving with razors. And you don’t have to deal with all the chemical smells that come with the depilatory creams.

Unlike waxing and sugaring, it’s effectively painless. And while electrolysis does, after several sessions, give you smooth skin with the promise that hair will not grow back, it’s still painful, and it can be extremely time-consuming.

Laser removal, on the other hand, offers the best benefits. Because the process is virtually painless, you don’t require any downtime after the treatment. You can get right back to enjoying life. And while this hair removal treatment doesn’t completely rid you of every single hair, it does interrupt the growth cycle and get rid of enough unwanted hair that you may not need to shave at all afterward.

How to Prepare for the Treatment

Once you’ve made the decision to get laser hair removal, you will be well on your way to smooth, hairless skin. You’ll want to find a doctor who is board-certified in dermatology or cosmetic surgery and who has experience with the treatment. If you’re in the El Paso, TX, area, you can give us a call at Rejuvené MD to set up an appointment with one of our specialists.

Consultation

Before going through the hair removal treatment, you’ll have a consultation with the doctor to determine whether or not this treatment is the right option for you. You’ll talk with the doctor about your medical history, any medications that you use, and if you have any history of skin problems. You’ll also want to mention any past hair removal treatments that you have utilized.

It’s important that you be as open and honest as possible with your doctor so they can help guide you to the right treatment for your individual needs. And, of course, anything you discuss with your doctor will be kept confidential. Your doctor will discuss with you exactly what you are looking for in hair removal, what your options are, and what the various benefits are.

The doctor will discuss a treatment plan with you and what the costs look like. They’ll also take photos of any areas you would like to be treated for a before-and-after assessment.

Instructions

The doctor will also give you some specific instructions on how to prepare for the hair removal treatment. The instructions generally include some similar suggestions.

Stay Out of Sunlight

It’s important to avoid sunlight for a period of time before having this hair removal treatment. Usually, it’s suggested that clients stay out of the sun for at least six weeks prior to the treatment in addition to using a protective sunscreen daily.

Lighten Up

If you use sunless skin creams that darken your skin, you will need to stop as soon as possible. If you have a recent tan, your doctor might prescribe a skin bleaching cream to use on the area you will be having the treatment.

For a successful treatment, it’s important that the melanin in the hair, not the skin, absorbs the laser. Having as much contrast between skin and hair color as possible helps this to happen.

No More Waxing

Whatever your normal way of removing hair, whether it’s plucking, waxing, or electrolysis, it’s important to stop for at least four weeks before having the laser treatment. The process of removing hair damages the follicle, and you want to make sure everything is intact and in good condition so you get the best results.

You can, however, keep shaving. Unlike other treatment methods, there’s no need to let your hair grow long before a laser hair removal treatment session.

Medication Mandate

It’s important to discuss with your doctor any medications you are on and ask them to advise you about which medications to avoid prior to the treatment. It’s important that you specifically avoid medications that have the side effect of blood-thinning, like aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs.

Shave Away

While it’s important that you stay away from hair removal methods that could pull out or damage the hair follicle, you will want to trim or shave the areas you’re having treated the day before your treatment. This is because it removes the hair above the surface but doesn’t hurt the hair and follicle below the surface, so it can still be treated. This helps to make sure you don’t get burned by any hairs that are left above the surface.

Conclusion

Unwanted hair can be a hassle, but laser hair removal doesn’t have to be. It’s a simple and easy solution to an irritating problem. Get rid of your unwanted hair today!

Contact Rejuvené MD in El Paso, Texas for all your aesthetic and restorative medicine needs.