Experienced as a real revolution by many women, laser hair removal is permanent hair removal… or almost. Once the sessions are finished, you will in principle no longer have unwanted hair. A very tempting promise but which does not suit everyone. Are there any risks? How to avoid them?

It is a permanent hair removal or at least of long duration. While shaving cuts the hair at the level of the skin and conventional hair removal removes the hair at the root, laser hair removal kills the bulb at the origin of the hair by heating it. This is why laser hair removal is a so-called permanent, or long-lasting, hair removal. But this is not necessarily 100% effective on all skin types.

To achieve this, the beam targets dark and contrasting shades, in other words melanin. This is more present at the time of hair growth. For this reason, you should plan at least 6 weeks of shaving, and therefore abandonment of hair removal methods such as wax or epilator, before the first session.

Laser hair removal can affect all areas, legs, bikini line, as well as the face if you have dark down.

What is the difference between laser hair removal and pulsed light hair removal?

Pulsed light hair removal is much less powerful than laser. And for good reason: laser hair removal is only practiced by a doctor, while pulsed light is practiced in a beauty salon. Even at home now.

Pulsed light hair removal is therefore more semi-permanent than permanent and the result depends on each person.

Note, however, that health professionals would like pulsed light to also be practiced only by doctors.

Laser hair removal is provided by a doctor only, whether it is a dermatologist or a cosmetic doctor. Any other practice outside of a medical setting is prohibited and punishable by law.

As for reimbursement of laser treatment, this is possible but only in the case of excessive hairiness (hirsutism).

With the laser, there is no such thing as zero risk. Contact doctors, dermatologists or aesthetic physicians, specialists in this practice and recognized. The practitioner must above all make a diagnosis of your skin to limit the risks.

Rare risks of burns

If laser hair removal can cause burns and transient depigmentation of the skin, these risks are exceptional. For a simple reason, this hair removal is performed in a medical setting.

In addition, until now, no study has made it possible to link laser hair removal to the occurrence of skin cancer (melanoma). According to the doctors who practice it, the exposure to the beam is also too short to constitute a danger.

Paradoxical hair stimulation

Nevertheless, there are sometimes surprising side effects. Some people know with the laser a stimulation of the hair instead of a destruction of the bulb. When it occurs, this paradoxical consequence happens quickly after the first sessions. This most often affects the areas of the face, near the breasts and at the top of the thighs.

It occurs when finer hairs are close to thicker hairs, so they become thicker themselves. This paradoxical stimulation originates from hormonal instability and mainly affects young women under 35 and men under 45.

Those affected by this side effect should then switch to electric hair removal, another form of long-lasting hair removal. However, it is not possible on women going through menopause and pregnant women.

Is it painful?

The pain is unique to everyone, but laser hair removal is no more fun than traditional waxing. This gives an impression of mainly unpleasant pinching.

Your doctor will probably recommend a numbing cream to apply before the session.

Dark hairs on fair skin are the preferred targets of the laser. Such a profile will really reap the benefits of this method.

Black and dark skin, it becomes possible

Until a few years ago, laser hair removal was banned for black skin under pain of burning. Indeed, the beam did not differentiate between skin and hair. Today lasers, and especially their wavelengths, have been improved to benefit all brown-haired skin. 

However, the doctor who will perform your hair removal must first study your phototype. In other words, the reactions of your skin to ultraviolet radiation.

Very light or red hair, always impossible

As the laser targets the melanin and therefore the dark color, light hairs are always excluded from this method.

Other contraindications to laser hair removal:

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is best to avoid this hair removal method during this entire period.
• If you have repeated skin disease, lesions, or allergies, also avoid.
• If you are taking a DMARD for acne.
• If you have a lot of moles.