Laser hair removal has been around for some time, but people still have a lot of myths and misconceptions about it. Even a search on Google reveals pages of conflicting information and outright falsehoods about the effectiveness and side effects of laser hair removal. We’re going to clear up some of those misconceptions and hopefully show you that laser hair removal is safe and effective, especially where the latest techniques are concerned.
Myth: Laser Hair Removal Causes Infertility
If you’re afraid of undergoing laser hair removal around your bikini line because you’ve heard that it can cause infertility, you’ll be happy to hear that this is simply not true. The design of modern lasers that are used to remove hair makes it impossible to cause infertility. The lasers only penetrate the skin by approximately one millimeter and delivers a controlled amount of heat that damages hair follicles on a microscopic level. This causes a decrease in hair production. Any laser energy that isn’t absorbed by the follicle scatters or reflects. It isn’t absorbed by any surrounding tissue and therefore cannot damage the reproductive organs.
Myth: Laser Hair Removal Only Works on Light Skin
There was a time when the equipment used in laser hair removal was unable to distinguish between dark skin and dark hairs, which is why the treatment was only recommended for fair-skinned people who wanted to have darker hairs removed. This is not the case with modern lasers that can easily distinguish between the pigment in hair and the pigment of skin, even if that skin is darker. Removing hair from darker skin using lasers is slightly more challenging, but it is very possible as long as the technicians receive the correct training to do so safely.
Myth: Removing Hair from Under the Arms Prevents Sweating
While laser hair removal is often recommended for those who sweat excessively, the process doesn’t prevent the body from sweating. The lasers used in the procedure simply do not destroy the sweat glands under the arm. Removing the hair with lasers may partially disable the sweat glands in some patients, but laser hair removal is intended to only remove hair, not sweat.
What to Expect from Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal has come a long way over the years, and today’s modern procedures use state-of-the-art technology that can remove unwanted hair with incredible precision. While there is no process that completely removes hair, 90 percent of hairs that are removed via laser do not grow back.
Most patients who undergo laser hair removal receive four to eight treatments to remove unwanted hair. Hair growth occurs in stages, and it is recommended that patients undergo at least four sessions to remove all of their unwanted hair. The process is virtually painless; at most, some patients may feel some discomfort and itching, but this passes relatively quickly.
Laser hair removal is safe and virtually painless when it is performed by professionals using high-quality equipment, but it is still technically a medical procedure. If you are considering undergoing laser hair removal, be sure to speak to your doctor as well as the experts at your clinic of choice to get all the facts before you agree to any treatments.
