Laser Hair Removal: Benefits, Side Effects, and Cost

23rd November 2023

If you are in the rapid hair growth phase and you are sick of common hair-removing methods such as shaving, waxing, tweezing, and epilating then don’t worry we have another great hair-removing method for you that is worth trying.

It is a laser hair removal method that was tested by dermatologists in the 1990s but was not available to the public. It has been made available to the public for ten years and most of you have the advantage of it.

Recent research has shown that in 2019-2020, the laser hair removal technique was the most common and popular procedure to get rid of unwanted hairs in the body in the UK. It would be not wrong if we say that laser hair removal procedure is available to every aesthetic and beauty centre.

What is the Science Behind Laser Hair Removal:

As the name indicates, a laser hair removal method is a professional procedure to remove unwanted hairs from the body with the help of a laser or concentrated light beam. It is the latest technique and suitable for those who have thick and excessive hair and want to shift toward less pain and show longer results.

Do you wonder how the laser hair removal method works? Let us explain to you. It is a very simple process in which light is emitted from the laser head and is absorbed into the skin through hair follicles where melanin hair colour pigment resides.

In the hair follicle, laser light is absorbed by melanin, a hair pigment, where light energy is converted into heat energy and damages the melanin pigment. When hair pigment is destroyed, it damages hair roots, and hair growth is either stopped or delayed.

As the laser beam is absorbed by hair pigment, therefore, laser hair removal is the best choice for you if you have light skin colour and dark hair colour. But in this case, if you have light hair colour then the laser hair removal method is not suitable for you because without hair pigment, laser light can’t be absorbed.

What are the Potential Benefits of the Laser Hair Removal Method:

The laser hair removal method can target all body areas that are pigmented but it is best against dark hairs. You would like to remove your hair permanently with laser due to the following potential benefits;

a)    Target Specific Area:

Professional laser machines are very precise in targeting only specific area of the body that has dark and thick hairs without causing any harmful effect on the skin around it.

b)    Best out of Least:

One pulse of the laser beam can target many hair follicles in less than a second and damage them. It takes very little time to cover larger hairy areas of any body part.

c)     Feasibility:

Laser hair removal is also a very feasible method to get rid of unwanted hairs for a longer duration with maximum efficacy and efficiency.

d)    Improves Comfort ability and Confidence:

Excessive hair growth on different parts of the body may lower your confidence and you feel discomfort that may decrease your social bonding. Therefore if you find a permanent hair loss solution, it can help you to bring revolution in your life.

e)    Painless and Great User Experience:

Laser hair removal procedure is almost painless as compared to waxing and epilating and it does not cause skin irritation or skin rash. Also, if you have been experiencing itchy legs after shaving, laser hair removal is an effective long-term solution. Laser treatment targets hair follicles, reducing the likelihood of ingrown hairs and irritation commonly associated with shaving.

f)      Longevity of Procedure:

You can have hair-free skin permanently by conducting regular sessions of laser treatment because in this way all hair roots are damaged and hair growth is stopped.

Potential Side Effects of Laser Hair Removal:

The side effects related to laser hair treatment are short-lived and resolved easily by applying ointment and icing. All side effects are minimal as compared to its benefits and these are as follows;

  1. a)     Laser can cause discolouration because it destroys hair pigment melanin but it is short-lived.
  2. b)     Laser treatment can result in redness, swelling, and irritation, especially for those who have sensitive skin but they resolve automatically in a few hours.
  3. c)     Sometimes laser therapy may cause a scar but it can be resolved by antibiotic ointments in 2-3 days.
  4. d)     In rare cases, it has been observed that laser therapy has caused blistering but lowering the intensity of the laser beam can resolve this issue.

The cost of Laser Hair Therapy:

The cost of laser hair therapy depends on different factors such as the area to be treated, the number of sessions, and the nature and thickness of hairs. Every session of the laser hair removal method costs more than waxing and epilating.

But you should also consider that waxing, shaving, and epilating are required for a lifetime and laser hair therapy is required for a couple of months to permanently remove hairs from different parts of the body.

A rough estimate of waxing expense in a year is $390, let’s suppose for ten years it is $ 3900 but the whole laser therapy costs less than that.

In a nutshell, laser hair removal is more beneficial with lesser side effects and cost-effective therapy to remove hairs permanently.