If you have sensitive skin, chances are that most hair removal techniques are uncomfortable for you. Razors, waxes, and hair removal creams can all cause irritation, even for those with normal skin. If your skin is particularly sensitive, the irritation that follows at-home hair removal may cause you to avoid removing unwanted body hair all together. But, although it may seem contrary to common sense, laser hair removal can be the ideal alternative to shaving, waxing, and other at-home hair removal methods. In fact, when performed by a trained professional, laser hair removal causes little or no irritation at all.
How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?
Laser hair removal works by heating the follicles of your unwanted hair to the point of vaporization. The light waves emitted by the laser are specially calibrated to target the pigment in the hair follicles, passing harmlessly through your skin cells. Because the laser hones in on the dark pigments of the hair, it is important to minimize the pigment in your skin. This means avoiding tanning before your procedure. However, this should not discourage people with darker skin from seeking laser hair removal. Advances in laser technology now allow technicians to target the hair follicles, even if your skin is darker or your body hair is lighter in color. And because the laser doesn’t target the skin cells, people with sensitive skin usually have only minor redness or swelling following the procedure.
Identifying Sensitive Skin
Many people who think they have sensitive skin actually have normal skin. If you have experienced irritation from skin care products only once or twice in multiple years, chances are your skin is not sensitive. Sensitive skin is identified when you experience multiple skin irritations a year when using common skincare products. If you have tried almost a dozen skincare products that are found at your local pharmacy and have experienced three or more irritations in a year, you most likely have sensitive skin. In these cases, shaving and waxing can also be a source of discomfort.
If you are tired of the frequent irritation that comes with conventional hair removal methods, laser hair removal may be for you. In just a few treatments, you can enjoy smooth skin and ditch the razors and waxes for good.
