I was a plucky 12-year-old when I first asked my dad to teach me toshavemy face.
Up until my mid-twenties, I was predominately taking care of peach fuzz.
As I aged, however, my unwanted facial hair became uber-thick, absurdly dark, and coarse.
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In my case, folliculitis manifested as many, many pesky inflamed patches dappled with blemishes.
A closer look at my mortal enemy: folliculitis.
I see the trickle-down effect of how all of these things can affect people.
A closer look at my mortal enemy: folliculitis.
Meet the experts:
How does laser hair removal work?
This is why darker hair is easier to remove than lighter hairtheres more melanin to target.
Dr. Engelman selected the Splendor X brand laser for my treatment.
After six laser hair removal treatments, just a few passes with an electric razor leaves my skin silky-smooth.
[Its] dual frequency, meaning two different wavelengths of light, she tells me.
One is an Nd:YAG, which is 1064 nanometers, typically used for deeper skin tones.
The other one is an Alexandrite laser, which is 755 nanometers.
If this sounds granular and complicated, thats because it isand for good reason.
The risk are burning and scars is especially high if you have dark skin.
But skin tone isnt a dealbreaker when considering candidacy for laser hair removal treatments.
Being black or brown should not preclude you from getting a hair removal laser, Dr. Gohara says.
Dr. Engelman corroborates this sentiment, noting that hair colornot skin toneis the most critical factor.
Can laser facial hair removal help with skin concerns?
Common issues laser hair removal can treat include the aforementioned folliculitis and hidradenitis suppurativa.
“It is a different scenario and does need to be handled with empathy and patience and understanding.”
How much does laser facial hair removal cost?
Does laser facial hair removal hurt?
Discomfort is affected by a laundry list of factors, though; pain tolerance being the most obvious.
However, the ubiquitous it just feels like a rubber bands snap!
isfor mea sinister and egregious lie.
(As a cosmetic procedure veteran, I know my pain tolerance is up to snuff.)
The chin and upper lip are, in my experience, a particularly hellish, eye-watering area.
After six laser hair removal treatments, just a few passes with an electric razor leaves my skin silky-smooth.
Since their genesis, the width of the laser emission, or spot size, has also increased.
Our spot size is 20 millimeters by 20 millimeters, says Dr. Engelman.
(Thats about the size of a dime.)
A lot of them used to be five by five and it took an hour to do someones back.
How should you care for your skin after laser facial hair removal?
I find myself standing at my vanity, inspecting my skin, tempted like Odysseus resisting the sirens song.
Dr. Engelman says its best to let nature take its course.
By two weeks, the hairs targeted by the laser will dislodge from the follicle naturally.
For the most part, post-care treatment is simple.
And avoid the sun.
Your melanocytes have been stimulated by UV radiation, so the risk of hyper or hypopigmentation is higher.
How do you keep up laser facial hair removal?
We can only actively treat hairs in the antigen or growth cycle, Dr. Engelman says.
you could’t kill something that’s already fallen out.
Theres no target for the laser to hit.
(Shaving in advancepreferably the night beforeis fine, and even recommended to avoid potential irritation.)
No sores, or redness.
(Hey, it’s part of the job!)
Full-coverage concealers and foundations have exited stage right, replaced byskin tintsand a newfound confidence.
Read more about laser treatments:
Watch the history of hair removal:
