Is there anything more time consuming than shaving your legs or plucking your chin? If you shave three or four times a week, or pluck your chin and upper lip more than once a week, you've probably considered laser hair removal, especially in the summertime, when showing off your skin is at its social height. Or maybe you've seen the advertisements for lotions that claim to make hair grow back finer, giving the appearance of lighter or finer hair. There are many creams and lotions on the market right now that promise to make facial and leg hair less noticeable, which lends itself to having to shave or pluck less often, and the emerging products on the market are selling like hot cakes.
Despite advertising to the contrary, this is also basically how laser hair removal treatment works. Unless you have very dark or thick hair, laser removal may be the best option, because it typically causes hair to grow back finer and lighter in color. Unfortunately, if you are of a darker type of skin, the laser light will become absorbed by the skin-and not reach the hair follicle.
Laser Hair Removal Treatment - How Does it Work?
Hair follicle pigment absorbs the light from a laser beam which the dermatologist will move slowly over your skin. This procedure takes about a half an hour for each leg, and gradually the hair falls off; usually within eight weeks. It is a simple and nearly painless process, similar to an irritating pinch. However, there is a topical numbing cream which the doctor may apply in cases of extreme sensitivity.
It will take about two months for you to begin to see a difference, and a full twelve months before you can tell how well the treatments worked. (This is because of the time it takes for hair to grow; your doctor will explain it.)
The side effects include redness and swollen skin where the procedure has been done, but these can be relieved with cold (ice packs) and anti inflammatory medicines (ibuprophen) and are really quite mild. The worst of the laser hair removal side effects documented are brown or white spots on the removal site, blistering of the skin, and severe peeling, however, this has happened in very few cases. For more information on laser hair removal, consult your dermatologist before making any decision, they can talk to you about your skin and hair type and make the appropriate recommendation.

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