Are you tired of regularly shaving or waxing your underarm hair? Who isn’t! Whether your skin care routine consists of shaving every day or waxing every few weeks, removing unwanted underarm hair feels like a never-ending process. If you’re also tired of constant skin irritation, in-grown hairs, bumps, redness, or razor burn, it’s time to consider laser hair removal.
Underarm laser hair removal is fast, effortless, and leaves behind nothing but smooth, hairless skin. Here’s everything I wish I had known before my first underarm treatment.
How Underarm Laser Hair Removal Works
Laser hair removal is a relatively simple process, and not nearly as intimidating as it sounds. The lasers work by emitting pulses of light energy deep into the skin, where the hair follicle is then destroyed. Once the follicle has been damaged, it can no longer produce hair.
Hair grows in three stages – the active growth stage, the transition stage, and the resting stage. Laser hair removal only targets follicles that are in the growth stage. When hair is in the transition or resting phase, the laser cannot reach the root to damage the follicle.
The Treatment Process Isn’t Painful
There is minimal pain during underarm laser hair removal. The most common comparison we hear is that laser feels like getting a rubber band lightly snapped against the skin.
The underarm laser hair removal process begins in a comfortable reclining position with your arm raised above your head. Your laser technician will then identify the area of skin that requires hair removal. The spot will then be fully prepped, and you may feel a slight tingling sensation.
Once the treatment area has been fully prepped, the underarm laser treatment begins. The technician quickly and efficiently runs the laser over the underarm area to fill the hair follicles at the root.
Critical Post-Treatment Rules To Follow
For the most effective results, there are several things that you will need to do (and avoid) after laser hair removal from your underarms. After the application, it’s essential to follow al post-treatment rules and guidelines your provider offers, including:
- Avoid extended UV exposure for at least seven days post-treatment, and up to six weeks in some instances.
- Wear loose cotton clothing for up to 48 hours.
- Avoid swimming pools, jacuzzis, steam rooms, and physical exercise.
- Avoid touching the skin under your arms.
- Do not wash with water that is too hot or too cold.
- Tylenol is recommended to manage post-treatment discomfort.
- Restorative gel, cold towels, ice packs, or aloe vera can alleviate discomfort due to heat.
- Avoid additional laser treatments or chemical procedures for at least two weeks.
- Experiencing any side effects, including hypo-or-hyper-pigmentation, prolonged redness, swelling, or blistering, should be discussed with your provider.
Results Aren’t Immediate
Treatment sessions will be spread out over a series of weeks to ensure laser hair removal treatments are effective and target the current growth phase. Laser hair removal is only effective when the hair is in the growth stage, so multiple treatment sessions are required.
Not Everyone Is an Ideal Candidate
Those with dark hair and light skin are ideal candidates for underarm laser hair removal treatments. The laser can focus its light on the pigment within the hair and does not have pigment within the skin competing for it. For those with darker skin, there are laser treatments that can be used successfully. Patients with blonde or white hair are typically not good candidates as they lack the pigmentation necessary for successful treatments.
To learn more about underarm laser hair removal and to learn if you are a candidate, contact Radiance Skincare & Laser Medspa today to schedule a consultation.