The lockdown, caused by the Coronavirus, has taught us that doing a lot of things at home can be time- and money-saving. But when it comes to using a laser for hair removal, the number one question on our lips isn’t how much money or time we save, it is ‘is at-home laser hair removal safe’?
Laser hair removal at home is relatively safe. Companies that manufacture at-home laser devices equip it with fewer configurations, safety switches, simple controls, and less power to guarantee your safety. However, you can further guarantee your safety by following the instructions on the manual of your laser device, and other precautionary measures we’ll discuss in this article.
In addition to discussing safety measures to apply while using laser devices for hair removal at home, we also discuss how a laser works for hair removal and how to get satisfactory results using at-home laser devices.
First things first,…
Is At-home Laser Hair Removal Treatment Safe?
The safety or otherwise of domestic laser hair removal treatment depends on the device being used. According to a project carried out by Godfrey Town and Caerwyn Ash, for a laser device to be classified as safe for home use, it must be:
1. Easy to use without training:
Complex or sophisticated laser devices belong in the clinic or hospital where there are expert laser operatives. You shouldn’t need any special skills or knowledge to be able to use at-home laser devices.
2. Clinically effective
A clinically effective device is one that improves on an existing condition.
A domestic hair removal laser device should be able to remove a considerable amount of hair and delay the growth of new ones.
3. Eye-safe
With light-emitting devices, such as lasers, ocular hazards are likely to occur. To prevent this, the device should pass an ocular hazard assessment.
There are bodies responsible for ensuring the safety of laser devices, and it’s their duty to ensure that even at-home laser devices are safe. In the United States of America, the Food and Drug Administration is responsible for this.
To guarantee that domestic laser devices are eye-safe, clinically effective, and easy to use without training, standard at-home laser devices are small and have
- Low energy
- Few energy settings
- Fixed pulse duration
- Single fixed filter
How Does Laser Work For Hair Removal?
As with laser tattoo removal, during the laser hair removal process, a concentrated beam of light is emitted by the laser. This light is absorbed by the pigment (melanin) in the hair then converted to heat. It is this heat that damages the hair follicles, inhibiting/ delaying the growth of new hair.
There are different laser machines and technologies. These machines/ technologies work with different wavelengths/ frequencies, therefore their results differ.
Laser devices designed for home use are less powerful than those for professional use. This brings us to the question…
Is At-home Laser Hair Removal Treatment Effective?
Another question most people ask that’s related to the above is, how can I achieve satisfactory results using at-home laser devices for hair removal?
To answer these questions, remember that for safety reasons, the laser hair removal devices designed for home use are not as powerful as the laser machines you’ll find in a clinic or your dermatologist’s office.
Therefore to get the same results you’ll get by visiting a clinic or a beauty salon, you’ll have to double or triple your efforts and treatment sessions.
Secondly, at-home laser hair removal devices are smaller than the ones you’ll find in a clinic. This gives you extra work as they cannot cover a significant area of your skin at once during your hair removal sessions.
To get satisfactory and effective results using at-home laser devices, you have to be patient and diligent. You also need to be cautious.
Talking about caution, below are…
4 At-home Laser Hair Removal Safety Measures You Should Observe
1. Avoid using the laser device around your eyes
According to a report documented in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, the eye is a vulnerable and commonly injured organ in cosmetic laser procedures of the face.
If you must remove hairs on your face using a laser device, avoid your eyes. We would have advised you to wear ocular protection devices during such treatment, but how will you see what you’re doing with your eyes closed?
So our best advice for facial hair removal treatments would be to visit a clinic for professional services. If you are in or around Denver, contact us today to schedule your free consultation or book an appointment with us here.
2. Don’t use your laser device over a tattooed area
Lasers are also used for tattoo fading and removal. During laser treatments, the laser cannot tell if you want it to damage your hair follicles without affecting your tattoo ink pigments.
Performing laser hair removal treatment over a tattooed area can scar the skin. This scarring will be the result of the laser’s confusion while trying to distinguish between hair pigment and ink pigment.
So if you have a tattoo, we’d recommend you subscribe to the other hair removal methods we discuss here.
You should also avoid using a laser over pigmented areas of your skin.
3. Take breaks
Here’s the thing, laser treatments could be intrusive. You need to give your skin time to heal before launching another attack on your hair follicles if you haven’t gotten the result you want.
4. Leave your pubic hair out of it
Your pubic region is more sensitive than other parts of your body. To avoid telling unhappy stories about that area, avoid using your home laser devices there. Shave instead.
To get the best result using a laser, visit a clinic instead for professional service.