Safety of laser hair removal

[Tuckoo]

Hi,

I hope this thread is not out of place here... Please let me know if it is.

I know body hair should not be an issue and all my hangups about it are cultural fabrications and all that. BUT, I still feel better if I'm wearing something revealing and/or swimming, if I take care of the body hair. I also feel much, much better when I'm with DH if some parts feel smooth rather than stubbly, you know?

I don't like shaving because my hair grows so fast that I would have to do it twice a day to achieve what I want. I wax/tweeze/use an epilady (or whatever its name is).

Laser's semi-permanent hair removal sounds soooo tempting. But I can't shake the feeling that it cannot be good for you. However, aside from the burns caused by misuse of the equipment, I haven't been able to find any other negative side-effects. Are there any others? What happens to your sweat glands? Are they affected in any way by this?

I feel that five years from now we'll be reading about some horrible unforeseen consequences...

[Cavy]

I had IPL done 2 or 3 years ago (probably what you mean, where they use high energy light to zap dark hairs on light skinned people?)

I've not read a single bad thing about it, safetywise.
I had maybe 4 sessions (they recommended a course of 8 sessions). I didn't have more sessions for many reasons, not least because I have mostly white hairs, which IPL is no good at removing. It was just on my chin, my chin has had no problems from it. I am subjecting the chin to electrolysis every 6 weeks or so, currently, which feels more 'damaging', tbh.

btw, I have hairy legs, I often have fuzz under the arms, but my goatee had to go!! Everyone is entitled to their own personal comfort zone re bodily hair.

[bipsa1]

Laser along with offering permanent results involves much risk and discomfort, skin burns and inflammation is almost a common problem seen after such an occurrence. So, it is better to look around for other options. Electrolysis is one such method that you can use for getting rid of hairs permanently in almost painless way and the method is almost suitable for all body parts, including that of face. As it passes on electricity through probes in minor amount that does not cause problems like skin reddening, burning and other skin associated issues. This will be ideal and it has really been made even easier with availability of number of home electrolysis hair removal machines. Hope this helps you have a decision. 

[DariusMom]

I've had IPL for both my bikini area and under my arms. I'm very fair with very dark, thick hair and taking care of the bikini especially (tmi but the hair went mid-way down the middle of my thighs!) was too much.

Anyway, it hurt but was fine. The bikini took 6 sessions and I only have very sparse, very easily removed hair regrowth.

The underarms were less successful. I need to go back for my 8th (!) session soon. With every session, though, the regrowth is finer and easier to deal with.

I never had any problems other than some minor pain and faint redness. I would highly recommend it if you have the money and feel self-conscious about your hair.

[La Sombra]

I had IPL done on my bikini line and under my arms a year and a half ago and I really pleased with the results. I suffered from ingrown hairs really badly in both places no matter what hair removal approach I used--waxing, shaving, creams, you name it. I had four sessions and didn't want to pay for any more. The hair isn't 100% gone in either place (I mean, the hair that I tried to remove--that is to say, I didn't get all of my pubic hair lasered off, just a bit!) but it is so thin and sparse (I probably shave my armpits once a week or less) that it's really easy to deal with.

It hurt, but not more than my tattoo did, or not more than childbirth (!). It's tolerable, or at least it was in my case. The best candidates are fair skinned with dark hair, which I was/am. If you have light hair or are dark-skinned, it will probably take more attempts.

So without speaking to the future risks (of which I am not aware), I would say in my case that it was TOTALLY worth it!

Good luck!