The Best Laser Treatments for Dark Skin
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Although laser hair removal has been found to drastically reduce hair growth, "It's important to emphasize that laser hair removal is really like permanent hair reduction—it's not going to get rid of everything," says Dr. Charles. In other words, it will diminish the amount of hair you have, but it may not remove it all for good. Now is not—we repeat, not—the time to get a coupon through a discount site. “I was willing to pay a premium and see a professional with great reviews,” says Marlene, 28, who had the treatment done on her underarms. A pro who has extensive experience with laser hair removal for dark skin is essential.
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Laser hair removal is a procedure to remove unwanted hair using heat to damage the hair follicle. When done by a trusted technician, it can guarantee long-term results with minimum side effects. It works best on those with contrasting skin and hair colors, for example, light skin and dark hair. It's important to keep treated areas out of the sun and away from indoor tanning equipment.
Friendliness of the staff during appointment
But before you make that appointment, you need to know what to look for first. For that reason, it's important that you go to an expert that carries that right laser device. Henry says to look for a YAG laser (the 1064 Nd;YAG laser to be exact); it is a long pulsed laser that bypasses the melanin in your skin and targets just the hair follicle. Using the wrong type of laser can have negative side effects such as burns, scarring, and permanent discoloration—all of which can be difficult to treat.
Be wary of at-home devices.
Some of the Most Impressive At-Home Laser Hair Removal Devices We Tested Are Up to $150 Off Right Now - PEOPLE
Some of the Most Impressive At-Home Laser Hair Removal Devices We Tested Are Up to $150 Off Right Now.
Posted: Thu, 21 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
For individuals with darker skin tones, traditional laser technology was not only ineffective, but potentially dangerous as many primitive lasers could cause hypopigmentation (discoloration) and skin damage. These patients were forced to deal with shaving, waxing, or other inferior short-term hair removal solutions. You should also forgo any activity that may irritate the skin during your post-treatment care. For instance, exercise is discouraged for 24 hours, any bleaching, plucking, or waxing for four to six weeks, and direct sun exposure for at least a month after your procedure and/or throughout the treatment series, explains Murphy. "Typically, four to six treatments are recommended," comments Murphy. "Hair growth is reduced after each treatment, and the number of treatments required will be based on your hair color and type, body area, and skin tone," she adds.
Call us now to book your first laser hair removal consultation with us. The entire treatment session usually takes less than an hour, but it may be longer for a patient who wants to treat larger areas. There might be some redness and swelling, but they usually subside after a few hours or days.
The Best Laser Treatments For Darker Skin Tones
The laser can treat an area approximately the size of a quarter every second. Small areas such as the upper lip can be treated in less than a minute, and large areas, such as the back or legs, may take up to an hour. And if you're pregnant, it's also advised that you hold off on treatment, as studies haven't evaluated the safety of laser hair removal during pregnancy. Plus, the added benefit of saving time and the convenience of not having to remove unwanted hair regularly makes it a worthy investment. Think about the cumulative costs of razors, waxing sessions, depilatory creams, and other hair removal methods over a lifetime.
This allows us to provide you with the excellent care and treatment you deserve. "Lasers and IPL are both very powerful technologies that can be dangerous when used incorrectly, but for the most part these devices are safe," says Tavernise. At-home devices are made with significantly less power and the light is less concentrated than you will find in a professional setting. "This does not mean that there is zero chance that something can go wrong, but the odds of something happening are very low," she says. Butler liked that while the treatment head is bigger than the other IPLs she reviewed, it still conforms to smaller areas like the ankles quite well. "However, on a very small area like the chin, I think some light will escape," she says.
“We need to be extremely cautious, as IPL and BBL are really not safe for dark skin tones,” Dr. Frank says. He often sees complications in patients inappropriately treated with IPL devices by inexperienced practitioners. “You need to have laser-specific technology that works well on darker skin tones,” he explains, adding that those typically include the longer wavelength therapies mentioned above. A slightly different take on laser hair removal, this Iluminage device combines both IPL and radio frequency (RF) waves to reduce hair growth. Thanks to its precision adapter head, this machine is ideal for small areas like the upper lip and other targeted spots on the face, although it may not work as well on thick hair. While many devices won't work on darker skin tones, the brand claims that it is effective for every skin tone.
Laser hair removal may remove or greatly lessen the hair on your treated area. “Those are the two most important questions you can ask,” he says. And don’t be shy about asking to see before and after photos of patients who look like you — it can help you get a sense of how much experience the provider has. You might notice redness and swelling for the first few hours after laser hair removal. One thing to note, however, is that due to the deep-diving nature of the YAG laser, Davis says that it can be a bit “spicier” than other lasers with shorter wavelengths.
But when it comes to darker skin tones, there’s a unique set of considerations to remember. We usually ask our patients to stay out of the sun, avoid other hair removal treatments, and avoid blood-thinning medications for weeks before their appointment. It’s also important to trim some of the hair in the treatment area to make the procedure smoother. Don’t hesitate to ask us anything you need to know about laser hair removal. Laser hair removal can be a game-changer for body hair maintenance, but historically, it hasn’t been accessible to everyone. When laser hair removal started gaining popularity in the 1990s, the technology relied on hair to skin contrast to zap the hair follicle, and only worked for fair-skinned clients with dark hair.
It depends on the person, but people generally see results within 6-10 treatments. As previously mentioned, the devices available for use at home are not as powerful as the devices you would find in a dermatology office, and therefore more treatments are usually needed. Hmmm – that at-home laser hair removal device looks pretty nifty. Furthermore, Dr. Shirazi adds, "it’s important to wear eye protection and be sure to look for safety features such as skin tone sensors, adjustable intensity setting, and tip cooling mechanisms."
With laser treatments tailored for dark skin, you’re investing in hair-free skin, confidence, convenience, and long-term savings. Navigating the world of laser hair removal for dark skin can be a maze of myths and misconceptions. Rest assured, it’s entirely possible to achieve smooth, hair-free skin safely and effectively, regardless of your complexion. According to the Cleveland Clinic, these IPL and other devices do work to remove unwanted hair, but it often takes many sessions, and the results are rarely permanent. IPL devices are generally safe, and they have been approved by the FDA for hair removal.
Chiara (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she conducts hands-on testing of health and beauty products. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Columbia University. Before joining GH in 2022, she worked as a cosmetic chemist, formulating skincare products for a variety of brands and learning to decode ingredient lists, evaluate ingredient efficacy and scrutinize product claims. "I was impressed with how cold it felt," says GH's Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler. "The max energy output of this device is higher than the old device and the brand claims it can yield 90% hair reduction in four weeks of use." An updated version of the Ulike Air+ (a previous pick), this device has three treatment intensities, and like its predecessor, a special cooling feature in the treatment head that cools the skin for comfort during treatment.
Here, you'll find the best options on the market based on featured technology, editor feedback, online costumer reviews, and dermatologist recommendations. BoSidin takes pride in the fact it uses the same "medical-grade technologies" that professional cosmetic centers use. The precision head rotates from side to side for hard-to-reach contours, like near the bikini area. Several users agree that the device is painless or nearly pain-free. But if your pain tolerance differs, it even offers a cool mode to help shield you from the burning intensity of the light flashes. It does lack a skin tone sensor, which many other devices offer.
For example, if you’re Asian or Latino you might rank as a 3 or 4 on the Fitzpatrick scale, but could respond to laser treatment as if you were a VI. To help manage the discomfort of getting a full Brazilian, I like to use numbing cream ($17). I apply it about an hour before I need to leave home, let it stay on for at least 20 minutes (the longer the better), and it drastically reduces any discomfort.
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