Laser hair removal is a commonly used cosmetic procedure done with the aim to get rid of hair on a long-term basis. The process works by temporarily disabling hair follicles from producing new strands of hair. Have you been planning to get a laser hair removal treatment done but are concerned about ‘does laser hair removal hurt?’ A good thing about this treatment is that this is a completely painless and safe process, but we understand that saying this isn’t enough so we bring to you this detailed blog on this topic.

Does Laser Hair Removal Hurt?

While we already mentioned that laser hair removal is a completely pain-free treatment but the fact is that one can feel a sensation (kind of pain). Typically, it causes much less discomfort than other forms of hair removal such as waxing, shaving, and threading. According to the people who have ever opted for the treatment, it causes discomfort akin to the feeling of a rubber band snapping against your skin.

The reason for this discomfort is that the laser beam works to target hair follicles. Of course, it doesn’t feel like a burning sensation, but you can feel like your skin is being snapped with a rubber band. Apart from this, you can also feel discomfort after the treatment is complete such as irritation and redness in the treated areas, but it is important to know that this is temporary and will go away soon. Your dermatologist may also suggest using some topical creams for a soothing effect. Talking about the degree of pain due to laser hair removal can vary depending upon the part of the body that’s undergoing laser hair removal. The more sensitive area you want to get treated, the more painful it will be.

• Laser Hair Removal Pain On The Legs – Since the skin on your legs is not much sensitive as it is thicker, it does not cause too much discomfort in this area compared to other areas of the body such as your face or bikini line. But still, there are certain areas in the legs that can feel discomfort or pain during the procedure depending on the sensitivity, such as your inner thighs compared to your shins.
• Laser Hair Removal Pain On The Arms & Underarms – If you have ever tried waxing or shaving in the underarms, you would already know that this is a sensitive part of the body, which means you will surely feel more pain in this area as the skin is thin. But it’s not the case when it comes to laser hair removal in your arms, though, where the pain is much milder.
• Laser Hair Removal Pain On The Face – Again, just like arms and legs, there are different types of sensations experienced in facial areas. This means, there are certain areas on your face where you can feel pain such as the upper lips, while on the other areas there can be little or no feeling of pain such as the areas around the cheeks and forehead as they tend to be sensitive parts. But there is nothing to worry about as it is just a tingling sensation and nothing more.
• Laser Hair Removal Pain On The Bikini Area – We all know that the bikini area is one of the most sensitive parts of the body, which means even a snap of a rubber band can feel like a lot of pain. So we can say that laser hair removal treatment tends to be more painful along the bikini line. Many people say that it feels just like waxing, but the difference is that laser removal takes longer. But this discomfort is worth the long-term results you get with the laser hair removal treatment.
• Laser Hair Removal Pain On The Back Or Stomach – The skin on your stomach is thick, just like the skin on your arms and legs, which means laser hair removal treatment doesn’t hurt here as much. But at the same time, we cannot say the same about your back as this area can hurt as much as the bikini line or underarms due to the sheer number of hairs in this area.

How to avoid pain due to laser hair removal?

While the pain or discomfort due to laser hair removal is temporary and goes away soon, your doctor may also use anesthetic (numbing) creams with an aim to help minimize the pain. It is also recommended to use anesthetic creams by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with the lowest dose possible.

The doctor using the anesthetic cream must be a certified one in the field so that only the required and recommended dose is used as this has been linked to life-threatening side effects. It is recommended to talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of numbing cream, especially if you’re undergoing multiple treatments or if you have some kind of skin allergy issue. Apart from using the anesthetic creams, your doctor may also recommend you use soothing cream for better results post your hair removal treatment. This will help reduce the redness and irritation in the treated areas.

Takeaway

No doubt, laser hair removal is one of the safest and most effective methods for dealing with unwanted body hair. The only condition here is that it must be performed by a licensed professional. However, it is not completely risk-free, which is why it is not recommended for women who are either pregnant or breastfeeding.

It is recommended to discuss your medical history and also disclose the medications you are taking with your doctor so that the treatment can be customized accordingly. Also, you can ask your doctor about methods they can use to decrease your risks such as numbing agents, icing prior to treatment, and chill tips on lasers.

At Distill Laser Clinic, we use highly advanced technology to ensure minimum pain (sensation) with maximum results.