Excess body hair can be embarrassing, uncomfortable, and unattractive, which is why many people today turn to laser hair removal to whisk away those unwanted strands. However, the benefits of laser hair removal don’t stop at having a smoother body. Here are three other ways laser hair removal can help you, and why you should talk with your esthetician about the procedure.
1. Improve Acne
Pimples are caused when oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria blocks the space around an individual hair follicle, leading to an infection that occurs underneath the skin. While doctors can prescribe a range of topical and internal medications that can help to quell acne, one of the easiest ways to clear up your skin is by zapping away that unwanted hair.
During laser hair removal, a special beam of concentrated light is applied to the skin, which is absorbed by the melanin-producing cells in the hair follicle. When this heat is absorbed, damage occurs to the follicle itself, reducing hair growth. After a few sessions, the hair follicle simply won’t be able to produce dark, thick hair like it once did, making it more difficult for blockages to occur around the hair root.
The result is clearer skin that is less prone to infection, especially since any hair that does grow back may not be as long, protecting the surrounding skin from bacterial transmission.
Laser hair removal is especially helpful for people suffering with an acne-like medical condition called folliculitis, which causes the hair follicles and the surrounding area to become inflamed when the areas are rubbed or shaved. After the hair has been removed, the follicles are less likely to become irritated, alleviating the condition.
2. Reduce Ingrown Hairs
Ingrown hairs can occur anywhere on the body where hair grows, especially if those areas are subjected to friction from clothing, other appendages, or performing simple daily activities. If the skin around a hair follicle becomes clogged because of trauma to the spot or dead skin cells, the hair can start to grow sideways, which can create an unsightly infection that mimics a pimple.
People with thick, curly, or wavy hair are especially prone to developing ingrown hairs, since hairs cut during shaving can develop a sharper edge, making it easier for the hair to become lodged in the surrounding skin. Ingrown hairs are also more common in areas that are shaven frequently, such as the neck, armpits, and bikini line, creating embarrassing marks that can attract unwanted attention.
Fortunately, laser hair removal can also help people who struggle with recurrent ingrown hairs. Since the laser used during laser hair removal targets the hair follicle, any hairs that grow after the treatment tend to be softer and thinner, preventing hairs from becoming ingrown.
3. Curb Body Odor
The bacteria harbored by body hair doesn’t just cause irritation and skin infection. When combined with sweat, bacteria can emit volatile organic compounds that smell bad, creating body odor. Although deodorants and anti-perspirants can reduce or mask body odor, these additives don’t stop sweat and bacteria from mixing quite like laser hair removal can.
Laser hair removal changes the biological structures of the hair follicle, damaging the area microscopically and making it difficult to produce hair. When this damage occurs, there is less surface area for bacteria to cling, reducing body odor.
Although laser hair removal does not stop sweat from forming, additional treatments like Botox injections could quell production, eliminating the issue even further.
If you have body hair that has been making your life less comfortable, stop by and see us here at Milwaukee Medical Weight Loss & Medispa. In addition to offering medical solutions for weight loss, our cynosure vectus laser allows us to offer fast, effective hair removal that will last and last. The road to a more confident tomorrow starts here.
