Does Laser Hair Removal Hurt?

General Overview

Laser hair removal is a type of hair reduction procedure that significantly reduces the amount of hair on a person's body and face. It works by emitting an intense pulsed light from a xenon flash lamp. The light targets dark colors present in the melanin at the hair follicle. Thus, laser hair removal is most effective on people with dark hair and light skin. Dark-skinned people find that the laser is less effective because the light cannot differentiate between the dark melanin in the hair and in the skin. Blond-haired people are generally not benefited by the treatment at all.

Painful Sensations

A typical laser hair treatment is best described as mildly to moderately painful. When put in contact with the hair follicle, the laser causes a sensation similar to a slight pinch. In more sensitive areas such as the underarms and bikini area, the sensation is usually more painful and can be likened to a rubber band snap against the skin. Sometimes the pain can be decreased by the application of a topical numbing gel or cream onto the site prior to treatment. Most people are able to tolerate the pain in one specific area for up to 15 minutes.

Tips and Warnings

Laser hair removal treatments make the skin especially sensitive to the sun. Patients should take care to avoid sun exposure for at least two weeks after the initial treatment and always slather on plenty of sunblock before going out. All painful sensations usually dissipate within a few minutes following the treatment. Patients usually do not report any lasting pain, although there will be some mild redness in the area immediately after the treatment. This usually fades away within 24 hours.