[Yeongdeungpo Dermatology Specialist] How Many Hair Removal Sessions Are Needed?

Hello.

I’m Kang In-jeong, the director of The River Dermatology Clinic.

Seeing summer vacation closure notices gradually appearing on the banners of the hospitals in our building in this hot weather, it feels like vacation season is approaching, haha.

Among the procedures that we consistently receive inquiries about at the clinic during the summer vacation season, the one that surprisingly receives the most inquiries from men is without a doubt “hair removal.”

So today, I thought I’d write a little about laser hair removal :)

How many laser hair removal sessions are needed to see results?

It feels like it was quite some time ago, but I remember enjoying actor Shin Sung-rok talking about laser hair removal on a certain program, so I searched online and found these before-and-after hair removal photos.

I also really enjoyed and related to his appearance as a dermatologist on the SNL program afterward 🤭

Even just looking at this photo, you can see that when the beard is reduced, the skin looks brighter and cleaner, which also changes the overall impression, right?

The questions I receive most often in the consultation room are:

“How many hair removal sessions do I need?”

“Does it hurt a lot?”

The slightly unfortunate point is that, compared with women’s hair removal, men need quite a bit of time before they feel, “Shaving has become somewhat easier,” or “It seems to grow back less.”

In particular, the chin and upper lip are areas where the beard is thick and dense due to male hormone secretion, so they often require more sessions than other areas.

In general, most men need more than 10 treatment sessions before they clearly feel that their beard grows back much less than before. Those with especially thick or dense facial hair may need considerably more sessions and time than that.

On the other hand, areas with relatively fine hair, such as the underarms, arms, and legs, often achieve satisfactory results with fewer sessions than the upper lip and chin :)

Ultimately, it is very difficult to give a definitive answer to the question, “How many sessions do I need?” 😢

In conclusion, you can think of the required number of sessions as varying depending on hormone secretion, hair thickness and density, and skin type.

Why does laser hair removal need to be performed multiple times with intervals between sessions?

When receiving laser hair removal, the next session is usually scheduled at an interval of approximately one month.

The reason is that hair has a growth cycle.

To explain in a little more detail, hair grows by repeating the processes known as the anagen, catagen, and telogen phases. This entire growth process is called the hair growth cycle.

Laser hair removal works most effectively on hair that is in the anagen, or growth, phase.

During the growth phase, the hair and follicle are firmly connected, allowing the laser energy to be effectively delivered to the follicle. In contrast, hair in the catagen or telogen phase is relatively less affected by the laser.

Therefore, it is difficult to remove all the hair in a single treatment, which is why hair removal is performed repeatedly at regular intervals.

As time passes, hair that enters the growth phase can also be affected by the laser in turn. As the amount of hair gradually decreases, it also becomes finer. 😊

Rather than thinking of laser hair removal as a procedure that removes all hair at once, you should think of it as a procedure that gradually reduces hair thickness and density in accordance with the hair growth cycle :)

Is hair removal by a dermatology specialist very painful?

When discussing laser hair removal, it seems that men ask about pain much more often than women.

Pain is also something that varies from person to person, so it is difficult to give a definitive answer as to whether it does not hurt at all or whether it hurts 😢

Because laser hair removal delivers thermal energy to the hair follicles, you may feel a momentary sensation of heat or a prickling feeling, even when cooling gas is sprayed at the same time.

After the treatment, the treated area may also feel hot because the skin has been irritated. The degree of pain varies depending on the area,

but men’s facial hair is particularly thick and dense, and the follicles tend to be deeper, so it is often more painful than hair removal on other areas.

Therefore, men’s facial hair removal is often performed after applying numbing cream beforehand. After the treatment, receiving soothing and restorative care can help reduce skin irritation by supporting the skin’s calming and recovery process :)

In practice, it is very rare for someone to stop treatment because of the pain. When sufficient numbing cream is used, most people are able to undergo the procedure without difficulty. 😊

Of course, the level of pain experienced may differ from person to person, but laser hair removal sessions are not long, so many people tolerate them better than expected.

Precautions After Laser Hair Removal

There are several precautions that you should follow after receiving laser hair removal.

Many people think that everything is over as soon as the procedure ends, but the effects of laser hair removal continue after the treatment.

Because the laser works by selectively delivering thermal energy to the hair follicles to inhibit hair growth,

the area around the follicles may temporarily become sensitive immediately after treatment. Depending on the individual, redness or a burning sensation may also occur.

However, these reactions generally improve naturally over time, so there is no need to worry too much.

In addition, hair affected by the laser does not fall out immediately after treatment. Instead, it naturally sheds over approximately one to two weeks.

If you forcibly pull out the hair or wax during this period, hairs that should be affected by the laser may also be removed, which could affect the results of the next treatment.

Shaving is permitted if necessary, but (shaving before hair removal is essential), it is best to avoid waxing or using tweezers to remove hair from the root until before the next treatment.

Because the skin is more sensitive than usual after laser hair removal, avoid vigorously rubbing the skin or engaging in activities that may irritate it for several days. It is also best to apply plenty of moisturizer to prevent the skin from becoming dry.

In addition, if you will be spending a lot of time outdoors or expect exposure to ultraviolet rays, using sunscreen can also help prevent hyperpigmentation.

Lastly, there is one particularly important point.

One of the most common reactions after hair removal is folliculitis.

Reactions such as small bumps around the follicles after treatment, red dot-like spots (perifollicular erythema and edema), and itching are often temporary changes that occur as the laser responds normally to the hair follicles.

However, if the itching is severe,

if pain or redness persists,

if blisters develop,

or if discharge or pus occurs,

and you experience severe symptoms that differ from usual,

rather than trying to judge the situation yourself, we recommend consulting the clinic where you received the treatment and receiving appropriate care.