Areas for Laser Hair Removal and How to Care for Them

Hair removal is now one of the procedures commonly done not only by women but also by men. In the past, laser hair removal could cause stinging pain and sometimes damage the skin, but with recent advances in laser equipment, hair removal is now possible with almost no pain or discomfort.

Laser hair removal works by using light energy at a special wavelength that reacts to melanin pigment to destroy the hair root, and as a simple procedure, it can provide satisfying hair removal results.

The latest laser hair removal method removes hairs that are in the growth phase so they do not grow back. It is less irritating to the skin, and side effects and aftereffects are almost nonexistent. In addition, because the hair-free state lasts for a long time, customers do not need to remove hair every season, which leads to high satisfaction.

Differences in Hair Removal by Body Area

Underarms: On average, underarm hair grows in cycles of about 3 to 10 months. The first treatment for both sides takes about 5 to 10 minutes. The second treatment is performed after 1 to 2 months, and the third treatment after 3 to 4 months. With at least three sessions, you can see a semi-permanent hair removal effect.

Arms: Arm hair is relatively finer than leg hair and grows mostly on the outer side of the arms. The arm-hair cycle is about 3 to 4 months, and because the treatment area is large, the first session takes about 20 to 30 minutes. However, as you move on to the second and third sessions, the treatment time becomes shorter. The second session can be done after about 2 months, and the third session between 5 and 6 months later, allowing for a semi-permanent effect.

Legs: Leg hair is thicker than arm hair and is concentrated on the knees and shins. The hair growth cycle is about 4 to 5 months, and the procedure takes about 30 to 40 minutes. In the case of leg hair, because it is thicker and more abundant than underarm and arm hair, once up to the fifth session is completed, the treatment interval is adjusted according to the customer's condition.

Bikini line: Pubic hair is one of the more difficult areas to treat because the skin is sensitive and the hair is thick. For bikini line hair removal, people consider razors, waxing, and laser, but razors and waxing can raise concerns about various side effects, so it is better to avoid them. If you remove hair with a razor, scars or skin problems may remain, and the razor blade can also infect the skin. In addition, the effect is only temporary and not permanent. Waxing carries a risk of infection, involves pain during the procedure, and is not permanent, so it has the inconvenience of needing ongoing treatments. In the case of laser hair removal, depending on the customer's condition, about 3 to 5 sessions are performed, and a semi-permanent effect can be expected with almost no pain, side effects, or aftereffects.

Precautions Before Laser Hair Removal

During the hair removal period, it is best to avoid waxing and self-shaving for hair removal. This is because laser light destroys follicle cells through the hair, and empty follicles without hair do not respond. To minimize skin irritation during hair removal, it is best to have the procedure done with clean skin, so waste and dead skin cells should be removed. However, you do not need to care for the skin every day between the first and second sessions; you only need to do it the day before the procedure. At home, you can soften the skin surface with a steam towel and use body scrub products.

How to Care After Laser Hair Removal

After hair removal, it is good to soothe the irritated skin. The best method is to use a towel cooled with a cold compress, and using a moisturizer is also essential to prevent the skin from becoming dry. You should consistently apply cooling products, moisturizing products, and ointments with anti-inflammatory effects to protect the skin and help prevent possible side effects such as dermatitis. In particular, after hair removal, exposure to sunlight may cause changes in skin tone, so it is a good idea to apply sunscreen carefully. Even areas that are not often exposed to sunlight should also be taken care of during the hair removal period.

The skin may appear red after the procedure, but this usually goes away after about 7 days, and if there is no discomfort or pain, you can shower on the same day. However, it is not good to rub or irritate the treatment area, and if the pigmentation symptoms do not return to normal even after 7 days, you should visit a hospital and receive treatment.

Disadvantages of Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is a good method, but there are also some disadvantages. As mentioned earlier, laser hair removal works by reacting only to melanin pigment to destroy the hair root. It appears by destroying the hair root, but only hairs in the growth phase are connected to the hair root, while fine hairs in the resting phase are not connected to the hair root, so it is not very effective. Therefore, the procedure must be repeated at intervals of about 35 to 45 days on average, and the period may vary depending on the body area and the patient's condition. Although it may be inconvenient to need several sessions, it is the only hair removal method that can provide a semi-permanent effect, which is why many customers prefer it.

Lee Miesuk Dermatology Clinic has more than 60 high-frequency, ultrasound, and laser devices, allowing customized hair removal procedures suited to the patient's condition. No matter how good a device is, there may be customers for whom it is not suitable, so our clinic uses customized laser equipment according to each customer's constitution and environment.

In addition, because a wide range of treatments are available, including skin aesthetics, skin diseases, hair loss, and minor procedures, not just hair removal, you can visit the hospital and receive them together. For this reason, the 2nd and 3rd floors of our building are operated as a skin care center, and the 5th floor is operated as a hair loss center.

As hospitals grow larger, their chief directors tend to focus on hospital management and external activities, but Director Lee Miesuk at our clinic has never reduced his treatment hours even while carrying out external activities. With the belief that if even one patient seeks him out, he should provide treatment, he has continued seeing patients, and as a result, he has earned steady love and reputation in Gangnam, where competition is intense, for more than 20 years.